Step one is done
Now No. 1 Bombers can turn thoughts to Colerain
St. Xavier coach Steve Specht laughed when the first Colerain question came up.
Specht's top-ranked Bombers had just flogged Fairfield 45-0 on Saturday night in a Division I playoff opener, setting up a titanic regional football semifinal vs. No. 2 Colerain at Paul Brown Stadium next Saturday.
"I took some heat last week because I wouldn't look ahead, but now we can talk about Colerain," Specht said. "I don't know what they'll be charging to get in, but everyone should get their money's worth."
St. X handed defending state champ Colerain a 7-0 loss in a season opener at UC's Nippert Stadium.
"They're light years better now, but I think we've gotten much better too," Specht said.
Specht had refused to look past Fairfield, although the Indians (8-3) were the No. 8 regional seed and St. X (11-0) was No. 1.
"First, we had to beat Fairfield," Specht said.
That part was much easier than expected, as a crowd of 6,000 watched St. X methodically dismantle the Indians.
Fairfield's offense did not cross midfield until the third quarter and never advanced past the Bombers' 34-yard line.
St. X sophomore wunderkind Darius Ashley added another chapter to his bulging resume, as he rushed 17 times for 171 yards and four touchdowns. Included was a 95-yard TD run in the third period.
Ashley said St. X looks forward to the Colerain rematch.
"We beat them by seven last time, and hopefully we'll beat them by more this time," Ashley said.
Ashley raised his season totals to 1,167 yards rushing and 22 TDs. He replaced injured senior starter Chris Cionni when Cionni was hurt early in the year, and Ashley never let go of the job.
Cionni, who since has moved to a slot receiver position, also still runs the ball occasionally. He carried seven times for 58 yards Saturday.
"I give a lot of credit to Chris Cionni, because he's walked me through all I need to do," Ashley said. "My offensive line keeps opening up huge holes, and I just have to find them."
Fairfield coach Scott Dattilo was suitably impressed.
"They're just good everywhere," Dattilo said. "They were faster and stronger than us. Sometimes you have to see it up close, and now our younger players have seen what it takes to play at this level."
Fairfield's eight-game winning streak evaporated under a 28-0 first-half barrage, and St. X went on to post a 428-131 edge in total yards. St. X sacked Fairfield quarterback Derek Ball four times, and sophomore linebacker Fred Craig led the defense with nine tackles, a sack and an interception.
The Bombers rushed for 317 yards, and QB Brad Scherer completed five of nine passes for 106 yards and a 62-yard TD to Matthew McFarland.
The St. X defense, with its unyielding 3-3-5 alignment, posted its sixth shutout of the year, holding Fairfield to 52 net yards rushing.
"We knew they had some solid players, but if we just play our game we're tough to beat," St. X senior linebacker Joe Ries said.
St. Xavier was ranked No. 1 in both the final Enquirer and state polls and is No. 10 nationally in the USA Today Super 25.
Fairfield was making its first playoff appearance since 2000.
Specht said he knows Colerain will be motivated by having lost to St. X in the season opener.
"Whatever Kerry (Coombs) needs to do, I'm sure he'll do," Specht said. "He's been to the mountaintop, and we're trying to get there. As I told the kids, we're both 0-0 now. If we can be 1-0 after next week, I'll be happy."
Fairfield0000-0St. Xavier1414107-45
X -Ashley 6 run (Milligan kick)
X -Ashley 1 run (Milligan kick)
X -Ashley 5 run (Milligan kick)
X -McFarland 62 pass from Scherer (Milligan kick)
X -Milligan 35 FG
X -Ashley 95 run (Milligan kick)
X -Romeo 3 run (Perica kick)
Records: F 8-3, X 11-0.
