St. Xavier sends Colerain packing

The St. Xavier Bombers have played one of the nation’s toughest schedules in 2016 and that paid dividends in a rematch with their rival, the Colerain Cardinals, on Friday night at Hamilton High School. The Bombers overcame a 13-point halftime deficit to pull out a 29-23 overtime victory.

When these two teams meet it seemingly always goes down to the wire, just as did in a Week 2 meeting earlier this season when Colerain came out on top 20-14 in overtime. This time it was the Bombers’ turn.

St. Xavier QB Sean Clifford (photo by James Adams/TriStateFootball.com)

Following a failed field goal attempt by the Cardinals to open overtime, Sean Clifford sealed the deal for St. Xavier (7-5) when he connected with Nicholas Moeller on a 20-yard, game-winning touchdown pass.

“When I went out there and saw the coverage I knew it was going to be a touchdown,” Clifford said of the game-winning play. “I went through my read and it opened up.”

Playing in front of big crowds is something that happens nearly every week for St. Xavier, but it seemingly is always something special when they play Colerain.

“I feed off the environment, the hype of the crowd and our student section is unbelievable,” the Bombers quarterback added. “I don’t really get nervous for games, if anything I feed off the energy.”

Senior running back Quinn Earley got the Bombers on the scoreboard first when he punched in a run from three yards out less than two minutes into the contest.

Colerain (11-1) would score 13 unanswered points to close out the first quarter. The first score came on an 18-yard run by senior Monalo Caldwell (PAT failed). Gunnar Leyendecker and J.J. Davis connected on a 26-yard TD pass for the second touchdown.

Leyendecker passed for a second touchdown when he hit Keontae Jones for a 51-yard TD pass with just 1:29 left in the first half to give the Cardinals a 20-7 lead at the break.

Kicker Ryan Murray’s 23-yard field goal late in the third quarter would open up a 16-point lead, but it would be the final points the Cardinals would put on the scoreboard.

Carl Grimm would start the comeback when he returned a block punt four yards for a touchdown a couple of minutes to later to cut the lead to 10 for St. Xavier. The Bombers failed to convert the two-point conversion.

“All the credit on that play goes to my friend Brady Stoll. He got in there and blocked the punt,” Grimm claimed. “I was fortunate to pick it up and take it in for six. The sideline was electric at that point.”

There’s no denying that play ignited the Bombers and in a big way and was the key to the turnaround.

St. Xavier head coach Steve Specht (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

“I think it hinged on the blocked punt. When we were able to block that punt and score it rejuvenated the offense and added life to the defense,” head coach Steve Specht stated. “That blocked punt infused our kids with some emotion and some belief that we could do this and then they kept grinding.”

Clifford ran for touchdown from 11 yards out midway through the fourth quarter. After a defensive stop, St. Xavier would tie things up at 23-23 less than two minutes later when kicker Kevin Rockwood hit a 30-yard field goal.

Clifford finished the night with 87 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries and passed for 131 yards and another TD. Grimm paced the defense with 10 total tackles and a forced fumble.

“Things broke down and he showed poise,” Specht said of Clifford’s big play down stretch. “I’m sure we’re going to watch film and see where we missed some things but ultimately the goal is to come away with the win and we were able to do that tonight against a great football team.”

St. Xavier won the game despite being outgained 409 to 288 in total yards by Colerain.

Caldwell led Colerain in what would prove to be the final game of his Cardinals’ career by rushing for 127 yards and a TD on 21 carries.

Next week St. Xavier will meet Sycamore, who beat Mason Friday night, for the Division I, Region 4 title.

STX 7 0 6 10 6 29
COL 13 7 3 0 0 23

First Quarter
STX – 10:06 – Quinn Earley 3 YD RUN (Kevin Rockwood KICK)
COL – 08:55 – Monalo Caldwell 18 YD RUN (Ryan Murray KICK FAILED)
COL – 00:51 – JJ Davis 26 YD PASS FROM Gunnar Leyendecker (Ryan Murray KICK)

Second Quarter
COL – 01:29 – Keontae Jones 51 YD PASS FROM Gunnar Leyendecker (Ryan Murray KICK)

Third Quarter
COL – 04:39 – Ryan Murray 26 YD
STX – 01:30 – Carl Grimm 4 YD PUNT RETURN (PASS FAILED)

Fourth Quarter
STX – 07:50 – Sean Clifford 11 YD RUN (Kevin Rockwood KICK)
STX – 06:03 – Kevin Rockwood 30 YD

Overtime
STX – 12:00 – Nicholas Moeller 20 YD PASS FROM Sean Clifford

*James Adams contributed to this report

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