SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio — The St. Xavier High School football team scored 38 unanswered points Friday night en route to a 52-14 win over visiting Elder.

The Bombers (6-0), winners of 14 consecutive games going back to 2020, clinched at least a share of the Greater Catholic League South division title.

"We're in a great place right now. We really are," St. X coach Steve Specht said. "But, you can't rest on your laurels."

The Bombers, ranked No. 10 nationally by MaxPreps, had a running clock (30-point differential in the second half) for a fifth consecutive week and the sixth time in the past seven games going back to the end of the 2020 season.

They were all smiles after the game.

Senior quarterback Brogan McCaughey was 13 of 19 passing for 214 yards and three touchdowns. He has 156 pass attempts without an interception, according to St. X statistician Kelby Siler. McCaughey has thrown at least one touchdown in every game as a starter (2020 and 2021).

"(Brogan) is efficient," Specht said. "His efficiency is tremendous. The reality is, for three games he only played a half of football."

Senior Charles Kellom had 22 carries for 164 yards and two touchdowns. Kellom has rushed for 580 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.

Senior wide receiver Terrell McFarlin had five receptions for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Jay Farrar had three receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown.

St. X had 468 yards of total offense to Elder's 170 yards of offense.

"It's a lot of fun," McCaughey said. "The seniors – it's definitely a good year. We're focused on leaving no doubt, leaving everything on the field."

The St. X defensive effort was very strong, too. Senior defensive back Eli Kirk, senior linebacker Grant Lyons, junior linebacker Max Bonner and senior defensive back Joe Nelson each had five tackles. The defense also had three sacks.

"We're having a lot of fun right now," McFarlin said. "I really love it. We're keep spreading the ball around. Everybody is getting the ball, everybody is spreading the wealth around."

The game was tied at 14 with 8:27 left in the second quarter after Elder senior quarterback Ben Hambleton found senior tight end Mike Kirch for a 21-yard touchdown pass.

Kellom scored on a 1-yard touchdown run about five minutes later and senior Mason Rohmiller added a 27-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter to give the Bombers a 24-14 lead.

Rohmiller's field goal was set up by Kellom's 73-yard run earlier in the drive.

Still, the Bombers weren't pleased with a number of penalties in the first half and fundamental mistakes.

"We kind of opened our eyes and saw what we were doing wrong," McCaughey said.

Senior Alex Kemper took the opening kickoff of the third quarter and went 99 yards for a touchdown to set the momentum in the second half.

"The first thing I thought was, 'Don't get caught,' because everyone would be clowning me if I got caught," Kemper said. "After that, nothing enters your mind. Just run as fast as you can."

St. X plays host to Louisville Trinity Oct. 1 while Elder (2-4) plays host to Moeller (5-1) Oct. 2.

Next week is the first of three consecutive home games for the Panthers. Elder coach Doug Ramsey said the team wants to improve upon special teams after Friday night.

"I told them I still think we are one of the better teams in Cincinnati," Ramsey said. "We just can't give good teams like X great field position, because we can't cover kicks. Two big returns killed us and then they just pinned their ears back on defense."

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio — St. Xavier football coach Steve Specht said the Bombers are still in the process of figuring out their identity as a team.

If Friday night was any indication, the Bombers are giving a strong first impression to the 2021 season, a year after winning the Division I state championship.

St. X scored 28 unanswered points in a 31-14 win over visiting Lakota West in front of 5,300 fans at Ballaban Field at RDI Stadium.

"Look at our cheering section," Specht said. "We've got 400 kids, 500 kids coming out to support their school's team. The band is playing tonight. This is living. What happened last year – these kids didn't get to live. They're living now. I think that's a bigger victory than anybody winning or losing on the field tonight is the fact that these kids get to compete again. That's exciting."

St. Xavier senior linebacker Grant Lyons, a Miami University verbal commitment, was named the Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown MVP after two key interceptions, including a pick-six in the third quarter to give the Bombers (1-0) the lead for good.

"It was awesome," Lyons said. "I love playing out here with my guys. We work so hard all offseason and it showed up tonight. It was a lot of fun."

St. X, ranked No. 22 nationally by MaxPreps, took an early 3-0 lead when senior kicker Mason Rohmiller made a 27-yard field goal to complete a 13-play, 44-yard drive that took 3:47.

Lakota West struck twice in the second quarter and took a 14-3 lead midway through the quarter.

Junior quarterback Mitch Bolden found sophomore Brennan Remy for a 4-yard touchdown pass and senior Tyler Sparnall added the extra point at the 8:52 mark to give Lakota West a 7-0 lead.

The Firebirds took advantage of a St. X special teams turnover and capitalized.

Bolden found senior wide receiver Alex Afari in the corner of the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown pass connection to help give the Firebirds a 14-3 lead.

The Bombers closed the gap to 14-10 at halftime after senior running back Charles Kellom scored on a 5-yard touchdown run with 2:24 left in the first half.

Lyons gave the Bombers the lead for good on his 27-yard interception return for a touchdown early in the third quarter.

Senior quarterback Brogan McCaughey found senior Max Klare for a 25-yard touchdown pass connection five minutes later to give St. X a 24-14 advantage.

Kellom scored on his second touchdown carry late in the fourth quarter to help give the Bombers a 31-14 lead.

McCaughey was 11 of 21 passing for 113 yards and a touchdown. Kellom rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Senior linebacker Max Bonner had a team-high eight tackles.

St. X plays at Colerain (0-1) Aug. 27.

Lakota West, which plays host to West Clermont (0-1) Aug. 27, couldn't find consistency on the offensive side in the second half.

Lakota West coach Tom Bolden said the Firebirds lost junior wide receiver Trent Lloyd to an injury in the first quarter and that impacted the offense.

Mitch Bolden, Tom's son, had 81 yards rushing and 103 yards passing. Senior linebacker Aden Miller had a game-high 10 tackles.

Bolden said he was proud of the Firebirds' effort, especially on the defensive side. He said several younger players gained experience, too.