The last two times the St. Xavier football team has won a state championship, the Bombers had to overcome a lot of adversity during the regular season.
In 2020, during a shortened season with everyone adjusting to COVID protocols, the Bombers lost two early games by close margins, then won their final eight to claim a title.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn 2016, the Bombers entered the postseason with a 5-5 record, and behind several thrilling victories engineered by current NFL quarterback Sean Clifford, the Bombers became the first Ohio team with five losses to win a state title.
Multi-purpose athlete Daniel Vollmer and his St. X teammates will try to earn the school's fifth state title when they meet Olentangy Orange in Canton on Friday, Dec. 5.This year, the Bombers are peaking at the right time once again as they enter the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I state championship.
St. Xavier takes an 11-2 record against Lewis Center Olentangy Orange (14-0) in the state final, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, at Canton’s Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. St. Xavier will seek its fifth state title (2005, 2007, 2016, 2020) and Orange, its first.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“This means everything for us,” senior Jake Britt said after last week’s win in the state semifinals over Middletown. "Whoever we got to face in the state championship, we're ready for, and Coach (Steve) Specht does such a great job getting us ready for whoever we play next.”
The Bombers lost to their Greater Catholic League-South rivals Moeller and Elder during the regular season, but they found a way to come back and beat both teams in the playoffs in consecutive weeks.
Against Moeller, senior Jackson Frey led the Bombers on a long drive, and Daniel Vollmer scored in the final minute to give St. X a 17-13 win.
Against Elder, the Bombers rallied from 20 points down in the second quarter, and 13 points down late in the third quarter, to win 42-34 on two touchdowns by Vollmer.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSpecht is proud of how his team responded in those games, and also how they gritted out a 21-6 win over Middletown in the semis.
“We took it on the chin but we were in those games,” Specht said. “Seeing them in the playoffs was not a surprise. I thought we were three of the best teams in Southwest Ohio and it played out that way.”
Jackson Frey has developed into a leader
St. Xavier senior quarterback Jackson Frey, playing his only season for the Bombers after transferring in from Bexley, has thrown for 2,401 yards and 25 touchdowns against only seven interceptions.Specht said a lot of the team’s improvement late in the season has been because of its senior quarterback, Jackson Frey. Frey moved in from Bexley in suburban Columbus for his senior season. His father is former Ohio State quarterback and St. Xavier graduate Greg Frey.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFrey was a second-team all-district selection as a sophomore in 2023 at Bexley before an injury shortened his junior campaign. His dad set numerous school records at St. Xavier before eventually heading to Ohio State to play football and baseball.
More: St. Xavier's Jackson Frey, son of Ohio State star, Greg, on his own journey as Bombers' QB
Frey has thrown for 2,401 yards and 25 touchdowns against only seven interceptions this year. He threw for 261 and 223 yards in the two GCL rematches in the playoffs, and threw for three touchdowns against Elder.
“Frey has really improved,” Specht said. “He had to learn an entirely new system and he’s a done a great job with that. It wasn’t until the end of the season that he fully understood what we want to do with our offense. Receivers have done a good job. We’ve made some changes in our o-line throughout the season. They have really worked hard. I’m proud of them.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementVollmer praised Frey for the comeback win against Moeller three weeks ago.
“Jackson Frey took us down there,” Vollmer said. “I got the last two yards but he really stepped up. Especially coming in first year. You could tell he was meant for the Long Blue Line, St. Xavier football. It was one of the better drives of the season. We’re all really proud of him.”
St. Xavier offense will have a tough opponent in Orange
Wide receiver Cameron Taylor, left, and the St. Xavier offense will face a talented Olentangy Orange defense that allows fewer than 10 points per game.The Bombers will face a Pioneers defense that allows just under 10 points per game. They have had seven games where they have allowed one touchdown or fewer.
After edging 2024 state champion Olentangy Liberty 21-17 in the regional semis, Orange whalloped Pickerington Central 39-7 and Lakewood St. Edward 28-0.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOrange shut down Edward stars Brandon White and Zach Hackleman. The Pioneers held White to 50 yards on 21 carries with no run longer than 8 yards, but they also held Ohio University receiver commit Hackleman in check, limiting him to 29 yards on four catches.
St. Edward (11-3) was shut out for the first time in 82 games and did not score a touchdown for the first time since Oct. 15, 2022.
Treyton Schroeder has eight of his program-record 23 interceptions this season.
“Defensively, they’re incredibly sound,” Specht said. “They’re never out of position. They’re very good tacklers. They fly to the ball. They’re aggressive and they get after you. I’ve watched their semifinal game five or six times. I’ve been trying to gauge a weakness and there isn’t one.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSt. Xavier’s defense will face a Mr. Football finalist
St. Xavier will face a Mr. Football finalist in Olentangy quarterback Levi Davis. He has thrown for more than 2,000 yards with 15 TD passes, and rushed for nearly 1,000 yards with 15 TDs on the ground.Orange senior quarterback Levi Davis is one of eight finalists for Mr. Football, which will be announced Dec. 4.
He has thrown for more than 2,000 yards with 15 TD passes, and rushed for nearly 1,000 yards with 15 TDs on the ground.
A four-year starter and Ohio University football commit, Davis entered the semis having passed for 7,006 yards and 51 TDs while rushing for 2,631 yards and 37 TDs in his career.
Davis also was starting point guard for the state championship basketball team last March and in track last spring was regional champion in the long jump (23 feet, 1 1/4 inches) and runner-up in the high jump (6-6), earning All-Ohio in the latter.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“He’s different,” Specht said. “He’s hard to prepare for. There’s a reason that young man is mentioned among the greats in the state of Ohio. He’s a very talented young man. You can tell he’s seasoned. He’s a nightmare to prepare for but he's a lot of fun to watch.”
Specht said Davis has a similar style of play to Elder junior quarterback Kaden Estep.
Orange leans on the two-pronged attack of Davis and running back Lucas Fickel. Fickel ran for 106 yards on 28 carries in the semis. He needs 55 yards in the state final to reach 2,000 for the season and now has 29 touchdowns.
Along with Davis, Treyton Schroeder was also a key player on the state champion basketball team.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Bombers will lean on their talented defense that has played well in the playoffs.
“Going to a state finals, that's one in a million,” St. Xavier senior Aden Reeder said. “That makes this team legendary. We just got to pull through, for the seniors, get this dub at the end, become state champions.”
Said Specht, “Every team takes on an identity, and you’re only as good as your senior class is going to carry you. This is a tremendous group of kids. I tell them it’s your team, you have to own it. There have been very few issues I’ve had to deal with. I have a great group of captains. When you have a group that takes ownership of your team, you have a chance to be good.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: St. Xavier football plays Olentangy Orange in OHSAA DI state final
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