MaxPreps.com Staff Report
USA Today/MaxPreps National Player of the Week
St. Xavier made its final arguments in Ohio's "best team ever" debate with a 27-0 thumping of Mentor in the state's Division I championship game Saturday, giving the Bombers their second state title in three years.
Senior running back Darius Ashley helped close out a 15-0 season by carrying 36 times for 271 yards and two touchdowns, breaking an Ohio Division I championship game record for rushing yardage.
The 5-foot-9, 195-pound back scored on runs covering 27 and 1 yard, and tore off a 40-yard run in the third quarter. Ashley will play at the University of Louisville next fall.
Ashley and the 2007 Bombers beat teams from four different states (Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio) and averaged over 30 points per game while holding nine of 15 opponents under 10 points.
Weekly Leaders
Passing
1. Corey Robinson, 6-3, Sr., Lone Oak (Paducah, Ky.) vs. Warren East (Bowling Green, Ky.), 484
2. Charlie Westfal, 5-11, Sr., New Canaan (Conn.) vs. Hand (Madison, Conn.), 375
3. J.J. Harp, 6-2, Sr., Argyle (Texas) vs. Snyder (Texas), 332
4. Chas Dodd, 5-11, So., Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.) vs. Summerville (S.C.), 319
5. Jacob Davis, Jr., Ouachita Christian (Monroe, La.) vs. West St. John (Edgard, La.), 307
Rushing
1. Cierre Wood, 6-0, Jr., Santa Clara (Oxnard, Calif.) vs. Valley Christian (Cerritos, Calif.), 327
2. Pickle Nuckols, 5-10, Jr., Buffalo Gap (Swoope, Va.) vs. Colonial Beach (Va.), 289
3. Marcus Wright, 5-7, Sr., Reagan (San Antonio, Texas) vs. Los Fresnos (Texas), 275
4. Darius Ashley, 5-9, Sr., St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio) vs. Mentor (Ohio), 271
5. Alex Thomas, Sr., Ansonia (Conn.) vs. Northwest Catholic (West Hartford, Conn.), 267
Receiving
1. Jamarielle Brown, 6-3, Jr., Lone Oak (Paducah, Ky.) vs. Warren East (Bowling Green, Ky.), 170
T2. Alex Norman, 6-2, Jr., Hebron (Carrollton, Texas) vs. Mansfield Timberview (Arlington, Texas), 169
T2. Tristan Carey, 6-3, Jr., Colonial Beach (Va.) vs. Buffalo Gap (Swoope, Va.), 169
4. Mercier Doucette, 5-8, Sr., Boone County (Florence, Ky.) vs. Trinity (Louisville, Ky.), 152
5. D.L. Moore, 6-6, Sr., (Bowling Green, Ky.) vs. Owensboro (Ky.), 145
* Weekly leaders based on statistics provided to MaxPreps.com by coaches and team personnel by 10:30 a.m. (PDT) Monday, Dec. 2.