Olentangy Orange vs. St. Xavier live score, updates, highlights from OHSAA Division I state championship game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Ohio’s largest schools will cap their high school football season on Friday night.
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It’s the OHSAA Division I state final, and it pits Olentangy Orange against St. Xavier.
Orange has put together a magical season, including a state semifinal 28-0 win over St. Edward.
Olentangy Orange has never played in a state final.
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They’re seeking to become the first D-I team to go undefeated since St. Ed’s did it in 2010.
Orange has QB Levi Davis, a commit to Ohio University, along with talented RB Lucas Fickel.
St. Xavier is 10-4 and is a four-time state champion (2005, 2007, 2016, 2020). St. X has been runner-up three times, as well.
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The QB for St. Xavier is Jackson Frey, the son of former Ohio State QB Grey Frey.
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St. Xavier has four linebackers committed big time: Brayden Reilly to Clemson, Ja’Kobe Clapper to Notre Dame, Aden Reeder to Michigan and Daniel Vollmer to Vanderbilt.
The X has the most team sport state titles in OHSAA history (65).
Below, you can follow along for updates throughout the game.
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OLENTANGY ORANGE 28, ST. XAVIER 7: 4TH QUARTER
Refresh for the latest.
FOURTH QUARTER
– After the penalty, Orange has to punt. Davis pins it to the 8-yard line.
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– Orange goes for it on fourth-and-3 on the second play of the fourth quarter. Levi Davis ran for four yards to the St. X 29-yard line. Huge conversion, except a holding call brings it back.
THIRD QUARTER
– Orange runs Lucas Fickel five consecutive times to end the third quarter, maintaining possession and using clock.
– Orange follows its touchdown by forcing a punt with 3:14 left in the third quarter. They’ll take over at their own 45.
– Touchdown Orange. Lucas Fickell caps the drive with a 4-yard touchdown. A great start to the second half. (Orange 28-7, 6:03 3Q)
– Orange is over midfield, thanks in part to a DPI drawn by MC Walker.
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– St. Xavier kicked deep to start the second half. Orange will start at its own 14 after a short return.
HALFTIME
– That last-gasp drive by Orange changes all the momentum heading into halftime. Orange receives the second-half kickoff, too, looking to close out a perfect season.
– Second half should kick about 9:10 p.m.
SECOND QUARTER
– Touchdown Orange. A huge moment with just 13 seconds left in the half. It’s Levi Davis to Lucas Fickell on a 15-yard pass. A two-minute drive ends in a TD, point after good. (Orange 21-7, 0:13 2Q)
– Orange is driving. Two more big passes from Levi Davis to MC Walker, including a 39-yarder, are putting them in scoring range in the final seconds of the half.
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– St. Xavier had a fourth-and-10 from the plus-43 and opts to punt. Downed at the 9-yard line with 2:57 until halftime.
– Temporarily, it looked like Orange had a pick-six. But it’s called back for pass interference.
– Touchdown Orange. It’s Levi Davis for 4 yards to MC Walker to take the lead back. This pair had a huge drive, connecting for 34 yards and 22 yards on two passes prior to the TD. Kick is good again. (Orange 14-7, 5:35 2Q)
– Touchdown St. Xavier. Huge play on third down as Jake Britt takes a carry 39 yards all the way to the end zone. The kick is good, and it’s all tied up midway through the second quarter. (7-7, 7:55 2Q)
– St. Xavier converted a key first down near midfield, but then Brennan Kesler got a key sack on the next play for Orange to make it second-and-long.
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– Touchdown Orange. On the first play of the second quarter, QB Levi Davis keeps for himself and powers in a 2-yard TD. The point after kick is good. (Orange 7-0, 11:54 2Q)
FIRST QUARTER
– A long drive for Olentangy Orange ends the first quarter. They’ll have fourth-and-goal at the 2-yard line to start the second quarter.
– A quick stop for Orange results in a punt by St. Xavier. Returned to the plus-43 with 5:41 left in the first quarter.
– Orange drove to the St. Xavier 9-yard line and faced a fourth-and-2. An incomplete pass resulted in a turnover on downs.
– On third down after the pick, Levi Davis runs for 25 yards into the red zone.
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– Orange interception. Just a minute into the game, Zane Konczak intercepts a pass for Olentangy Orange. An early chance to set the tone.
– St. Xavier will start from its own 27 to get the final Friday night of the Ohio high school football season underway.
PREGAME
– Orange won the opening toss and deferred. St. Xavier will receive to begin the ballgame.
– This game should start close to on time, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The day has run on a solid schedule thanks to blowout, running-clock wins by Glenville (D-IV) and Bishop Watterson (D-III).
– St. Xavier has the most team sport state titles in OHSAA history (65).
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