Xavier is the winner of the Class LL football championship for the third straight year. The team was led by quarterback David Watts, who scored two touchdowns in the win over Bethune-Cookman. He also helped lead the team to an undefeated season, and he was named Player of the Week.
Xavier defeated Lewis Central 45-38 in the Class 4A state championship game on Saturday at the UNI-Dome. The Falcons finished 13-0 and won their third straight title. The victory snapped Lewis Central’s 21-game winning streak.
Xavier took a 17-14 lead in the first half. After a three-yard run by DeAngelo Berry, Coleton Beasler-Weber returned the kickoff 97 yards for a score. The lead grew to 24-14.
Lewis Central responded with a 35-yard Boston Hensley field goal. A fumble at the end of the kickoff gave the Saints the ball on their own 29-yard line. The Saints’ offense had five catches for 49 yards.
Xavier turned the tables in the second half. The Xavier run game was key. Pat D’Amato rushed for 62 yards on 10 carries. Matt Craig rushed four times for 58 yards. Josan Santos-Knox had one TD catch.
Xavier finished the game with a rushing total of 408 yards. Ron Thomas completed a 3-yard TD pass to Josef Lemker. Xavier led 25-22 with 3:34 left in the game.
Xavier was also aided by a strong special teams unit. Special teams recovered a kick-return fumble. They were also credited with a blocked punt.
Lewis Central’s defense was stout in the first half. They held Cunningham to 18 yards. The Saints’ run game was vital in extending the lead after the break.
Xavier had three other touchdowns in the second half. On a fourth-and-goal drive, Xavier scored on a 1-yard plunge by Ronan Thomas. On the next play, J.J. Weaver had a great game. He stuffed Chris Rodriguez on the first play. He then hit wide open Curtis Witte down the seam for a 48-yard touchdown pass.
Xavier’s football program has beaten Bethune-Cookman University 47-17 in the Hopewell All-Decade game. This is the first time the Wildcats have been beaten by an FBS team in the school’s history.
The win was the first for SSU’s new coach, Erik Raeburn. The junior linebacker Mulik Simmons recorded 11 tackles and junior defensive lineman Quaron Hilliard recovered a fumble.
The victory snapped a 16-game losing streak to the Wildcats. It also marked the first time SSU had won a home opener since 2015. The Wildcats had nine wins last season.
SSU quarterback Blake Dever finished 9-of-23 passing for 114 yards without an interception. The Wildcats rushed for 73 yards. However, SSU botched a punt attempt in the fourth quarter.
SSU senior Marquis Smith made a move from linebacker to defensive end. He forced two fumbles. One of them resulted in a one-yard loss. The other ended with an 8-yard loss on third-and-8.
SSU junior running back Nicholas Bentley made big blocks on the Bethune-Cookman defenders. The Wildcats then got a two-yard touchdown run from senior Akevious Williams.
The Wildcats’ defense held NFA to only six points in the second half. NFA scored two late second-quarter scores to pull within six.
Jah-Maine Martin ran for three touchdowns and 120 yards on 19 carries. He also had two catches for 25 yards. He will play for NC A&T in the 2021-22 school year.
The Wildcats will now travel to face Florida National on Monday. It will be the teams’ first game in the Dome. A win could give the Wildcats a chance to clinch the MEAC title. The Wildcats are currently ranked 382 in the nation by 247Sports.
Xavier and Middletown High are rivals, but that’s not all. The two schools are among the most storied in the state and will play for the City Championship football title tomorrow morning. The teams have been rivals for 15 years.
The Xavier Knights are a perennial contender in the state’s top tier. They are currently the defending Class LL state champions. They have won 10 of 13 games between the two teams. They are also ranked first in every statewide poll.
In addition to their high-flying offense, the Xavier Knights have one of the best defenses in the state. They intercepted five passes and gave up just one touchdown.
The Middletown Falcons have a much better team this year than last. They have a young group, but they have been competitive throughout the season. The two schools will meet in the city championship at 10 a.m. Today, Xavier is the favored team. If the Falcons can pull it off, they will be a major player in the upcoming playoffs.
Xavier and Middletown have played one of the most compelling and entertaining high school football rivalries in the state. The rivalry has been a huge draw in the area, but it will come to an end. There is a lot to like about the Middletown Falcons, but it will be a different story in the postseason.
The Xavier Knights have a winning record of 22. They are the most prolific defender in the state and have been in the running for the Class LL title for the past three seasons. They should be able to win the state title this season. The team has 20 seniors who have played in the playoffs.
Until recently, the Westwood Eagles of Marble Falls were one of the most elite high school football teams in Texas. But when two top-notch coaches left the fold for the sexiest job in town, many in the Westwood community were left wondering what happened to the good ol’ boys. This was particularly true of Coach David Watts, whose unrelenting sexism and prankster persona was a caustic and unmitigated booger magnet. It didn’t help that his players, if they could be categorized as such, were a ragtag bunch. Thankfully, the ensuing firestorm has subsided and some semblance of normalcy has returned to Westwood. This isn’t to say the team has completely lost its mojo, though, as they will get a second chance to prove their mettle against James Gamble Montessori in Cincinnati on Friday. So who knows, maybe they will win the hearts and minds of their respective coaches. Until then, they are left to their own devices.
The name of the game for this year’s team has not yet been decided, but as of this writing, they are currently slated to play Allen Central on November 8. That’s not to say they won’t, because the Eagles will be squaring off against rivals in the Texas High School Football league. It’s a nerd’s dream that they’ll be competing against some of the hottest teams in the state, especially with the playoffs just around the corner.
Continuing with the weekly recognition of players of the week, we take a look at the top ranked athlete for the week. This player has shown outstanding play both on and off the field.
Meghan McCain is deserving of Athlete of the Week honors. She was instrumental in helping the team to a strong start to the season. During her time with the team, she has been a strong leader on the court and works hard to improve her defense. She had 23 digs in three matches.
Corey Davis had four tackles, including an interception, in the spring game. He is listed as the third player on the depth chart at strong safety. He is a great teammate.
Grif Mebius is an excellent leader. He plays for the seventh grade blue team. He is a great example to the younger students. He is very strong, has a good grip on the ball and is a strong server.
William Byrnside is an athletic offensive lineman. He has always been a smaller player. He dominated the competition. He has had a lot of success this year. He has tacked on two carries for 41 yards in this week’s game. He also made a lot of key tackles on defense.
Jah-Maine Martin rushed for 120 yards on 19 carries. He also forced a fumble on the first play of the game. He had several other big plays. He also scored a touchdown.
Ellie and Brooke have been strong forces on this team this season. They have worked hard for defensive positions. They have a great attitude.
Jax Hillier has played both running back and linebacker. He has shown his intensity this week. He has been a great leader in the middle of the field and is willing to do anything to help his team.
Carver High School Football Schedule Whether you are a Carver High School football fan or not, you will be interested to know that this season’s schedule is packed with games to keep you occupied. From the beginning of the season through the State title game, the school will have plenty of opportunities to entertain you. […]
Florence Falcons Football Despite being a small football team, the Florence Falcons are making a name for themselves as one of the top football teams in the state of Kentucky. With a new coach, a new vision, and new players coming from all over, the Falcons are poised to make a big splash in the […]
Fyffe Red Devils Head Coaches Benefield Reflects on His Team’s Season Whether it was playing volleyball, or just losing the state title, the Fyffe Red Devils have had their ups and downs this season. And that’s no surprise to their head coach, Paul Benefield. Here are his thoughts on the team’s year, and where they […]
