High School

St. Xavier Rallies from 20 Points Down to Stun Top-Ranked Elder Before 22,000 Fans at Cincinnati's Paycor Stadium

The Bombers capture the Division 1-Region 4 title game with big plays on offense, defense and special teams

Gary Adornato

St. Xavier, after falling behind 27-7 in the first half, stunned top-ranked Elder, 42-34, before 22,000 fans at Cincinnati's Paycor Stadium.
St. Xavier, after falling behind 27-7 in the first half, stunned top-ranked Elder, 42-34, before 22,000 fans at Cincinnati's Paycor Stadium. / St. Xavier Football

Before more than 22,000 fans at Cincinnati’s Paycor Stadium, St. Xavier rallied from a 27-7 first half deficit to stun top-ranked Elder, 42-34, in the OHSAA Division 1, Region 4 championship game on Friday night.

Elder scored on the game’s opening drive, but missed the extra-point, which opened the door for St. X to take a 7-6 lead on the first of three touchdown passes from Jackson Frey to Logan Von Holle.

Before Frey and Van Holle would celebrate another score, however, Elder ran off 21 straight points and built what appeared to be a commanding 20-point lead late in the second quarter.

But, before the game went to intermission, the Bombers rallied back to within one score, on Holle’s second TD reception and then a huge special team’s play. Ja’Kobe Clapper, who had an interception to setup St. X’s second score, blocked a punt which was recovered and returned for a touchdown by Chad Perkins. Later, Clapper would record a 21-yard loss with a sack that thwarted Elder’s final scoring opportunity.

Elder opened the second half with a scoring drive to go up, 34-21, but the Bombers scored the final 21 points, with the third TD strike from Frey to Von Holle and a pair of Daniel Vollmer rushing touchdowns.

Elder quarterback Kaden Estep had a pair of touchdown passes and rushed for a third score. Tommy Becker also had a pair of rushing touchdowns for the Panthers.

Check out the play-by-play below from our Live Update post to see how it all went down.

The big stage just got bigger, gigantic in fact.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division 1, Region 4 championship game between Elder and St. Xavier has been moved to Cincinnati's Paycor Stadium, home of the Cincinnati Bengals, to accommodate the huge fan interest in this contest.

Game Preview

Elder comes in undefeated (12-0) and ranked No. 1 in the Ohio High School Football Top 25 state rankings, but the Panthers can expect a tough challenge from No. 9 St. Xavier, which comes in with a 9-2 record. Elder has won three of the last four meetings between the teams, including a 23-13 victory earlier this year.

St. X's strenth lied on the defensive side of the ball where it is led by a trio of high profile recruits:

  • Kobe Clapper, Notre Dame
  • Aden Reeder, Michigan
  • Brayden Reilly, Clemson

On a five game win streak, the Bombers will rely that defensive until to propel and strong Elder offense, led by quarterback Kade Estep and running back Tommy Becker.

Estep has passed for 3,048 yards and 22 touchdowns this fall, while Becker is the leading rusher on the Greater Cincinnati League (GCL) in 2025.

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Live Updates

(Refresh throughout the game for live updates, scores, key plays and analysis.)

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Pregame

A slight drizzle is falling as we are just minutes away from kickoff. Reportedly, 21,000 tickets have been sold, creating an electric atmospher in Paycor Stadium.

1st Quarter

- St. Xavier kicks it off to start the game and Elder begins the first possession at its own 26.

- Brady Adriacco captures a third down throw from Kaden Estep for the game's first first-down conversion. The Panthers are near midfield.

- Elder is hitting in the passing game and then Estep runs it for a first and goal at the St. X one.

- TOUCHDOWN! Elder caps the drive with a 1-yard rush from Tommy Becker and the Panthers jump on top early, 6-0. The extra-point, however was blocked by the Bombers.

- St. Xavier begins its first possession at its own 30 after the kickoff.

- Logan Von Holle gets a big gainer with a first down reception.

- TOUCHDOWN! Jackson Frey finds Von Holley again and he takes it 54-yards to the house and the Bombers take a 7-6 lead.

- Derek Uran fields the kickoff for Elder and the Panthers begin their second possession near their own 20.

- TOUCHDOWN! Elder goes over the top for a 74-yard touchdown strike from Kaden Estep to Drew Wauligman and just like that the Panthers are back on top. The PAT is good and the score is 13-7.

- INTERCEPTION! Elder's Jared Lammers comes up with the game's first turnover, giving the ball right back to the Panthers, at the St. X 44, with 3 minutes to go in the first quarter.

- Elder is looking to take early control. They have the ball at the Bombers' 8 as the first quarter comes to an end.

2nd Quarter

- After a 1-yard run, Elder has a first and goal from the St. X 11, as the second quarter gets underway.

- TOUCHDOWN! Elder's Tommy Becker converts a short run from the two and adds the extra-point to move in front, 20-7, with 10 minutes to play in the first half.

- St. Xavier has it back, starting at its own 25, and needs points to stay in the battle.

- The Bombers are forced to punt the ball back the other way. Elder is back in possession at the St. X 44.

- No let up from Elder. The Panthers are back in the red zone with 8 minutes to play in the second quarter.

- TOUCHDOWN! Elder is now in complete command after a 24-yard rushing touchdown by Kaden Estep. Panthers lead 27-7 with 6 minutes remaining in the first half.

- St. Xavier has moved the ball out to their own 45 as they try to battle back into this one. There are 5 minutes remaining in the second quarter.

- Penalties thwart a promising drive for the Bombers, who punt it back Elder which has the ball near midfield. The first call reversed a big gain on a fake punt play.

- INTERCEPTION! St. X gets a huge and much-needed turnover as Ja'Kobe Clapper makes the pick and runs it back to the Elder 16. It's followed by a first down reception at the Panthers' 16.

- TOUCHDOWN! Jackson Frey and Logan Von Holle connect for their second TD of the night, from 12-yards out. The kick is good and St. X closes to within 13, at 27-14, with 3 minutes to go in the half.

- TOUCHDOWN! What a turnaround. St. X blocks an Elder punt and returns it for a score. The extra-point brings the Bombers within 6 with a minute to go. Once again it was Clapper making the big play by blocking the punt. Chad Perkins made the recovery and scored the TD.

- The first half has come to close, but we suddenly have a ball game again as the team's head to their locker rooms to prepare for the second half.

3rd Quarter

- We're all set for the second half. Elder is setting up to kickoff to St. Xavier to get the third quarter underway.

- The Bombers get a first down completion to Owen Davidson on a delivery from Jack Frey. They have the ball at their own 39 with one minute elapsed in the third quarter.

- INTERCEPTION! Another huge defensive play, this time by Elder's Mason Chumbley who picked Frey and took it to the St. X 21 with nine minutes remaining in the third quarter.

- TOUCHDOWN! It took just one play for Kaden Estep to capitalize with a 21-yard TD strike to Jake Bier. With the extra-point, Elder stretches its lead to 34-21.

- St. Xavier has to come back again. They start their next drive with a nice completion from Frey to Daniel Vollmer. The Bombers have the ball at their own 39.

- The Elder defense records its second sack of this drive. The Bombers are back at their own 22.

- Logan Von Holley makes another big play with a first down reception at the Bomber 43.

- St. X. gets a huge fourth down conversion. The Bombers have a first down at the Elder 28 with four minute to go in the quarter.

- The Bombers move into the red zone and then setup a first and goal as Frey completes a throw to Aidan Newdigate at the Elder 3.

- We've been in an extended delay as there have been back-to-back timeouts and an injury delay.

- TOUCHDOWN! Jackson Frey finds Von Holle for their third TD connection of the night. With the kick, the Bombers are back within one score. It's 34-28 with two minutes to go in the third quarter. The score after another touchdown was waved off by penalty.

- Elder will begin its next possession at the 29 after the kickoff.

- Attendance has been announced at 22,375.

- The Bomber defense gets a huge sack, driving Elder back to its own 18.

- The third quarter clock has expired. Elder will face a fourth and long from its 20 when the final quarter gets underway.

4th Quarter

- TURNOVER ON DOWNS! St. X denies Elder on a desperation fourth down pass attempt after an errant snap in punt formation. The Bombers take over at the Panther 20. Xavier has a chance to take the lead.

- TOUCHDOWN! Down by 20 points in the first half, St. X has battled back to take a 35-34 lead on a 2-yard rushing touchdown by Daniel Vollmer. What a game. There are 11 minutes to play.

- The Xavier defense forces a punt and the Bombers have the ball at their own 49 as the clock hits 8 minutes.

- St. X converts a fourth down play in the red zone. The Bombers have a first and goal at the Elder five.

- TOUCHDOWN! St. X is on fire. Daniel Vollmer collects his second rushing touchdown of the game. The Bombers lead 42-34 with just four minutes remaining.

- Suddenly down eight points, Elder starts at its own 26. A first down play pushes the ball out to the 41 with three minutes remaining.

- Chase Walpole makes back-to-back receptions and the Panthers have quickly driven to the Bombers' 28.

- Ja'Kobe Clapper with his third huge play of the night. This time its a sack which pushes Elder back to the St. X 39. It was a 21-yard loss.

- INTERCEPTION! The St. X defense has completely flipped this game. A Brady Reilly interception gives the ball back to the Bombers who hold an 8-point lead with two minutes to go.

- St. X is closing in on a stunning victory. The Bombers have a first down at their own 48 with less than a minute to play.

- And that will do it. The clock is showing zeros as St. Xavier defeats Elder, 42-34.

Published |Modified
Gary Adornato
GARY ADORNATO

Gary Adornato is the Senior VP of Content for High School On SI and SBLive Sports. He began covering high school sports with the Baltimore Sun in 1982, while still a mass communications major at Towson University. In 2003 became one of the first journalists to cover high school sports online while operating MIAASports.com, the official website of the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association. Later, Adornato pioneered market-wide coverage of high school sports with DigitalSports.com, introducing video highlights and player interviews while assembling an award-winning editorial staff. In 2010, he launched VarsitySportsNetwork.com which became the premier source of high school media coverage in the state of Maryland. In 2022, he sold VSN to The Baltimore Banner and joined SBLive Sports as the company's East Coast Managing Editor.

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