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St. Xavier shuts out Lakota West

St. Xavier DB Shane Strayhorn (28) on Lakota West WR Brennan Remy (1) (photo by Greg Shoemaker/TriStateFootball.com)

CINCINNATI, Ohio – St. Xavier hosted Lakota West for a week one showdown. The two state powers clashed with early season bragging rights on the line. Both the Bombers and Firebirds had been itching to strap up for 2023. St. X was coming off of an uncharacteristic down season and Lakota West was wanting to get the bad taste of a third straight regional final loss from their mouths. Both teams came into the game ready to put it all on the line, ready for a war.

The Bombers got the ball rolling on their opening drive. Junior Chase Herbstreit was in command early as he found Jack McClatchey on a big gain in the opening series just a few plays in. This loosened the stout West defense. Jacob Britt led the charge on the ground in the first series with a couple of solid runs. He would cap the drive with a 10-yard rush TD to give the Bombers a 7-0 lead and a riled-up crowd. This would be the only touchdown of the night in this defensive affair.

The St. Xavier defense would make plays in the first half as well. A fumble recovery would thwart the Firebirds in their first drive. This came after a penalty pushed West into St. Xavier territory. The Firebirds could not fare well on their second drive either as St. X sophomore Brayden Reilly intercepted a pass to stop the drive seemingly before it began. The Bombers forced a punt on the Firebirds’ third drive of the half to aide in their shutout.

Lakota West was able to stay in the game with a solid defensive effort of their own. After the lone touchdown, the Firebird defense tightened and only gave up a field goal the rest of the half. Their defense full of talented future division I players put the clamps down on the Bombers offense.

The second half was much of the same of a defensive slugfest that the first half was. Both defenses continued to hold strong. The Bombers were able to move the ball up the field in spots but could not cash in on any more points. The Firebirds were unable to get anything going offensively. Reilly added another interception in the second half and the Bombers were able to run out the clock to salt away the week one victory.

The St. Xavier defense was the story of the game. Jack O’Malley added an interception as the Bombers forced three turnovers on the night and gave Lakota West freshman quarterback Jackson Smith headaches in his first varsity action. They held Lakota West to 94 total yards on the night and only seven first downs.

PHOTO GALLERY: Lakota West at St. Xavier

SCORING BY QUARTERS
Lakota West 0-0-0-0-0
St. Xavier 7-3-0-0-10

SCORING PLAYS
S: Jacob Britt 10-yard rush (Jake Cengia kick)
S: Jake Cengia 37-yard field goal

RECORDS: Lakota West (0-1); St. Xavier (1-0)

UP NEXT: Lakota West vs. Princeton (1-0); St. Xavier at Martin Luther King Jr (MI)(1-0)

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