St Xavier 2017 Football

another dumb question for you all from a rookie. Are there any program enhancements that coach Specht wants or have been planned coming off the state title? Things like a video scoreboard, another scoreboard on the other end, college type 25 second clocks in both endzones, the large donut tackling dummies that D1 college teams have, etc. With the euphoria of victory donors will line up to fund that, or is it a matter of obtaining permission from the president, which hopefully would be easy to obtain coming off the title?
 
If the Bombers travel to Chicago for week 1 next year does that by default mean no participation in the Skyline Chili event that year? Seems like Tom Gamble loves X participation because of the big crowd draw and the ability to market X as an opponent to national powerhouses.

This is the last year for the event
 
another dumb question for you all from a rookie. Are there any program enhancements that coach Specht wants or have been planned coming off the state title? Things like a video scoreboard, another scoreboard on the other end, college type 25 second clocks in both endzones, the large donut tackling dummies that D1 college teams have, etc. With the euphoria of victory donors will line up to fund that, or is it a matter of obtaining permission from the president, which hopefully would be easy to obtain coming off the title?

Countless of StX alumni have contacted Specht wanting to make large donations specifically to the football program but the administration won't allow it.
 
5 Best Bomber Defenses Before 2004

1994: Finished 9-2 losing to Colerain in the regional final 9-0.
Led by a fantastic group of LBs in Mike Marshall, Brad Heizman and Chris Hoffmann. The secondary was pretty good too with seniors Mike Gusich (Illinois), LeMar Marshall (Michigan State, NFL) and J.D. Beiting and a Defensive Line of Matt Lodder, Sal Gilene, Brian Merz and Manny Chavez.

1992: Finished 13-1 losing to St. Ignatius in the state finals 24-14
The team was known for it’s explosive offense but had a solid D led by DLineman Kevin Glaser, LBs Bryan Hoffmann, Dave Neal and Greg Reichert and a secondary led by Trent Allen and Andy Chiodi along with the super sophomores (Gusich, L.Marshall, M.Marshall) who were seniors on the stellar 1994 defense.

1999: Finished 10-1 losing to Dayton Wayne in regional final 37-14 at Welcome Stadium.
The top players on defense were LB Eric Scheidt Sr., LB Matt Vogele So. (Miami OH), LB Brian Heizman Sr, DB Pat Kelly Sr, DB Paul Kuhns Sr, DB Chris Stoll Sr., DB Joe Stephens Sr., DE Mike Ferguson Sr, DE Pat Ross Jr (Boston College) and DB Nick Lyle Sr.

2001: Finished 13-1 losing to St. Ignatius in state final 37-6
The top players on defense were S Bret Betz Jr., DL Zach Kleinfelder Jr., DL Craig Compton Jr. (Miami OH), MG E.W. Womack Sr., DE Nick Larkin Jr. (Boston College), LB Andy Edeburn Sr., LB Matt Vogele Sr. (Miami OH), S Mike Hurley Sr. (Yale), LB Matt Dooley Sr., S Michael Graham Sr., CB David Kelly Sr., CB Sean Kelly Sr.

1981: Finished 8-3, 1st playoff team in school history, lost to Moeller twice 18-7 in the 1st round of playoffs
The top players on defense were Nick Aloe NG 6’0" 237lb; All State, All City, 1st Team GCL, "That's My Boy" - Holy Cross, Todd Schiller DL 6’3” 243lb; All City, 1st Team GCL - Holy Cross, John Klare DL 6’4” 198lb Georgia Tech, Jon Bordeaux LB 6’1” 184lb; 2nd Team GCL, Alex DiTullio DB 5’8” 150lb; 1st Team GCL, StX Best Defensive Back, Joe Dusa S 6’0” 165lb; 2nd Team GCL and John Vesprani DB 6’2” 160lb; Jr. Honorable Mention All State Sr. Year
 
Now you have to do the defense rankings and where do you think 2017 D will come in? the 5 returning guys upfront will be handful for any opponent (Bacevich, Jeffeson, Mesue, Kiessling, Childs)

The 2017 offense and defense have a chance to rank with the best in Bomber history.

Offensively Wolf and the wide receivers match up well with the best Bomber aerial attacks of the past (1985, 1997-2001).

Next year's Offensive Line of Kirby-Deters-Dirksing-Mohn-Kronenberger (and/or others) will average 6'3"/265lb and be FOOL worthy.

A rushing attack combination of Hundley, Payne, Wolf and Fox will push the offense game average above 400 yards.

Defensively the front 6 will rival those of the 2004-2009 era.

The defensive secondary and special teams are definitely the biggest question marks entering camp but coaches Specht and Banker will work their magic.
 
5 Best Bomber Defenses Before 2004

1994: Finished 9-2 losing to Colerain in the regional final 9-0.
Led by a fantastic group of LBs in Mike Marshall, Brad Heizman and Chris Hoffmann. The secondary was pretty good too with seniors Mike Gusich (Illinois), LeMar Marshall (Michigan State, NFL) and J.D. Beiting and a Defensive Line of Matt Lodder, Sal Gilene, Brian Merz and Manny Chavez.

He graduated with me in 1994. The last team he was on was '93, which finished 7-4. I remember because he was a backup RB in '92 to Kevin Ritter. Rasso/DiGiacomo (sp?) changed him to NG senior year because of his size, speed and strength. If you don't believe me, I have the VHS of 1994 and Lodder is not mentioned when they go through the seniors at the end.

On a side note, I noticed on the Coach Info, they mention Dave Allspach as a graduate of '95. He was also '94.
 
I posted this on the Main Board, thread "Rivalry Trophies"

St. Xavier plays 2 games each year that involve a rivalry trophy/bell.

1. LaSalle: King of the Road (both schools are on North Bend Road) for the King of the Road Trophy

The rivalry began in 1962 (LaSalle's inaugural season) and StX holds a 40-16-1 advantage.
Last season both team's won state championships (D1 and D2) and posed for a "North Bend Road State Champions" picture.

2. St. Ignatius: the "Jesuit Bowl" for the Jesuit Bell.
The team's first played in 1991 at Baldwin Wallace College a 39-10 Wildcat victory.
The team's have met 24 times with the Bombers holding a 13-11 advantage.
They have met in the state finals 3 times (1992, 2001 and 2016).

1991 X lost 39-10 Week 9 at George Finnie Stadium at Baldwin Wallace College
1992 X lost 24-14 State Championship at Fawcett Stadium
1996 X lost 35-14 Week 9 at Ballaban Stadium
1997 X lost 19-14 Week 9 at Lakewood Stadium
1999 X won 50-33 Week 9 at Lakewood Stadium
2000 X lost 29-10 Week 9 at Ballaban Stadium
2001 X won 42-41 Week 9 at Byers Field in Parma
2001 X lost 37-6 State Championship at Fawcett Stadium
2002 X won 18-17 Week 9 at Ballaban Stadium
2003 X won 20-17 Week 9 at Byers Field in Parma
2004 X won 13-10 Week 9 at Ballaban Field
2005 X won 22-0 Week 9 at Byers Field in Parma
2006 X won 17-0 Week 9 at Ballaban Field
2007 X won 17-14 Week 9 at Byers Field in Parma
2008 X lost 19-16 in OT Week 9 at Ballaban Field
2009 X lost 30-21 Week 9 at John Carroll
2010 X won 19-9 Week 9 at Ballaban Field
2011 X won 14-12 Week 9 at John Carroll
2012 X lost 32-21 Week 9 at Ballaban Field
2013 X won 13-10 Week 9 at John Carroll
2014 X won 24-10 Week 9 at Ballaban Field
2015 X lost 34-20 Week 9 at Byers Field in Parma
2016 X lost 31-14 Week 9 at Ballaban Field
2016 X won 27-20 (2 OT) State Championship at Ohio Stadium in Columbus
 
This is the last year for the event

What????

Buried the lede with that one, ReLoad!

Why the end of the Skyline Chili?

The best thing about that event is that it gave us a great game with a home atmosphere without having to guarantee a return trip.
 
This is the last year for the event

The Crosstown Showdown is going away? What the hell for? It was a huge event, enormous participation and you'd think it was a money maker being that games were from Thursday through Saturday. Lots of teams involved, and in most cases, gave teams a chance to face each other who never do or never have.

Were they actually losing money on the event or was it a combination of a lot of things?
 
2017: The year of the end?

The end of StX football lack of back to back state championships (since 1923)????
The end of several existing StX football passing, receiving and scoring records????
The end of Mother of Mercy High School (since 1915)?????
The end of the Skyline Crosstown Showdown (since 1998)????
The end of Coach Specht on staff at StX (since 1993)????
The end of Elder participation in Division 1 football (since 1989)?????
The end of the democratic party????? (since 1828)
And finally, and most sadly, the end of ReLoad’s participation, and thus domination, in the Yappi forum (since 2009)????

:confused:
 
The end of ice rinks in greater Cincinnati, thus high school hockey, due to carbon monoxide emissions by maintenance equipment??
 
Don't let the haters hate Reload! U are the man! Love your positive predictions for the season. Ready to start tailgating now!! Go bombers!
 
Don't let the haters hate Reload! U are the man! Love your positive predictions for the season. Ready to start tailgating now!! Go bombers!

I'm stoked to see what this season holds for us. Schedule is still grueling, no matter who we replace certain teams with. We need to look for some other good competition from around the country. So we were stomped by St. John Bosco and Good Counsel in the past several years. It happens! We still have had impressive wins over Prattville AL, Don Bosco NJ, DeMatha Catholic MD, and close losses with teams like Lakeland FL in OT

I'm psyched to see what Wolf and company can do along with the defense.
 
2017 Week 3 Opponent

Walnut Hills Eagles
Division 2 (Eastern Cincinnati Conference)
Coach: Brian Lainhart (coached at StX in 2015)
Regular Season Record: 4-6 (1-6 conference); started season 4-0

Key Returning Players:

DT Jowon Briggs 6’3” 270lb Sophomore (offers from OSU and Michigan)
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/spo...-michigan-offer-walnut-hills-briggs/91584980/
QB Solomon Cummings 6’2” 175lb Junior (874 yards passing)
RB Rob McDonald 5’9” 155lb Junior (530 yards rushing)
RB Peyton Doughty 5’9” 185lb Junior (450 yards rushing)
WR Cecil Singleton 6’2” 185lb Junior (231 yards receiving) offers from Ball State, Cincinnati, Eastern Michigan, Miami, Ohio and Toledo
WR Marcus Borden 5’9” 160lb Junior (312 yards receiving) offer from New Mexico State
OL Quinton Wilson 6'3" 293lb Junior offers from Ball State, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Kent State, Kentucky, Minnesota, Rutgers and Toledo

Week 3 opponent Walnut Hills moves up to Division 1 effective this fall was confirmed this morning
 
With an explosive offense (Wolf average game line 27 of 35 for 350 yards and 3 TDs and the running game of Hundley/Payne/Fox/Wolf combining for 25 carries per game for 130 yards and 2 TDs), a run stuffing defense and a softer schedule, replacing the exceptional kicking tandem of Glaser and Rockwood won't be as crucial.

Belated congratulations to punter Josh Glaser who set records during the 2016 championship season with the most punts in a season (89) and the most punt yards in a season (3,625) for a punt average of 40.73 (2nd All Time)

The Bomber punt average leader is Tom Gruenwald
In Gruenwald's senior season in 1965 he booted 45 punts for 1,845 yards and a 41.0 average, a record that has now lasted over 50 years.

Gruenwald's 81 yard punt versus Big Moe is the longest in StX history.
 
Or does Dirksing move back to LB where he played freshman year?
How about this for a front 6?

LE Blake Bacevich Sr. 6'4" 235lb
NG Sean Mesue Sr. 6’2” 250lb
RE Bobby Jefferson Sr. 6’3” 240lb
OLB Will Childs Sr. 6’1” 205lb
ILB Tom Kiessling Jr. 6’3” 235lb
OLB Jack Dirksing Sr. 6’2” 230lb

What about seniors Jack Heyob (220lb wrestler 2nd team GCL) and Jon Gretz (5'11" 215lb) platoon at NG in between Bacevich and Jefferson and move Mesue to LB with Childs and Kiessling?

May have to refer to the front 6 as the Blue Curtain.
 
This season expect an assault on the StX passing, receiving and return yard records by Chase Wolf and company especially if the team makes another deep post season run.

Wolf only being a 1 and 1/2 year starter won’t threaten any of Marty Mooney’s (3 year starter) career passing records but the single game and season records are definitely in the crosshairs (Wolf cracked one last season).

Single Game Passing Records

Completions: 31 (Chase Wolf)

Attempts: 55 (Greg Frey)

TDs: 5 (Matt Williams, Marty Mooney)

Yards: 487 (Greg Frey)

Season Passing Records

Completions: 187 (Nick Tensing)

Attempts: 342 (Greg Frey)

TDs: 29 (Marty Mooney)

Yards: 2,970 (Greg Frey)
 
Receiving Records

Single Game Receiving Records

Receptions: 13 (Kevin Milligan)

Yards: 215 (Michael Larkin)

TDs: 3 (Sam McDonald, Jack Cameron, Michael Larkin and Josh Williams)



Season Receiving Records

Receptions: 68 (Cam Specht)

Yards: 897 (Sam McDonald)

TDs: 10 (Sam McDonald)



Career Receiving Records

Receptions: 127 (Kevin Milligan)
To date: Specht 76, Wittrock 50, Kreimer 17 (2 years left)

Yards: 1,608 (Sam McDonald)
To date: Specht 697, Wittrock 569, Kreimer 209 (2 years left)

TDs: 16 (Sam McDonald)
To date: Wittrock 9, Specht 3, Kreimer 3 (2 years left)
 
Currently StX Head Coach records look like this:

1st 7 Head Coaches: 1926-1952 (27 years) Record: 114-90-20 (0.533), 6 GCL titles

Tom Ballaban: 1953-1977 (25 years) Record 142-91-8 (0.589), 3 GCL titles

Steve Rasso: 1978-2003 (26 years) Record 188-86-2 (0.681), 6 GCL titles; Post season record 15-11 (0.577)

Steve Specht: 2004-2016 (13 years) Record 119-45 (0.726), 8 GCL titles, 3 state titles; Post season record 27-9 (0.750)

Let's go out on a limb and say the 2017 Bombers successfully defend their state title and run the table to a 15-0 record to match the 2005 and 2007 seasons.

Specht will finish his career: 134-45 (0.749) with 9 GCL titles and 4 state titles and a post season record 34-9 (0.791)

His timing will be impeccable as he will not surpass coaching legends Rasso and Ballaban in total victories (Rasso's 188 to Ballaban's 142 to Specht's 134).
 
This is the 20th Year of the Crosstown Showdown
The Bombers play Hinsdale (IL) on 8/26/17 at Nippert Stadium
StX Bombers Record in the Crosstown Showdown: 15-3
 
StX Results in the Crosstown Showdown (15-3 Record)

1998 Did not play

1999 Beat Middletown 54-7
potent Bomber offense of RB Steve Sollman, WRs Nick Larsen and Michael Larkin and TE Eric Arling is unleashed

2000 Beat Fairfield 15-9
Bomber D held Earl Haynes to 11 yards on 16 carries
StX QB Marty Mooney to WR Jeff Buening for 2 scores

2001 Beat Oak Hills 40-16
QB Marty Mooney throws 5 TD passes

2002 Beat Sycamore 10-7
WR Sam McDonald 4 catches for 123 yards

2003 Beat Covington Catholic 21-6
RB Elliott Walker 24 carries for 163 yards and 1 TD

2004 Beat St. Edward 1-0 (Forfeit illegal player)
Specht’s head coach debut X lost 23-17 in a lightning delayed game
LB Brandon Bryant 16 tackles and a sack

2005 Beat Colerain 7-0
RB Chris Cionni 7 yard TD run, LB Lou Miller 14 tackles and 1 sack

2006 Beat Wayne 52-14
RB Darius Ashley 4 TDs - 2 rushing, 1 receiving and a 92 yard kickoff return

2007 Beat Winton Woods 35-7
FB Luca Romeo and RB Patrick Berning 2 TDs each

2008 Lost to Colerain 13-8
Adjuster Luke Kuechly 13 tackles

2009 Beat Colerain 16-0
RB Connor Hundley 161 yards rushing and 2 TDs, LB Sean Duggan 9 tackles

2010 Lost to Good Counsel 21-6
QB Nick Albers 4 INTs, LB Steve Daniels 13 tackles and 2 sacks
Good Counsel’s Stefon Diggs (NFL) had 5 solo tackles, 2 interceptions, 50 interception return yards, 1 TD, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 5 receptions for 91 yards

2011 Beat Springfield 30-7
DL Nathan Gerbus 6 tackles, 2 sacks and 1 safety; QB Griffin Dolle 2 passing TDs

2012 Beat Middletown 43-39
QB Nick Tensing threw for 176 yards and 2 TDs and rushed for 90 yards
Middie QB Jalin Marshall rushed for 312 yards and 3 TDs

2013 Beat Ben Davis 34-7
RB Ben Glines 3 TDs

2014 Beat East St. Louis 35-20
RB Ben Glines 126 yards and 3 TDs

2015 Beat Covington Catholic 57-7
QB Sean Clifford 2 passing TDs and RB Sean Prophit 2 rushing TDs

2016 Lost to St. John Bosco 34-0
WR Lou Raines 5 catches for 49 yards and 4 kickoff returns for 107 yards
P Josh Glaser 5 punts for 213 yards for 42.6 average with a long of 63 yards
 
Currently StX Head Coach records look like this:

1st 7 Head Coaches: 1926-1952 (27 years) Record: 114-90-20 (0.533), 6 GCL titles

Tom Ballaban: 1953-1977 (25 years) Record 142-91-8 (0.589), 3 GCL titles

Steve Rasso: 1978-2003 (26 years) Record 188-86-2 (0.681), 6 GCL titles; Post season record 15-11 (0.577)

Steve Specht: 2004-2016 (13 years) Record 119-45 (0.726), 8 GCL titles, 3 state titles; Post season record 27-9 (0.750)

Let's go out on a limb and say the 2017 Bombers successfully defend their state title and run the table to a 15-0 record to match the 2005 and 2007 seasons.

Specht will finish his career: 134-45 (0.749) with 9 GCL titles and 4 state titles and a post season record 34-9 (0.791)

His timing will be impeccable as he will not surpass coaching legends Rasso and Ballaban in total victories (Rasso's 188 to Ballaban's 142 to Specht's 134).


That is quite a run for three coaches over a 64 year period. It also sets quite a high bar for whoever the next coach will be in that long line of great coaches.

Each coach set a high bar for the next coach, based upon the impact they had on the program and the young men they coached. In Steve's case his record and championships adds an extra layer of accomplishments.

St X has been fortunate to have such high character coaches leading young men for over 60 years. While records and titles are certainly important I think each would agree that it is the work they did in shaping the character of the young men that was the real measure of success.
 
That is quite a run for three coaches over a 64 year period. It also sets quite a high bar for whoever the next coach will be in that long line of great coaches.

Each coach set a high bar for the next coach, based upon the impact they had on the program and the young men they coached. In Steve's case his record and championships adds an extra layer of accomplishments.

St X has been fortunate to have such high character coaches leading young men for over 60 years. While records and titles are certainly important I think each would agree that it is the work they did in shaping the character of the young men that was the real measure of success.

:clap:
 
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