"Football" weather gripped St. Xavier Stadium as the St. Xavier Bombers and Mason Comets warmed up on Ballaban Field for the 2019 Ohio High School Athletic Association First Round Playoff Game. Once the teams got used to the 33-degree temperature, both offenses scored with regularity in the first half. The Bomber defense bent but did not break to start the game. On Mason's first drive, junior cornerback Gabe Dubois picked off a pass at the St. Xavier goal line to give the Bombers the ball. The Bombers warmed up the scoreboard first with a nice five-play, 80-yard drive that consumed 1:29 seconds. Senior quarterback Matthew Rueve hit senior tight end and Northwestern commit Marshall Lang for a five-yard touchdown pass. Sophomore placekicker Mason Rohmiller converted the extra point to put the home team ahead 7 – 0.

The Comet's offense was not going to be outdone. The Mason Comets, from the Greater Miami Conference, kept their drive alive with a costly defensive holding penalty on the Bombers. Senior quarterback Collin Brown used a combination of pass and run to move the Comets down the field. The offense used 12 plays and half a quarter worth of time to score their first touchdown on a five-yard run by sophomore running back Kaden Owens. Senior kicker Brooks Currin tied the score at seven after the extra point. It appeared this second meeting between these two programs might be a close one.

Junior wide receiver and Penn State commit Liam Clifford received the ensuing kickoff and returned it 25-yards. The Bomber offense was out to match the Comets; however, senior linebacker Jack Haglage intercepted a Rueve pass. The Comets wasted no time adding to their total when junior running back Nolan McCormick found the endzone after a 33-yard scamper. St. Xavier's special teams came through again when junior nose guard Giovanni Albanese blocked the extra point. The Mason advantage was 13 – 7.

The Comets' offense took over again as Mason's defense forced a three and out. After receiving senior linebacker and punter Noah Taylor's punt, Mason's offense was hitting on all cylinders. Again, using the run and pass, the Comets found the Bombers' endzone on a reception to senior wide receiver Alec Dardis. This time Currin's extra point split the uprights and the Comets extended their lead to 20 – 7.

The Bomber defense again rose to the occasion. Taylor sacked the quarterback for an 11-yard loss. Senior safety Tucker Hundley returned the following punt 16-yards to the Mason 33-yard line. The Bombers went 33 yards in 23 seconds. Lang capped the drive with a 6-yard touchdown reception. A missed conversion put the Bombers one score away at 20 – 13 to start the second half.

The Bombers came out in the second half determined to establish the running game. Senior running back Kellen Newman took a second and ten hand-off and penetrated the Mason secondary for 33-yards. Aided with a defensive pass interference call, Newman's number was called on the next four plays. The fourth play found Newman's 6-yard dive in the Mason endzone. Rohmiller's extra point tied the score at 20.

Mason received sophomore kicker Max Klare's kick and their offense was in business. Mason used its balanced attack again and marched down to the Bombers' 29-yard line. Curran's 46-yard field goal attempt was short and again the Bomber defense bent but did not break. Rueve and company got the ball again on their own 20-yard line. Newman took the ball and went 42-yards to send the message he was not letting up. Several more Newman carries, a 23-yard reception to Lang and the Bombers were staring down into the Mason endzone. Sophomore running back Luke Vrsansky reached the endzone from four-yards out. Rohmiller conversion and the Bomber lead was now 27 – 20.

Both defenses kept the opposing offenses in check for the next two series when the Bombers started their next drive at midfield. A twenty-yard strike to Lang had the offense rolling down to Mason's 30-yard line. Newman took care of the next 30 yards on 6 carries for his second touchdown of the night. Another perfect conversion and the score with 7:19 left in the game 34 – 20. Mason put together their best second half drive when St. Xavier's defense scored. With their backs up against the endzone, sophomore safety Eli Kirk intercepted a pass and returned it 100-yards for the school's second longest returned interception for a touchdown. Rohmiller's conversion swelled the score to 41 – 20 St. Xavier.

St. Xavier's scoring was not done for the night. The defense again stepped up and forced a three and out including a quarterback hurry by junior linebacker Matthew Devine. Hundley received the punt at his own 42-yard line and went 58-yards for another score. Rohmiller's sixth conversion finished the scoring for both teams. The Bombers ended the night 48 – 20 victors.

The victory extended the season to next Friday night's rematch with Greater Catholic League South member Elder Panthers.