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Rich Hidy ‘12
SSID Managing Director

Bombers’ Season Ends In Dayton

     After advancing all the way to the State Semifinals, the St. Xavier Bombers lost in the rematch game against the Pickerington Central Tigers in Dayton at the University’s Welcome Stadium by the score of 14-7. The Bombers played a solid game, not turning the ball over at all and only allowing two touchdowns, but still couldn’t come out on top. Both teams were knotted up at seven heading into the fourth quarter, but the Tigers took the lead with five minutes left in the game on a Devone Penick ten yard run. The Bombers then almost battled back to tie the game, nearly converting on a Hail Mary pass at the end of the game. However, the Tiger defense ended up being too much for the Bomber offensive attack. Even so, the Bombers still had a great season, finishing 10-4 and as the top team in Cincinnati. The Tigers will be in the State Finals next week, with a record of 12-2.

     Griffin Dolle, the senior quarterback, was thirteen for twenty-five in the game for one hundred and four yards. He completed a long pass of twenty-two yards in the game to junior wide out Trey Kilgore, who finished the game with five catches for forty yards. Sophomore Ryan Frey and junior Kevin Milligan each had three catches for twenty yards. Milligan also had three rushes for twelve yards and a touchdown. Senior running back Conor Hundley carried the ball eighteen times for fifty-one yards and also had a reception for nine yards. It was a tough way to end the season for the Bomber offense, but the unit made vast improvements over the course of the season and set the foundation for next year’s offense.

     The defense was as solid as always for the Bombers. Senior defensive back Spencer Stroube led the way for the Bombers with 9.5 tackles and a sack. Junior middle linebacker Mark Jacob racked up 6.5 tackles and a pass breakup. Patrick Armbruster and Joe Barrett each had four tackles. Senior captains Nate Gerbus and Bryson Albright had great games to finish out their careers. Gerbus, who suffered an injury at the end of the game, had 3.5 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Albright had 2.5 tackles and also had 1.5 sacks. “I'm extremely proud of the senior class and what we accomplished this year could not have been done without the managers, trainers, and coaches. It was an honor to be apart something so special. Everyone gave it their best effort and we have nothing to be ashamed of. I love this institution and I am honored to be a part of The Long Blue Line,” said Gerbus. Senior punter Robbie Dorger had an average of 33.7 yards per punt and a long punt of forty-eight yards on special teams.

     Obviously, the abrupt end to the 2011 season is a disappointment for the Bombers, but the team can build on its successes for the future. This senior class will have a distinguished legacy and a spot at the forefront of The Long Blue Line as a very talented and hard working group of players. They should be proud of the hard work that they put into this year, and the victories that they had along the way. Even in defeat, the Bombers hung together and bounced back. The Bombers, led by Coach Specht, will bounce back again from this loss and be ready for 2012. Go Bombers!