Colerain defeats St. Xavier in Cincinnati showdown

In a battle of Cincinnati powers, Colerain defeated St. Xavier, 31-28, on the road Friday night. Colerain kicker Zac Gehner kicked a game-winning 39-yard field goal with 30 seconds left to give the Cardinals the victory.

In a game that was delayed an hour due to lightning, fans must have been wondering if they were at the right stadium during the first quarter and a half. Billed as two of the top defenses in the state, St. Xavier and Colerain engaged in an offensive shootout before their defenses settled in.

St. X got the scoring started on a third-and-1 on the 15-yard line with just over five minutes to go in the first quarter. The Bombers completed a 12-yard play to set up a first down at the Colerain 3-yard line, and they promptly scored on a C.J. Hilliard run to make it 7-0.

St. X kept up the defensive pressure on the ensuing possession, blocking Colerain's punt to set up a first down just outside the red zone. Quarterback Nicholas Tensing ended up running the ball in from five yards out to give St. X a 14-0 lead with three minutes left in the first quarter.

On its next possession Colerain didn't waste any time getting back into the game. Alfred Ramsby connected with Chris Davis on a 76-yard touchdown pass to cut the St. X lead in half.

After recovering a St. X fumble, Colerain took over on the opponent's 36-yard line. Following a series of runs, the Cardinals finally got into the end zone on a Ramsby quarterback sneak from a yard out, tying the game at 14-14 with 10 minutes left in the second quarter.

St. X responded with a 47-yard touchdown pass from Tensing to Ryan Frey, giving the Bombers the lead once again, 21-14.

After that the scoring came to a halt for the rest of the half, as both defenses started to settle in. Colerain threatened with under 20 seconds left in the half, but Ramsby's deep pass was intercepted in the endzone, and the teams went into the half with St. X leading 21-14.

Colerain got the second half scoring started on a bizarre play with six minutes left in the third quarter. Ramsby fired a pass to Davis, but the ball was deflected and wound up in the hands of Kelvin Cook, who ran it into the end zone for a 35-yard touchdown reception to tie the game, 21-21.

The Bombers threatened on the ensuing possession, marching downfield to Colerain's 11-yard line. St. X took a shot at the end zone a flea flicker, but the pass was intercepted at the goal line and the Cardinals took over at their own 10-yard line.

The two teams went into the fourth quarter tied at 21.

St. X was able to regain the lead after a long drive concluded with Hilliard plunging into the end zone from two yards out. With just over nine minutes left in the game, the Bombers led 28-21.

Colerain didn't threaten again until just under four minutes left in the game, when Ramsby completed a series of passes to bring the Cardinals to the St. X 13-yard line. Rambsby then took to the ground, rushing into the end zone for the score. The Cardinals received a scare on the extra point attempt however, as the kick was nearly blocked by St. X and barely cleared the crossbar.

St. X took over at their own 20-yard line with just over two minutes left with the game tied, 28-28. On the first play of the possession, however, Tensing was picked off by the Cardinals defense, setting up Colerain at the St. X 25-yard line.

After three runs, the Cardinals set up for the go-ahead 39-yard field goal attempt from the left hash mark with 36 seconds left.

Despite St. X head coach Steve Specht calling three consecutive timeouts to attempt to freeze him, Gehner put the ball through the uprights go give the Cardinals their first lead of the game, 31-28.

The Bombers started their drive with no timeouts at their own 20-yard line. Tensing was able to complete two passes and stop the clock with a spike, but St. X's 57-yard field goal attempt fell short and Colerain came away with the 31-28 victory.

Colerain goes to 3-0 on the season with the victory, while St. Xavier falls to 2-1.