'These kids play hard.' St. Xavier takes North Bend Road bragging rights over La Salle
Courtesy of Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer
It might not have been great on style points but St. Xavier's Long Blue Line was happy to hoist a trophy Friday night with a 16-7 win over Greater Catholic League-South rival La Salle in Monfort Heights.
The Bombers, who never trailed, move to 3-5 on the season while the Lancers fell to 2-6. It was also St. Xavier's first league win this season.
With the scoreboard hitting triple zeroes, St. Xavier earned the right to hoot and holler in their 5.2-mile ride back to Finneytown from Monfort Heights. As it has since 2020, the "King of the Road" trophy will stay with St. Xavier.
"You're excited for the kids any team you get a victory," St. Xavier coach Steve Specht said. "We're two programs that have been struggling a little bit and it was a classic GCL-South matchup. These kids play hard."
The Bombers broke a three-game skid that began with a narrow loss to No. 1 Moeller Sept. 16. The Bombers will need to defeat Cleveland St. Ignatius Saturday, Oct. 15, then Life Christian Academy of Virginia the following Friday to finish the season at .500.
"The push right now is for the second season," Specht said.
That said, the veteran coach admitted the trophy was still important.
"It's bragging rights for a year for the seniors," Specht said. "It's given us a little momentum."
For sophomore Chase Herbstreit, it was his first varsity win behind center. He did so with ESPN GameDay, in effect, on hand as his father Kirk Herbstreit and his show partner Pat McAfee were on the sideline. The duo posed for photos in between pulling for St. Xavier. Post-game they were bound for Lawrence, Kansas.
