By Mr. Eddie Dwyer, Copyright Credit December 2016
From Ohio Stadium at The Ohio State University - The 10-5 Bombers of Cincinnati St. Xavier, who had to win three overtime games in bringing home their third Division I State Football Championship, became the first school to win an OHSAA State Title on the gridiron with five losses.
In 2001, Saint Ignatius finished 11-4 after winning the ninth of its record 11 big-school state championships.
Wildcats Hall of Fame Coach Chuck Kyle '69, always the epitome of class in victory or defeat, couldn't say enough about his seniors and how they worked so hard on and off the field in making what was Saint Ignatius' 13 State Title Game appearance a reality.
The Wildcats, who closed their memorable 2016 season at 13-2, were also the Division I State Runner-Up in 1996.
St. Xavier, under the direction of veteran Head Coach Steve Specht, won its previous State Football Championships in 2007 and 2005. The Bombers, who were making their 23rd OHSAA playoff appearance, were State Runners-Up in 2001,1998 and 1992.
Saint Ignatius was making its 27th appearance in the OHSAA playoffs, as Coach Kyle now carries an impressive postseason record of 70-16. Those 70 wins include a remarkable five consecutive Division I State Championships from 1991 to 1995.
HERE IS A CORNER'S VIEW OF WHAT WAS A WILL-TESTING BATTLE BETWEEN TWO OF THE FINEST JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOLS IN THE NATION, AS ST. XAVIER WAS ABLE TO AVENGE A 31-14 WEEK 9 HOME LOSS TO THE WILDCATS.
Saint Ignatius, making its first appearance in the title game since its state-championship season of 2011, started fast thanks to an outstanding special-teams play by All-District and Special Mention All-Ohio defensive lineman Mike Chime, a play that saw Mike overpower the blocking, come up with a picture-perfect blocked punt, scoop the ball up at the 1-yard line and take it into the end zone. Junior Matthew Trickett kicked the extra point and the Wildcats led, 7-0, with the game not a minute old.
With a defense that produced a state-championship game record nine sacks keeping the Bombers under control, Saint Ignatius extended its lead to 10-0 on a 45-yard field goal by Trickett with 6 minutes and 33 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Although the Wildcats outgained the Bombers, 112-45, in total yards during the first half, both teams had trouble establishing consistency on offense.
"We got off to a great start with special teams and couldn't get that one more score in during the first half to put them in a difficult situation," said Coach Kyle, who has also led his alma mater to three National Titles (1989, 1993 and 1995) and a National Runner-Up in 2008. "You can't leave a great team in the game, and we did.
"It wasn't a good third quarter, with penalties and stuff," Coach Kyle continued. "That's not what we usually do."
After keeping St. Xavier's standout senior quarterback Sean Clifford in check throughout the first half, the penalties and mistakes not only put the Bombers back in the game in the third quarter, but allowed Clifford to get into the flow of the action. Clifford is bound for Penn State next year.
With Coach Specht's defense bending a little, but certainly not breaking, St. Xavier outscored the 'Cats, 10-0, in the third quarter on a 31-yard field goal by senior Kevin Rockwood, a smooth 22-yard touchdown pass from Clifford to junior wide receiver Andrew Wittrock and the ensuing extra-point kick by Rockwood. Rockwood's field goal needed some divine intervention, as it just snuck inside the left upright.
With the momentum definitely riding with the team from the Queen City, the Bombers took their first lead when junior defensive end Blake Bacevich scored off a 6-yard fumble recovery with 6:49 left in the fourth quarter. Rockwood's PAT made it a 17-10 game.
Saint Ignatius, flashing the credentials that earned it state, Midwest Region and National rankings, forced the first overtime with an impressive 14-play, 80-yard drive that featured the second - and third-effort running of junior tailback Mark Bobinski, some slick runs by senior tailback Dean "The Dream" Stowers, and a couple of key scrambles by senior quarterback Patrick Ryan.
Faced with a 4th-and-11 from the St. Xavier 17, Ryan hooked up with junior wide receiver Michael Drobnick on a perfect slant pattern that resulted in a touchdown. Trickett's extra point was high and true, and the game was knotted at 17 with 1:11 to go in the fourth quarter.
The Bombers won the toss for the first overtime and elected to go on defense. Under the OHSAA overtime rules, each team is awarded a possession at the opponent's 20-yard line.
Trickett's 20-yard field goal was answered by a 28-yard field goal from Rockwood and the teams headed for the second OT.
St. Xavier, on offense first in the second overtime, took a 27-20 lead when Clifford rolled away from pressure and found Wittrock in the right flat for a 7-yard touchdown pass that was capped by Rockwood's extra point.
The Wildcats, whose only other setback this season was a 28-21 overtime loss in Week 4 to eventual Michigan State Runner-Up Detroit Catholic Central in Novi, Michigan, saw an outstanding year come to an end on an incomplete pass in the end zone off a fourth-down play.
"Give St. Xavier credit, we had to play them a second time and they did some nice things that forced us to get off our game a little bit," said Coach Kyle.
FROM WILDCATS OUTSTADNING LINEBACKERS/CAPTAINS JOHNNY VELOTTA AND ADAM SHIBLEY, TWO OF THOSE SPECIAL SENIORS WHO HELPED SHOW THE WAY
Johnny V: "When it hurts this much, you realize how much it means to you. We all bought into the program and we made a commitment to each other. We decided last year that we wanted to do what no one expected. Going into the year everyone doubted us (the local media). We just ignored that, relied on each other and were able to accomplish great things. I love everyone on this team, they're my brothers. I'm going to miss them."
Adam: "Coming into the season we made it a goal to bring back the real Saint Ignatius football. Four straight years of not making it to the state title game, and that's always the expectation at Saint Ignatius to win state championships, we wanted to restore that. We did everything we could. The amount of kids that have the opportunity to play for a state championship in one of the great football states in the country is minimal. We brought the excitement back and I think we turned some heads. That's all you can ask for."
SACK CITY: The state-championship game record nine sacks the Wildcats racked up on Friday night surpassed the eight sacks accomplished by the 'Cats' 2008 State Championship Team versus Cincinnati Elder in the title game, and the eight sacks totaled by the 2001 State Championship team versus St. Xavier in the championship game.
Saint Ignatius is now 2-1 versus the Bombers in their State Championship Game matchups, having also defeated St. Xavier in the 1992 Title Game. The Bombers lead the all-time Jesuit School gridiron rivalry with the Wildcats, 13-11.
BY THE NUMBERS: With Mark Bobinski rushing for 141 yards on 33 carries, Saint Ignatius outgained St. Xavier, 189-56, on the ground. The Bombers won the passing game, however, 149 yards to 65 for the 'Cats.
While the record nine sacks are very impressive, the key stats that stick out to this old gridiron grinder are the four turnovers St. Xavier caused and the penalties that showed Saint Ignatius flagged seven times for 70 yards and the Bombers hit with three penalties for 31 yards.