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St. Xavier pushes past Fairfield

CINCINNATI, Ohio – The first round of the OHSAA high school playoffs got off to a thrilling start on Friday night. The St. Xavier Bombers went on the road to take on the Fairfield Indians in a big time GCL vs GMC showdown. Both teams left it all on the field and put in great efforts to keep their season alive.

Fairfield got things started early as they forced a three and out and immediately got going offensively. Junior quarterback Talon Fisher took his third snap and went 51 yards around the right side for a touchdown with 8:40 to go in the first quarter. Fairfield would move the ball well in several more possessions, but the St. X defense would turn them away.

The Bombers got an early field goal from Jake Cengia to get on the board which gave them momentum to get things going in their favor. Trailing 7-3, the Bombers pulled off the double pass as Chase Herbstreit lateraled to Jamaal Sharp who found Jack McClatchey wide open for a long 44-yard TD. 

St. X led 10-7 but were not done. After a Fairfield three and out, Herbstreit connected with Sharp to set up a first and goal from the 5-yard line and Gage Patrick would punch one in only one play later to give X a 17-7 advantage.

It was Fairfield’s turn to respond, and they would turn to Fisher who rolled out and would find Michael Figgins wide open for a 75-yard touchdown pass on their first play of the drive. Both teams had their moments and St. Xavier led 17-14 at the half.

Fairfield came out charged up after halftime. The Indians offense drove down the field in the first three minutes of the half with a pair of solid runs by Jordon Jackson. Jackson provided a 33-yard scamper that set up a six-yard touchdown plunge from Fisher to help give Fairfield a 21-17 advantage.

The Bombers would also turn their first drive of the half into points. Steven Napier returned to action with a solid run on the drive before Fairfield’s defense tightened. Cengia would add a 28- yard field goal to close the gap to 21-20 with 6:31 left in the third.

Fairfield went on the move again, but a fumble was recovered by St. X at midfield. Herbstreit hooked up with Sharp for 30 yards and Patrick again took one in from five yards out. The 2-point conversion from Patrick was successful and the Bombers led 28-21. The lead however was short lived as Fisher took the first snap and went 75 yards essentially untouched to knot the game at 28 apiece.

Herbstreit led a strong, physical drive down the field for St. X on their next possession. The Bombers were methodical in their efforts and Herbstreit found McClatchey at the end of the drive for a touchdown catch in the back of the end zone. The back-and-forth game put the Bombers up 35-28 heading to the final quarter of play.

Fairfield was unable to match the score this time around and St. Xavier went back on the offensive. Herbstreit showed his mettle on the drive as he converted a trio of third down passes to Joey Wassler to keep the drive alive. On the final one, the sophomore eluded a big rush and got off a pass that Wassler brought in and took to the 1-yard line. Patrick again added a score on the next play, and it was a 42-28 lead with just over six minutes to play.

Fairfield went back to work driving all the way down to the 6-yard line before a personal foul penalty backed them up from scoring range. The Indians would turn the ball over on downs and St. Xavier would run out the clock on a big road win by a score of 42-28.

Herbstreit finished the night 12-24 for 233 yards and a touchdown. He found Sharp four times for 110 yards. Gage Patrick paced the ground attack with 28 carries, 112 yards, and three touchdowns.

Fairfield’s Talon Fisher led the Indians as he had 19 carries for 224 yards and three touchdowns on the ground as he left everything on the field. He added 169 yards through the air and a touchdown toss to account for all four Indian scores on the night.

St. Xavier will take on Moeller next week in a GCL re-match.

POSTGAME INTERVIEW: STEVE SPECHT, St. Xavier

SCORING BY QUARTERS

St. Xavier 3-14-18-7-42

Fairfield 7-7-14-0-28

SCORING PLAYS

F: Talon Fisher 51-yd rush TD (Aiden McGuire kick)

X: Jake Cengia 25-yard field goal

X: Jack McClatchey 44-yard rec TD from Jamaal Sharp (Cengia kick)

X: Gage Patrick 5-yard rush TD (Cengia kick)

F: Michael Figgins 75-yard rec TD from Talon Fisher (McGuire kick)

F: Talon Fisher 6-yd rush TD (Aiden McGuire kick)

X: Jake Cengia 28-yard field goal

X: Gage Patrick 5-yard rush TD (conversion failed)

F: Talon Fisher 75-yard rush TD (McGuire kick)

X: Jack McClatchey 7-yard rec TD from Chase Herbstreit (Cengia kick)

X: Gage Patrick 1-yard rush TD (Cengia kick)

RECORDS: St. Xavier (5-6); Fairfield (7-4)

UP NEXT: St. Xavier at Moeller

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