FNTD Week #8: St. Edward Outlasts St. Xavier, Improves to 8-0

LAKEWOOD, Ohio — St. Edward keeps doing all the little things that great teams do to win big games. On Saturday, the Eagles used a goal line stand, a fake punt, and a blocked punt for a touchdown to defeat the visiting Bombers from Cincinnati St. Xavier, 27-16.  Coach Rick Finotti’s Eagles are now 8-0 and one win away from clinching another playoff berth in the always tough Region 1.

St. X moved the ball against the Eds’ defense, but trailing by 11 in the final two minutes, the Bombers failed to convert a crucial 4th and 1 play at the Eagles’ 2-yard line that all but ended the game.

St. Edward reserve running back Kenny Butler made one of the game’s biggest plays, when he scored after scooping up a blocked punt shortly before halftime. Butler’s touchdown gave the Eagles a 24-9 lead at the break.

Dwayne Aaron led the Eagles with more than 130 yards rushing and one touchdown.

St. Edward is the #3 ranked team in Division I and now leads the Region 1 playoff standings. But the Eagles are entering the toughest stretch of their schedule, with trips to both Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller (6-2) and the state’s top-ranked team, defending Division I State Champion, St. Ignatius (8-0), looming in the final two weeks of the regular season.

The loss drops St. Xavier to ninth in the Region 4 playoff standings, and the Bombers may need victory over St. Ignatius next week to keep their postseason hopes alive.

For all the final scores, plus video highlights and photo galleries from Friday and Saturday’s games, head over to the FOX-8 High School Football page.