Opponent Preview: St Xavier (Week 3)

Disclaimer: This is a fan blog and NOT associated with the Mentor football program

This is the third of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2015 season.  See the Week 2 preview on St Ignatius here.

Week 3

Who: St Xavier

What: Non-league game

Where: Ballaban Field (Cincinnati)

When: September 11th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Steve Specht (12th season, 2 state titles)

History: Mentor and St Xavier last met in the 2007 state championship game.  Mentor's Mr. Football QB Bart Tanski and the high octane offense were completely suffocated by the St Xavier defense.  The Bombers won their second title in three years with a 27-0 win over the Cardinals.  The two teams have never met in the regular season.

Looking Back...
While playing one of the most difficult schedules in Ohio, the Bombers had an impressive 8-2 record.  It included wins over Indianapolis Cathedral (2014 state champs), LaSalle (2014 DII state champs), and three other Ohio playoff teams (St Ignatius, Colerain, and Elder).  St X won two playoff games that included a rematch win over Colerain.  In a playoff rematch with Moeller, the Bombers lost 21-0 in the regional semifinal.  Key seniors on the 2014 team include All-Ohio LB Justin Hilliard (Ohio State) and RB Ben Glines (Boston College).

Schedule...
St Xavier plays in the very challenging Greater Catholic League.  This four-team league has a total of seven state titles since 2002.  St. X is notorious for often having one of the most challenging schedules in the country, let alone in the state.  Along with playing the three GCL schools (Moeller, Elder, and LaSalle), fellow Cincinnati power Colerain is also on the schedule.  St Ignatius, a fellow Jesuit school, is a long-standing opponent.  Along with Mentor, that is a "who's who" of Ohio schools.  St X has four out of state opponents: Covington Catholic (KY), Indianapolis Cathedral (IN), Warren Central (IN), and Louisville St Xavier (KY).  These four have a wealth of state football titles: Indy Cathedral (12), Louisville St X (12), Warren Central (8), and Covington Catholic (6).  Mentor is the only team on St X's schedule who doesn't have a football state championship.  That says all you need to know as to how challenging their schedule is.

2015 St Xavier Outlook...
The Bombers head into the 2015 season with local, state, and national hype.  A national website puts St Xavier as the No. 3 team in Ohio.  Mentor is ranked No. 15 in the same pre-season poll.

The Bomber offense has very high expectations.  QB Sean Clifford returns after a solid sophomore season.  The 6'4 junior QB (832 passing yards and 9 TD's) has already committed to Penn State.  St X has several returning linemen.  Fellow junior Matt Bockhorst is one of the top at his position/class in the country.  Bockhorst (6'4, 290) already has a growing list of college offers.  6'5 TE Noah Davis (20 receptions for 275 yards and 4 TD's in 2014) has committed to Michigan State.  Replacing Glines at the RB position should be Sean Prophit, another talented junior.  Prophit had 224 yards and 2 TD's on 35 carries.  He had a season-ending injuring during Week 3.  Clifford does return some of his top targets from last year.  Davis led the team in reception yards.  Andrew Homer (6'6, 210), a Miami (OH) commit, and junior Colton Paul are two other key receivers that return.

Defensively, St X graduated most of their starters.  Coach Specht has always had good defensive teams, so it shouldn't be a problem to reload.  Safeties J.P. Bitzenhofer (71 tackles in 2014) and Hayden Specht (1st team All-GCL) will be leaders of the defense. Homer was recruited by colleges as a LB and TE, so he could make a transition to the defensive side of the ball.

The Bombers should be one of the top teams in Ohio and will be serious contenders for a third state championship under Specht.  Considering the opponent and the long drive on a Friday afternoon/evening, expect this game to be the biggest challenge on Mentor's schedule.

Next Preview:  Euclid (Week 4)