No. 19 St. Xavier

St. Xavier has more pieces returning on offense than it has had in any season since 2007, the year the Bombers went 15-0 and captured the Division I state title.

Under head coach Steve Specht, St. Xavier has been known for its defense, which is almost always very solid.

An experienced offense plus a defense that returns several important pieces is a recipe for a potentially very good season for the Bombers, who are ranked No. 1 in the MaxPreps Top 10 Ohio Football Dynasties list.



Quarterback Griffin Dolle brings stability to a position that the Bombers have had trouble at in recent years. His health will be critical to St. Xavier's success.

The team's leader rusher from a year ago, Conor Hundley, also returns. He tallied 1,386 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2010. C.J. Hilliard, who saw playing time as a freshman, is a great change of pace back. Kevin Milligan and Trey Kilgore are both playmakers at wide receiver.

Alex Breen and Brandyn Cook return on an offensive line that is usually one of the team's strengths. 6-foot-5 senior Will Piening is one of several promising linemen who could step up.

The team's defense lacks the superstar like Luke Kuechly or Steven Daniels of years past, but as a unit, it should be difficult to penetrate. Linebackers Nate Gerbus and Mark Jacob will be stout against the run.

6-4 defensive end Bryson Albright is back up front, with Andrew Arand and Sean Ahern returning in the secondary, providing the Bombers valuable experience at all three levels of defense.

Cincinnati's Greater Catholic League is unquestionably one of the nation's toughest. Throw in games with Pickerington Central, Trinity (Louisville, Ky.) and St. Edward, and St. Xavier's schedule is a gauntlet.



If this year's team exhibits the type of offensive firepower and defensive dominance that the 2007 squad did, another special season could be in store on North Bend Road.

Local look: "They bring back some great skill guys - including 1,500-yard rusher Conor Hundley and quarterback Griffin Dolle - and considering (coach) Steve Specht is such a defensive guru, they will definitely have a shot at winning their third state title since 2005. I know (Specht) likes the numbers his players put up in the weight room during the spring."
- Mike Dyer, Cincinnati Enquirer prep editor

Continue to School Profile
{PAGEBREAK}

School size: Division I


Enrollment: 1,565 (all boys)


2010 finish: 7-5


Head coach: Steve Specht




Career record: 71-17


Years at school: 15 (6 as head coach)


Notable players coached:
LB Rocky Boiman (Notre Dame, NFL)
QB Dominic Randolph (Holy Cross)
LB Luke Kuechly (Boston College)

Continue to Key Returners
{PAGEBREAK}







Continue to Season Outlook
{PAGEBREAK}

Toughest game: St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio). With the Bombers' schedule, it's a "pick your poison" scenario. St. Edward, which beat St. Xavier 20-3 last season, gets the nod.

Question mark: St. Xavier was held to seven points or less three times last season — all losses. Can St. Xavier's offense really break through and become a dominant unit?

Local outlook: Rival Colerain will be very good in 2011, as will fellow public school Middletown, led by super recruit Jalin Marshall. Archbishop Moeller and Elder will not be cakewalks either.

Overall outlook: St. Xavier played well down the stretch last season, beating Colerain and nearly downing a Braxton Miller-led Wayne squad. It averaged more than 24 points per game in its final four games. If this year's offense can top that number and its defense buckles down in high-leverage situations, the Bombers will be playing deep into November making a run at another Division I crown.

Continue to Video of Returning Players
{PAGEBREAK}