PIQUA--In a season that has been so improbable, St. Xavier used a 21-yard field goal by Mason Rohmiller with 3:17 to play in the third quarter to reach the impossible with a 12-10 win over Springfield in the OHSAA Division I State Semifinal at Alexander Stadium.  A stalwart defense, led by Matthew Devine's 12 tackles, and a timely touchdown catch by Liam Clifford proved enough to help St. Xavier advance.

"I thought our defense played great today," said head coach Steve Specht.  "That's a team with a lot of speed and athleticism."

Devine highlighted the Long Blue Line's defense from his linebacker spot with two sacks.  The senior blocked Springfield's 29-yard field goal attempt with 8:42 to play in the fourth quarter to allow St. Xavier to maintain the narrow two-point lead, as 12-10. 

Defensive end Sam Buerkle registered seven tackles, a sack and a pair of tackles for loss.  Eli Kirk and Grant Lyons totaled six tackles apiece.

Specht said, "I thought we moved the ball.  Once again, it was like the Lakota West game.  We had a hard time finishing drives.  We have to finish (drives)."

With Springfield holding a 3-0 lead, Rohmiller split the uprights from 24 yards away to level the score, at 3-3 two minutes into the second quarter.  Springfield responded four plays later with a 58-yard pass play to make the margin 10-3 with 7:56 left in the first half. 

After the Bombers defense held on fourth and one from their own 11, the offense produced its lone touchdown of the game.  The Long Blue Line defense allowed only one field goal on four drives when backed inside its own 20 yard line.  The Bombers defense allowed the Wildcats to convert 2-of-13 third down and 0-of-3 fourth down opportunities. 

Brogan McCaughey completed 4-of-5 pass attempts on the drive, including a 25-yarder to Max Klare and a 28-yarder to Clifford before the 38-yard touchdown with 4:55 to play in the third quarter.  Clifford finished with a game-high nine catches for 124 yards.  It marked his eighth straight game with at least one touchdown snag.

Specht added, "Liam has done it all season long.  He's special."

An errant snap on the point-after made Rohmiller's point-after attempt miss, snapping his streak of 53 consecutive good PATs and kept the Springfield lead at 10-9.

A mishandled snap on Springfield's next punt set St. Xavier on a short field.  Unable to score a touchdown, Rohmiller's 21-yard field goal gave St. X its first lead of the night.  Rohmiller has converted his last eight field goal tries.

McCaughey finished 18-of-32 for 242 passing yards and four interceptions.  Charles Kellom rushed for 66 yards on 18 carries.  Luke Vrsansky collected 20 yards on six carries.  Terrel McFarlin totaled four catches for 68 yards.

With the win, St. Xavier improves to 7-1 all-time in the OHSAA State Semifinal round.  The Long Blue Line advances to the State Championship round for the first time since it won the 2016 Division I crown.

In a year that has seen so many teams have abbreviated seasons due to COVID-19, St. Xavier caps the 2020 campaign its seventh appearance in the State Championship game on next Friday night at Fortress Obetz.  The first of seven OHSAA title contests, the Division I state championship game between St. X and Pickerington Central kicks off at 7:00 p.m.