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Bombers bounce back vs. Centerville

St. Xavier RB Daniel Vollmer (photo by Shelby Frieszell/TriStateFootball.com)

CENTERVILLE, Ohio — On the first official “Kirk Herbstreit Day” in Centerville, St. Xavier bounced back from a close loss to Lakota West in week one with a resounding victory on the road over the Centerville Elks, 34-10.

“I’m real proud of these kids,” said St. Xavier Head Coach Steve Specht. “Coming off a tough loss, they had to travel all the way up here, so proud of them.”

Postgame Radio Interview: Steve Specht, St.Xavier

It was all Bombers throughout the evening, with rock solid play in all phases of offense, while the St. X defense put the clamps on the Elks, holding the Centerville offense to just three points through the first three quarters.

While the first half was a mostly defensive battle, the Bombers offensive and defensive units came up with divisive big plays. With eight minutes to play in the first quarter, St. X’s junior Daniel Vollmer took off on a quarterback draw off the right side for a 48-yard touchdown run.

Immediately after, the St. X defense forced a Elks fumble, giving the Bombers the ball right back in the Centerville end of the field. St. X took advantage. Junior halfback Jake Britt weaved between defenders on his way to an improbable 23-yard touchdown run.

Centerville used a muffed punt by St. X to set themselves up with positive field position, but the Elks’ big pass play to junior running back Parker Johnson was erased by a holding penalty. Senior kicker Leland Gantz was able to put Centerville on the score sheet with a field goal.

St. X was able to string together a long offensive drive late in the first half, where the Bombers capped it off with a 3-yard rush from Vollmer to put St. X up 17 going into halftime.

It didn’t take long for the Bombers to strike in the second half, as senior quarterback Chase Herbstreit connected with Britt for a 68-yard passing touchdown to extend St. X’s lead to 24.

Herbstreit never felt the pressure during the de-facto home game, even with his father, Kirk, in attendance.

“The attention’s great, but I try not to focus on it too much,” said Herbstriet. “It’s a team game at the end of the day. I just go out there and try to make my teammates as good as possible.”

PHOTOS: St. Xavier at Centerville

Centerville had no answers for the Bombers defense, even after the Elks started to run a no-huddle, up-tempo offense. Elks running back Johnson was held to minimal gains in the ground, while junior quarterback Shane Cole was unable to find open receivers due to St. X’s lockdown secondary.

The Bombers defense ended the night with three takeaways, including two fumble recoveries and an interception by junior linebacker Connor Bareswilt.

Herbstreit continued his impressive performance by tacking on another passing touchdown, this time with an 8-yard pass to junior Kobe Clapper. Bombers sophomore kicker Owen Davidson’s PAT was blocked by Centerville, but the running clock had started.

It wasn’t until late in the fourth quarter that the Elks were able to put themselves on the scoresheet, with a nice pass from Cole to junior wide receiver Quincy Capogna.

St. X’s play-caller ended the night with 105 yards and two touchdowns through the air, while additionally racking up 82 yards on 10 carries in the Bombers win.

SCORING BY QUARTER
St. X 14-7-13-0-34
Centerville 3-0-0-7-10

SCORING PLAYS
X: Daniel Vollmer 48 run (Owen Davison kick)
X: Jake Britt 16 run (Davidson kick)
C: Leland Gantz 43 field goal
X: Vollmer 3 run (Davidson kick)
X: Britt 63 pass from Chase Herbstreit (Davidson kick)
X: Kobe Clapper 9 pass from Herbstreit (Davidson kick failed)
C: Quincy Capogna 14 pass from Shane Cole (Gantz kick)

RECORDS: #3 St. X (1-1); Centerville (1-1)
UP NEXT: St. X hosts Cathedral (IN) (1-0); Centerville hosts Carmel (IN) (1-0)

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