Link
Bombers like being underdog
Lakewood loaded with prospects
BY TOM GROESCHEN | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER
St. Xavier is forecast to lose this week, and the Bombers love such talk.
St. Xavier is rated No. 13 by USA Today, but the Bombers' opponent is No. 8 Lakewood St. Edward. The battle of Ohio football titans will highlight the i-wireless Fox19 Prep Classic on Saturday (7:30 p.m.) at Paul Brown Stadium.
"Everyone is telling us we're the underdog," St. Xavier senior quarterback Ryan Morris said. "All the coaches and everyone at school is saying it. I think that's good for us, because we're usually the favorite.
St. Xavier (2-0) is the reigning Division I state champion. The Bombers, ranked No. 1 in the Enquirer Division I area coaches' poll, have beaten Huber Heights Wayne 52-14 and Indianapolis Cathedral 23-3.
St. Edward (2-0), ranked No. 1 in the Cleveland Plain Dealer area poll, has beaten Cleveland Benedictine 24-7 and Shaker Heights 31-0.
Ohio High magazine predicted Lakewood St. Edward will beat St. Xavier in the 2006 state championship game Dec. 2 at Canton's Fawcett Stadium.
"No one reason, just a feeling that maybe it's their year," Ohio High writer Dave Biddle said, when asked why St. Ed was picked to win. "St. Ed, St. Xavier and Colerain aren't much different in personnel."
One reason St. Ed is getting major props is a stacked senior class, including several Division I college prospects. The Eagles were state semifinalists last year.
St. Ed safety Nate Oliver in February became Ohio State's first oral commitment for the class of 2007. Oliver, wide receiver Kyle Hubbard, and linebacker Diauntae Morrow are rated among the state's top 30 seniors by Ohio High magazine.
St. Ed running back Frank Edmonds might be on the elite list if he was taller (5-8, 187), but he rushed for 2,036 yards and 22 touchdowns last year. He ran for 215 yards in the Eagles' opener, despite missing much of the first half with leg cramps.
St. Xavier has some quality talent but not as many Division I prospects in its senior class. The Bombers have some standouts in their junior class, including running back Darius Ashley (220 yards rushing, five TDs in two games) and strong safety Fred Craig. The Bombers start seven juniors on defense, and most of their offensive skill players - except for Morris - are juniors.
The game will feature similar offenses.
"They like to run the ball, like we do," St. Xavier coach Steve Specht said. "Frank Edmonds is special. He's really, really, really good. Defensively, they're lights out. They've got great linebackers that run to the ball and great size up front."
Such a mano-a-mano struggle will get national attention, but St. Xavier insists it's not a statement game.
"It's way too early for that," Specht said.
Eric Robbe, a St. Xavier senior defensive back, said the Bombers don't count one game above others. Not when the opponents still include No. 3 USA Today-rated Lakeland, Fla. (next week) and the annual Greater Catholic League South gamut of Elder, La Salle and Moeller.
"It's nice to be on the big stage at Paul Brown, and we're kind of excited to be the underdog," Robbe said. "We can go after them and not have the target on us."
E-mail tgroeschen@enquirer.com
