America's Toughest High School Football Schedule? St. Xavier of Cincinnati

by Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

No one can ever accuse St. Xavier of Cincinnati, Ohio of playing a cupcake schedule. Once again this year, the Bombers will play what is arguably the toughest schedule in the country.

It all gets started August 28th when St. X plays cross-town rival Colerain. After that and on consecutive weekends, the Bombers play defending Indiana 4A champ Indianapolis Cathedral (9/5), 2008 Kentucky 6A semifinalist St. Xavier (9/11), defending Kentucky 6A champ Trinity (9/18), 2008 Kentucky 5A champ Highlands (9/25) and finally Elder, which is ranked #13 in the PrepNation.com pre-season rankings.

Just for good measure, the Bombers will face defending Ohio Division I champ St. Ignatius on October 24.

Now for the good news, quarterback Luke Massa is back for his senior season after a disappointing junior year that ended with a broken collarbone in the middle of last season. As a sophomore Massa led St. X to the Division I title.

So with last year's disappointing 4-6 record behind them, the Cincinnati Enquirer looks at what is ahead as St. X attempts to regain its form and challenge Elder for the Greater Catholic League South title.

Ohio High School Football Scoreboard - Week 8

By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

It's been a season of up-and-downs thanks to a rash of injuries for St. Xavier (Cincinnati, OH), which got back to the .500 mark on Saturday with a 13-3 win over a very good St. Edward (Cleveland, OH) team. The Bombers, who have beaten nationally-ranked Prattville (AL) and Don Bosco Prep (NJ) this season, snapped a two-game losing streak to improve to 4-4 and keep its post-season playoffs hopes alive.

Click here for a game story from the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Ohio High School Football Scores
Saturday, October 11, 2008

Akr. Ellet 50, Akr. North 14
Bascom Hopewell-Loudon 24, Tiffin Calvert 13
Bowerston Conotton Valley 54, Strasburg-Franklin 25
Cin. St. Xavier 13, Lakewood St. Edward 3
Cle. JFK 34, Cle. Lincoln W. 0
Cle. St. Ignatius 50, Cin. La Salle 0
Cols. St. Charles 31, Steubenville Cath. Cent. 20
Day. Chaminade-Julienne 14, Day. Carroll 13
Day. Dunbar 21, Cin. Taft 14
E. Cle. Shaw 42, Lorain Southview 12
Euclid 24, Shaker Hts. 21
Garfield Hts. Trinity 33, Cle. Cent. Cath. 12
Hudson WRA 34, North Shore Country Day, Ill. 6
Hunting Valley University 28, Warren JFK 17
Lima Cent. Cath. 31, Bluffton 0
Linsly, W.Va. 40, Lore City Buckeye Trail 0
Massillon Washington 30, Warren Harding 7
Parma Normandy 35, Lyndhurst Brush 14
Parma Padua 35, Cle. VASJ 7
Tol. Start 42, Tol. Libbey 0
Warren De La Salle, Mich. 17, Cols. Watterson 13
Youngs. Christian 28, Southington Chalker 14
Youngs. Mooney 33, Akr. SVSM 7
Zanesville Rosecrans 46, Bellaire St. John 7

#25 St. Xavier (OH) Holds Off #4 Don Bosco Prep (NJ) Comeback

By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

St. Xavier (Cincinnati, OH) proved Saturday why despite one loss this season, it belongs in the USA Today Super 25. The Bombers, who lost their season opener to #10 Colerain, won its third straight since its season opening loss, beating #4 Don Bosco Prep 17-10.

St. X ran out to a 17-0 first half lead, and then held-off a second-half comeback by the Ironmen, who were stopped on a fourth-and-goal from the Bomber 20.

To read a game recap from The Cinncinnati Enquirer, click here.

Click here to go to the Ohio High School Football for more news and scores from around the Buckeye State.

Click here to go to the New Jersey High School Football Huddle for news and scores from around the Garden State.

#4 Don Bosco Prep (NJ) Opens Against #25 St. Xavier (OH)

By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

The Don Bosco Prep Ironmen (Ramsey, NJ) will find out in a hurry if the team deserves it's lofty pre-season ranking. USA Today's #4 team will open its season Saturday afternoon against defending Ohio big school champ St. Xavier, that is ranked #25 in the lastest USA Today Super 25.

DBP, which has won the last two New Jersey Non-Public Group 4 state championships, brings a 24-game win streak into the game.

Click here for a preview of the game from USA Today.

Click here to listen to the game.

Colerain Tops #18 St. Xavier in Battle of Cincinnati Powerhouses

By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle


Over 15,000 fans watched the Battle for Cincinnati Friday night at the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium...at least round one!

Colerain ran out to a 13-0 lead on defending Division 1 state champ St. Xavier and held on for a 13-8 victory. St. Xavier entered the game ranked #1 in the Cincinnati Enquirer Division 1 Coaches' Poll and 18th in the nation according to USA Today. These two have also combined to win three of the last four Ohio Division 1 football titles.

Don't be surprised to see them play again come playoff time.

Click here to read a game wrap-up from the Enquirer.

#5 St. Xavier Tries to Close-Out Great Season With Division 1 Ohio Title

St. Xavier (Cincinnati) hopes to finish off one of the best undefeated seasons in the country Saturday when it plays Mentor for the Division I high school football championship.

So far St. X has run the table against one of the toughest schedules in the country. The Bombers have beaten several top-notch programs such DeMatha (Hyattsville, MD), Trinity (#1 6A team in KY at game time) and backyard rivals Colerain and Elder.

The Bombers have been ranked as high as #2 by USA Today, and enter the game #5 in the latest USA Today Super 25.

Both teams have chips on their shoulders. St. Xavier wasn't able to make it back to the 2006 title game to defend its 2005 championship, while Mentor is back trying to erase the memory of last year's 36-35 double overtime loss to Colerain in the title tilt.

Two players to watch in this one...Mentor quarterback Bart Tanksi, who was recently named Ohio's Mr. Football and St. X running back Darius Ashley, who despite missing several games has rushed for over 1,300 yards.

Click here for a preview of the game.

#9 Colerain Advances In Ohio Playoffs...Next Up #5 St. Xavier

All season long Ohio has been the darling of the USA Today Super 25 high school football poll. Entering this weekend and the 2nd round of the OHSAA high school football playoffs, the Buckeye State had three teams in the Top 10...#5 St. Xavier (Cincinnati), #8 Cardinal Mooney (Youngstown) and #9 Colerain (Cincinnati).

That won't change when Tuesday's poll is release, but it will the following week because Colerain and St. Xavier will collide in the state quarterfinals next week in a rematch of last year's regional final won by Colerain 24-7.

Both teams won Saturday...Colerain with a 27-7 win over Archbishop Moeller; St. Xavier shutout Centerville 31-0 in the Division I playoffs.

Colerain moved to 12-0 behind Joe Harrison, who rushed for 160 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries.

To read a complete Colerain/Moeller game recap, click here.

#5 St. Xavier (OH) Looks To Close Out Perfect Regular Season

Two quarterbacks at opposite ends of high school careers will probably play a big role in the outcome of tonight's Cincinnati high school football showdown between St. Xavier (9-0)and Moeller (6-2).

St. X, ranked #5 in the USA Today Super 25, will be led by sophomore quarterback Luke Massa, who started his first varsity game last week and led the Bombers to a 17-14 triple overtime win over St. Ignatius. Moeller will try to ride the right arm of senior Ross Oltorik, who last week threw for a career high 384-yards against St. Edward and became the school's all-time leading passer.

Both teams have already clinched Division I playoff berths, but the Greater Catholic League South title is on-the-line. St. Xavier will clinch the championship outright with a win, but a win by Moeller would mean the two would have to share the title.

To read a game preview from the Cincinnati Enquirer, please click here.