Springfield comes up short against St. Xavier in state semifinals

Springfield lost 12-10 to Cincinnati St. Xavier on Friday in a Division I state semifinal at Alexander Stadium in Piqua. The Wildcats lost despite coming up with five turnovers — four interceptions (two by Delian Bradley) and a fumble recovery (also Bradley) — and not committing a turnover itself.

St. Xavier cut a 10-3 halftime deficit to 10-9 on a 38-yard touchdown pass from Brogan McCaughey to Liam Clifford with 4:55 left in the third and then took the lead on a 21-yard field goal by Mason Rohmiller with 3:17 left in the third.

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St. Xavier blocked what would have been a go-ahead 29-yard field-goal by Springfield with 8:42 left in the fourth. A false start on the previous play made that a longer attempt than it should have been.

Springfield was unable to threaten again, and its season ended in the state final four for the second straight season. It lost 31-24 to Cincinnati Elder in Piqua last season.

St. Xavier will play Pickerington Central, which beat Mentor 38-31, in the state championship game on Nov. 13 at Fortress Obetz on the south side of Columbus.

Springfield led 10-3 at halftime. Devin Stamper ended St. Xavier’s opening drive with an interception.

St. Xavier tried a fake punt on its second drive, but Springfield was ready and stopped the runner short of a first down.

Cole Yost got Springfield on the board with 4:36 left in the first quarter, kicking a 36-yard field goal.

Xavier tied the game with 10 minutes left in the second quarter on a 24-yard field goal by Mason Rohmiller.

On its next possession, Springfield answered with a 58-yard touchdown pass from Te’Sean Smoot to Anthony Brown. The Wildcats led 10-3 with 7:56 remaining in the half.

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Springfield’s defense came up with a stop on 4th-and-1 near midfield and took over with 4:36 left in the half. Then on St. Xavier’s final drive of the half, Springfield’s Delian Bradley picked off a pass on 4th-and-2, giving Springfield the ball at the St. Xavier 15-yard line. The Wildcats ran off the rest of the clock with a couple first downs.

In the third quarter, Springfield had a chance to push its lead to 17-3 on its first drive, but a drop near the goal line led to a field-goal attempt from 34 yards, which missed. Later in the quarter, Springfield was stopped on fourth down in the red zone.

Smoot finished with 195 yards on 9-of-23 passing. He rushed for 105 yards on 23 carries. Brown led the Wildcats with five catches for 141 yards.