ST. XAVIER (7-5 in 2015)
Coach: Will Wolford (fourth season, 22-15).
Starters back: Offense 5, defense 7.
Class: 6-A, District 3.
Player to watch: Senior quarterback Desmond Ridder, a Cincinnati commit, passed for 1,319 yards and nine touchdowns last season and also led the Tigers in rushing (114 carries, 668 yards, 12 TDs). Wolford said Ridder (6-4, 190) has progressed with the offense over the summer.
Other top players: RB Sam Taylor (Sr.), FB Mack Blincoe (Sr.), WR Blake Roshkowski (Sr.), OL Joe Lyons (Sr.), DL Kyle Robinson (Sr.), DL Max Willinger (Sr.), LB Braidon Washington (Sr.), LB Jack Daly (Sr.), LB Jack Kronk (Sr.), LB Ian Bentz (Sr.), CB Jake Taylor (Sr), K Sam McDonogh (Sr.).
Outlook: Wolford said the Tigers have more returning starters this year (12) than in his three previous seasons combined. With that experience, the Tigers enter the season with fewer question marks than normal. “We have a few more answers this year,” he said. “Last year we were cramming for the exam a little bit to get everything in, and it kind of caught up to us.” Ridder, Taylor (565 rushing yards, fourTDs), Blincoe and Roshkowski bring experience at the skill positions. Lyons is the only returning starter on the line, but Wolford said there is plenty of incoming talent and depth there. Wolford said the front seven will be the strength of the defense, but only one starter returns in a secondary that “is a question mark at this point.” McDonogh and punter Zac Collins give St. X one of the state’s best kicking tandems.
Schedule:
8/26 at Lexington Catholic
9/2 at Bowling Green
9/9 CENTRAL
9/16 HIGHLANDS
9/23 PRP
9/30 vs. Trinity (at PJCS)
10/7 MANUAL
10/14 at Male
10/21 at Butler
10/28 at Cincinnati St. Xavier
*-District game