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The St. Xavier vs Elder showdown at Paycor Stadium turned into the kind of high school football game people will talk about for years.
Under the lights on the Cincinnati Bengals’ home turf, St. Xavier erased a 27–7 deficit and stormed back to beat previously undefeated Elder 42–34 in the OHSAA Division I, Region 4 championship game.
The rivalry of St. Xavier vs Elder drew more than 22,000 fans packed into the stadium, and by the final whistle it felt like everyone had just witnessed an instant classic. This was a wild one that we didn’t expect when we reported on it yesterday.
This regional final was moved to Paycor because demand was so high, and the game absolutely lived up to the hype.
Sports Illustrated even ran a live blog following every twist and turn of the night, which you can still read here.
What started as another dominant Elder performance ended with St. Xavier players celebrating at midfield and Elder stunned by its first loss of the season.
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Xavier | 7 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
| Elder | 13 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 34 |
St. Xavier vs Elder Opens with Elder in Complete Control
Early on, the St. Xavier vs Elder matchup looked like it might follow the script of Elder’s 12–0 season. The Panthers received the opening kickoff and went right to work. Quarterback Kaden Estep mixed short passes with downhill runs, hitting Brady Adriacco on a key third-down conversion to get near midfield. Elder’s offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage, and soon Estep kept the ball on a quarterback run down to the 1-yard line.
From there, running back Tommy Becker finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown. The extra point was blocked, but Elder still grabbed a 6–0 lead and all of the early momentum. St. Xavier answered quickly when quarterback Jackson Frey connected with Logan Von Holle on a deep route for a 54-yard touchdown strike, pushing the Bombers in front 7–6.
Elder shrugged that off and responded immediately. Estep dropped back on the next drive and found Drew Wauligman streaking downfield for a 74-yard touchdown. After the extra point, the Panthers led 13–7 and the purple-clad crowd at Paycor was roaring. When defensive back Jared Lammers grabbed an interception later in the quarter, it felt like
Elder was ready to seize full control of the St. Xavier vs Elder clash.
Elder Builds a 27–7 Lead and Seems Ready to Run Away
The second quarter opened with more of the same. Behind a powerful offensive line, Elder marched down the field again and Becker powered in for another short touchdown run, stretching the advantage to 20–7. St. Xavier’s defense, usually the strength of the team, looked a step slow as Elder consistently won first down and set up favorable situations.
Then Estep showed why he has been one of the top quarterbacks in Ohio this season. On a designed run, he found a crease, bounced outside, and sprinted 24 yards to the end zone. With that score, Elder pushed its lead to 27–7, and the Panthers’ sideline looked like a team that expected to be heading to the state semifinals.
At that point, most neutral observers would have assumed the St. Xavier vs Elder game was essentially over. Elder was unbeaten, had already defeated the Bombers once in the regular season, and appeared to be in full command again. However, St. Xavier still had plenty of fight left.
Clapper Ignites St. Xavier’s Comeback Before Halftime
The entire night flipped in just a few minutes late in the second quarter. St. Xavier safety Ja’Kobe Clapper delivered the spark his team desperately needed when he stepped in front of an Estep pass and returned the interception deep into Elder territory. Suddenly, the Bombers’ sideline came alive.
Frey wasted no time capitalizing. On the ensuing possession, he found Von Holle again, this time for a 12-yard touchdown in the red zone. That cut the deficit to 27–14 and, more importantly, reminded everyone that St. Xavier’s offense could explode just as quickly as Elder’s.
What happened next turned a comfortable Elder lead into a tense playoff fight. After forcing a punt, St. Xavier sent heavy pressure up the middle. The Bombers blocked the kick, and Chad Perkins scooped the ball and returned it for another touchdown. In the blink of an eye, the score was 27–21, and the St. Xavier student section was shaking the lower bowl of Paycor Stadium.
By halftime, the St. Xavier vs Elder game had gone from potential blowout to six-point thriller. Both fan bases knew the second half would define their season.
St. Xavier vs Elder Becomes a Heavyweight Fight in the Second Half
Elder tried to steady things coming out of the locker room. After St. Xavier threw an interception to Mason Chumbley, Estep immediately hit Jake Bier for a 21-yard touchdown, extending the Panthers’ lead back to 34–21. It was another reminder of how dangerous Elder’s offense can be, and it forced the Bombers to respond yet again.
Respond they did. St. Xavier put together a long, physical drive, leaning on its offensive line and running game to chew clock and wear down the Elder front. Frey capped the possession with yet another touchdown pass to Von Holle, their third scoring connection of the night, trimming the margin to 34–28 heading into the fourth quarter.
At this point, the St. Xavier vs Elder matchup felt like a prize fight. Every time Elder landed a punch, St. X answered with one of its own. The difference would be which defense could finally string together stops.
Daniel Vollmer and the Bombers’ Defense Finish the Job
Early in the fourth quarter, a bad punt snap put Elder in a disastrous position and handed St. Xavier a short field at the Panthers’ 20-yard line. Running back Daniel Vollmer took full advantage, pounding the ball between the tackles and eventually scoring from two yards out. For the first time since the opening quarter, the Bombers led, 35–34.
After a defensive stop, St. Xavier put the ball back in Vollmer’s hands. Behind excellent blocking, he helped bleed precious time off the clock, then punched in another 2-yard touchdown to make it 42–34. Elder suddenly found itself in an unfamiliar position: needing a late touchdown just to stay alive.
The Panthers mounted one last drive, pushing the ball inside the St. X 30. However, Clapper came through again with a huge 21-yard sack that forced Elder into desperation mode. On the following play, standout defender Brayden Reilly stepped in front of a pass and intercepted it, effectively ending the game and setting off a blue-and-white celebration.
What the St. Xavier vs Elder Classic Means Going Forward
When the final horn sounded, the Bombers had completed a 35–7 run to close out the night. Frey finished with more than 200 passing yards and three touchdown throws to Von Holle, while Vollmer’s two fourth-quarter scores provided the knockout blows.
On the other side, Estep and Becker still posted big numbers, but Elder could not overcome turnovers, special teams mistakes, and St. Xavier’s second-half surge.
The victory sends St. Xavier to the state semifinals, where the Bombers will face another top contender with a trip to Canton on the line. For Elder, the loss ends a brilliant season that included an unbeaten regular schedule and a No. 1 state ranking.
Yet, even in defeat, the Panthers were part of a game that showcased everything high school football can offer.
Fans who want to relive the full play-by-play of this unforgettable St. Xavier vs Elder showdown can revisit the live game coverage from Sports Illustrated, or check additional updates on the official OHSAA site at ohsaa.org. No matter which side fans were on, this regional final at Paycor Stadium will be remembered as one of the best playoff games the city has seen in years.
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