St. Ignatius (Cleveland) at St. Xavier (Cincinnati)
Alex Maruna, St. Ignatius
Photo by Glenn Kross
It's potentially a state championship game preview in a wide-open race in Ohio's Division I this season. Both teams are ranked in the top four of MaxPreps' latest Ohio state computer rankings. Each squad has posted a 6-2 record against a tough schedule. St. Ignatius is trying for its second win against a Cincinnati Greater Catholic League South power in as many weeks. The Wildcats took care of two-time defending state champion Moeller (Cincinnati), 34-20, last Saturday. Ohio State-bound defensive end
Dre'mont Jones made a huge first-quarter play, stripping a Moeller ballcarrier, scooping up his caused fumble, and rumbling for a 50-yard touchdown. Meanwhile, St. Xavier (6-2), which has clinched a tie with Moeller for the GCL South championship, picked up its third-straight win by knocking off Indiana power Warren Central, 23-14. Linebacker
Justin Hilliard, also an Ohio State recruit, recorded seven solo tackles and a sack.
Follow live scoring of this game on QwixcoreJust the facts: Saturday will be the 15th matchup between these teams since 2001. St. Xavier has a comfortable 10-3 edge in the regular-season showdowns. But St. Ignatius won the only postseason meeting: a 37-6 rout in the 2001 Division I state title game. … St. Ignatius has a record 11 state championships – all since 1988. St. Xavier has two state titles, which it won in 2005 and 2007.
Mitch Stephens: St. Ignatius 21, St. Xavier 20
Kevin Askeland: St. Ignatius 14, St. Xavier 13
Jamie DeMoney: St. Ignatius 24, St. Xavier 21
Stephen Spiewak: St. Xavier 17, St. Ignatius 14
Leland Gordon: St. Ignatius 17, St. Xavier 16
Colin Ward-Henninger: St. Xavier 17, St. Ignatius 14
Jamie DeMoney has covered high school sports and recruiting for the past 20 seasons. He is a Regional Content Manager and Product Specialist for XOS Digital and compiles the National Prep Poll (PrepNation) for World Features Syndicate.
