On a cool fall night, the St. Xavier Bombers and the LaSalle Lancers met for their annual "King of the Road" rivalry at Tom Ballaban Field. This was a special night as the 2020 senior class of Bomber football players celebrated their final home game and parent night. Unfortunately for the Bombers, the Lancers had different plans for celebrating.
 
The game opened with the Lancers receiving the opening kickoff. Starting with the ball on their own 32-yard line, the Bomber defense forced a quick three and out and LaSalle punted back to the Bombers. The Lancer defense followed suit and forced the Bomber offense to a three and out. A five-yard punt gave LaSalle great field position at the St. Xavier 40-yard line. The Bomber defense forced a long third and 16 but junior quarterback, Zack Branam connected with sophomore wide receiver, Gi'bran Payne for a 17-yard completion and a Lancer first down. The next play found Payne completing a 24-yard pass to junior wide receiver, Jaylen Norwod to the Bomber one-yard line. Two plays later, junior running back, Cam Porter ran for the first score of the night. The point after failed but the Lancers led 6 - 0.
 
The Bombers took the ensuing kickoff back to the LaSalle 37-yard line, but a holding penalty negated the gain and took the ball back to the Bomber 15-yard line. After three plays the Bombers were faced with a fourth and inches. Electing to go for it, senior quarterback, Matthew Rueve was stuffed on a quarterback sneak for a one-yard loss. The LaSalle offense took over on the Bomber 24-yard line, but the Bomber defense held strong and on a similar fourth and one stopped Branam on a quarterback keeper for no gain. The Bomber offense once again took over on their own 15-yard line and proceeded to march 85-yards in 12 plays capped by senior running back, Kellen Newman's three-yard touchdown run. The extra point by sophomore place kicker Mason Rohmiller was good and the Bombers took a 7 - 6 lead with 11:54 left in the second.
 
Unfortunately for the Bombers, the Lancer offense only needed one play after the kickoff to regain the lead as Branam hooked up with junior wide receiver Davonta Smith for a 75-yard touchdown pass. The point after was good and in :09 LaSalle took the lead 13 - 7. Undaunted, the Bomber kickoff return unit opened a hole for junior wide receiver Liam Clifford who returned the kick down to the LaSalle 31-yard line. The Bomber offense ran 7 plays to get the ball down to the 14-yard line, but a field goal attempt sailed wide right and the LaSalle offense took over on their own 20-yard line. The Lancers proceeded to put together a 13-play drive down to the St. Xavier 15-yard line where senior place kicker, Jake Siebert connected on a 32-yard field goal. At the 5:47 mark of the second quarter the Lancers held a 16 - 7 lead.

After a touchback, the Bomber offense started on their own 20-yard line, gaining 20 yards before the St. Xavier punting unit shanked a punt 5 yards out of bounds to their own 45-yard line. LaSalle took advantage of the field position by an eight-play drive culminating in another Branam to Smith touchdown pass of 13 yards with :22 left in the half. Bomber defensive free safety senior Tucker Hundley blocked the extra point, but the LaSalle lead grew to 22 - 7 to end the half. This was the last time the Lancers would find the Bomber end zone.
 
The Bombers received the second half kick but after one play the La Salle defense intercepted a deflected pass and gave their offense the ball on their own 22-yard line. The Bomber defense played strong and forced a Lancer field goal attempt that sailed wide left. The Bombers took over on their own 20-yard line but could only muster 21 yards on six plays. After a 34-yard punt, La Salle took over on their 25-yard line. Six plays later, junior cornerback Gabe Dubois intercepted a Branam pass at the Bomber 29-yard line and returned it 36 yards to the LaSalle 35-yard line.
 
The offense took the field with great field position and momentum. Matthew Rueve and company put together a seven-play drive that culminated in a 20-yard touchdown pass to Clifford. The Bombers were looking to make the game a one score affair and decided to go for the two-point conversion. Converting the two points with a pass again to Clifford who extended the ball to cross the end zone. Lancers 22, Bombers 15 with a lot of energy on the field and in the student section.
 
The Bomber defense continued to exert its muscle and kept the Lancers high powered offense in check. The third quarter ended with the score 22 - 15 in favor of the Lancers.
 
The fourth quarter saw both offenses stay between the twenty-yard lines. The Bomber defense ignited the stadium again with a Hundley interception on the St. Xavier seven-yard line with 2:11 left in regulation. Methodically running their two-minute offense, the Bombers passed their way down into La Salle territory. Catches by senior tight end and Northwestern commit Marshall Lang, senior running back Ben Bracken and Clifford put the home team in a heroic spot. An offensive pass interference call set the offense back 15 yards but did not stop them. Again, Rueve connected with Clifford for 16-yards and the Bombers had the ball on the Lancer six-yard line. The crowd of 5,000 were on their feet as the offense was sitting nice with three downs to go six yards. Unfortunately, Rueve was unable to connect to either of his favorite targets and the Lancers took over on downs.
 
Disappointment set in for the Bombers, but the reality of next week's challenge against fellow Jesuit St. Ignatius Wildcats was already looming. Saturday morning was time to put this one behind the team and get ready for Jesuit Bowl 2019.