It doesn’t get much better than this. The Blitz 5 Game of the Week heads to Paycor Stadium to catch the Division I, Region 4 Regional Championship between GCL South rivals, St. Xavier and Elder. It is a rematch of a regular season battle that Elder won, 23-13. The Bombers would love nothing more than to avenge that loss and put an end to the Panthers perfect season.
#3 ST. XAVIER BOMBERS (9-2) VS. #1 ELDER PANTHERS (12-0)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m., November 21st
At: Paycor Stadium
Follow on X: @TSFootball
PLAYERS TO WATCH: The St. Xavier defense is loaded with high school stars. Senior linebackers Kobe Clapper (Notre Dame commit), Aden Reeder (Michigan commit), Daniel Vollmer (Vanderbilt commit), defensive back Brayden Reilly (Clemson commit) and sophomore Griffin Lyons lead the way. Clapper has a team high 89 tackles, Reeder paces the team with 8.0 sacks, Lyons has a Bombers best 13.0 tackles for losses and Reilly is tied for the team lead with three interceptions.
The Elder offense sees quarterback Kaden Estep fuel the engine. The junior has amassed 3,048 yards of total offense (2,169 pass, 879 rush) and accounted for 22 touchdowns (22 pass, nine rush). Running back Tommy Becker tops the GCL South with 1,031 yards and 18 touchdowns rushing. He has been red hot finding the end zone 13 times in the Panthers last five tilts including three games with four scores on the ground. Senior Jackson Ruth had career highs of 12 receptions and 180 yards receiving last week against Princeton. He has 63 catches for 959 yards (tops in the GCL South) and six touchdowns.
TEAM TRENDS: Elder has won three out of the last four in this series. The last time the two teams met in the playoffs was 2021. This will be the fourth postseason meeting between the two schools since 2010. St. Xavier won in 2020 and ‘21. Elder came away with the victory in 2019.
St. Xavier has won five in a row. The Bombers have not given up more than 14 points in any of their nine victories.
Elder is 12-0 for the first time in school history. Of Elder’s 12 wins, seven have been against teams that have won nine games or more, one against a team with eight victories, another with seven wins and two against teams that finished 6-6.
HEAD COACHES:
St. Xavier: Steve Specht (195-79 at St. Xavier, 22nd year; 195-79 overall)
Elder: Doug Ramsey (235-107 at Elder, 30th year; 235-107 overall)
PLAYOFF HISTORY:
St. Xavier: (32 appearances, 61-27 overall) – 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 (State Champion), 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 (State Champion), 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 (Regional Champions), 2010, 2009, 2007 (State Champion), 2006, 2005 (State Champion), 2004, 2002, 2001 (State Runner-up), 2000, 1999, 1998 (State Runner-up), 1997, 1994, 1993, 1992 (State Runner-up), 1987, 1981. 16 straight playoff appearances for the Bombers.
Elder: (27 appearances, 47-24 overall) – 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 (State Runner-up), 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2009 (Regional Champion), 2008 (State Runner-up), 2007, 2004, 2003 (State Champion), 2002 (State Champion), 2001, 2000, 1999, 1996 (Regional Champion), 1995, 1991, 1989, 1988
XAVIER’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Establishing the run will be huge for a Bombers team that averages just 89.3 yards and 3.2 yards per game rushing. Elder loves to milk the clock with long sustained drives, St. Xavier needs to match that when they are on offense. On defense, unleash the linebackers. Give Reeder, Clapper, Vollmer and Lyons the opportunities and freedoms to make game changing plays.
ELDER’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Estep has been exceptional in his RPO decision-making all season long. He will need more of that great judgement in this affair. The Panthers defense has been great at getting off the field. They have done so by allowing just 69.75 yards rushing per contest while holding foes to a 31.1% conversion rate on third downs. That is a huge recipe for success.
Prediction: Elder 20, St. Xavier 16
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