'We had a great run.' Takeaways from St. Xavier's loss in state final
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CANTON, Ohio – For the second straight year, a Greater Catholic League-South team lost to a team from the Olentangy school district in Delaware County with all to play for. And by the exact same score.
St. Xavier lost 28-14 to Lewis Center Olentangy Orange in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I state football championship game Dec. 5 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. St. X finished 11-3 for the season, and the Pioneers, a perfect 15-0.
It followed Moeller’s loss to Olentangy Liberty last year in the state championship game.
“We had a great run,” head coach Steve Specht said. “I told the kids, ‘if you get your sights so set on the destination, you miss the importance of what you take away from the journey.’ These kids are taking away a lot of memories and a lot of great lessons. There were a lot of teachable moments this year and I hope that’s not overshadowed by the fact we lost a game to a great football team.”
Orange won its first state championship, gaining 403 yards offense to 192 for the Bombers.
Bombers tried to adjust without Daniel Vollmer
The Bombers were without senior all-purpose star Daniel Vollmer after he fractured a tibula against Middletown last week.
Vollmer was dressed for the game and walking around but unable to play.
Jake Britt stepped up at running back and scored St. Xavier’s first touchdown, a 39-yard sprint up the middle through several defenders. He was also the Bombers’ leading receiver with seven catches for 40 yards.
Orange quarterback Levi Davis played at a Mr. Football level
Orange senior quarterback Levi Davis showed why he was one of eight Mr. Football finalists in Ohio.
He threw for 177 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 93 and a score.
He completed 7-of-14 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. He directed two touchdown drives in the second quarter after the Bombers tied the game at 7.
Davis, an Ohio University commit, threw for over 2,000 yards this season and rushed for over 1,000, with more than 30 combined touchdowns. He graduates with nearly 10,000 total years and over 90 scores.
Davis also was starting point guard for the state championship basketball team last March and in track last spring was regional champion in the long jump (23 feet, 1 ¼ inches) and runner-up in the high jump (6-foot-6), earning All-Ohio in the latter.
Specht said Davis is one of the best players he has ever had to prepare for.
“I’ve done this 36 years or so,” he said. “So, over the years, I’ve seen a lot of great ones. He’s very dynamic. He’s a very talented young man. He threw the ball well tonight, receivers made big plays.”
Said St. Xavier senior Kobe Clapper: “He was fast on film. And then when you see him on the field today, he’s really fast and a really good player.”
Orange receiver M.C. Walker was hard for the St. X defense to cover
M.C. Walker, a 6-foot, 175-pound senior, had five catches for 123 yards. He ended his first year with the Pioneers after transferring from Westerville North.
He entered the season with several Ivy League and Mid-American Conference offers.
He made three big plays on Orange’s second touchdown drive that gave the Pioneers the lead for good at 14-7.
Walker caught a desperation pass from Davis, who had multiple Bombers around him. Walker beat the defense for a 39-yard gain into the end zone, then scored the touchdown.
St. Xavier playoff history
St. X is now 4-4 in the state finals with championships in 2005, 2007, 2016 and 2020. This was their fourth runner-up showing, first since 2001. The Bombers were runner-up in 1992 and 1998. St. Xavier finished its 32nd playoff trip all-time and is 61-28 all-time in the postseason.
The Bombers improved to 8-1 all-time in the semifinal round with their win over Middletown last week.
St. Xavier senior salute
Bomber seniors are Kobe Clapper, Brayden Reilly, Daniel Vollmer, Jax Hendon, Jake Britt, Rowan Kiley, Aden Reeder, Jackson Frey, Cameron Taylor, Brady McDonald, Max Vollmer, Jackson Whitworth, Spencer Stegbauer, Connor Whitefoot, Brody Giles, Roman Dean, Henry Kachmann, Logan Paddock, Brayden Hyland, Alex McClatchey, Connor Bareswilt, Jason Agyemang-Botchway, Stevie North, Chase Neyer, David Beblo, Drew Kovacs, Bryce Adams, Owen Hahn, William Schwartz, Cole Blakeman, Nick Brady, Ben Adkins, Jake Naylor, Grant Hester, Will Sweeney, Jack Lange, Cam Carter, Dimitri Bermudez, August Betz, Tommy Wall, Max Oligee, Josh Wassler, John Veith, Reid Duffy, Ben Schmidt and Eddie Stineman.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: St. Xavier, Olentangy Orange in OHSAA Division I state football final
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