ST. XAVIER 42, COLERAIN 14

---

Sollmann runs for 316 yards

Sunday, November 22, 1998

BY DAVE SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Steve Sollmann follows his blocks. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

DAYTON, Ohio - Steve Sollmann came ready to play.

A 5-foot-11, 175 pound junior tailback for St. Xavier, Sollmann scored two touchdowns and rushed for 316 yards on 32 carries, propelling the Bombers to a 42-14 victory over the Colerain Cardinals at Welcome Stadium.

The victory gives St. Xavier's its second Division I regional championship and advances the Bombers into the state semifinals next Saturday against Upper Arlington at Welcome Stadium. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m.

St. Xavier leads the series with Colerain 10-5 dating back to 1984. The Bombers lost the last four to the Cardinals, including a 14-9 setback during the 1996 regular season.

Sollmann's effort was a single-game school high, breaking the record of 277 yards rushing by Brian Fitzgerald in 1990.

"On artificial turf, I feel I run much faster," Sollmann said. "We knew we could run on Colerain and our line and (fullback) Nick Linz made it easy for me tonight. I love all of them."

Offensive tackle Matt Witulski admitted the line was ready for the challenge.

"We knew we could overpower them," Witulski said. "But Steve is such a hard runner, which makes it much easier for us."

With St. X leading 14-0, Colerain pulled within eight when Bobby Askew went 80 yards on the first play in the third quarter, but the conversion kick was blocked by Michael Larkin.

"The key was how we responded both times Colerain scored," St. X coach Steve Rasso said. "After the 80-yard run, we drove down and scored, which was important."

Rasso was referring to the Bombers' 71-yard, 10-play drive. Williams scored on a two-yard run with 8:15 remaining. The Bombers scored again early on a one-yard run by Nick Linz in the fourth quarter. The one bright spot for Colerain was Askew, who rushed for 211 yards on 17 carries. Colerain generated 295 yards rushing. St. Xavier generated 347 on the ground and 62 passing.

Except for the 80-yard run by Askew, the St. X defense was outstanding.

"All we did tonight was do what we've done all season," defensive end Mike Ferguson said. "Scott Sollmann (former player) and Tom Ballaban (former coach) gave us speeches which fired us up tonight." Middle linebacker Eric Scheidt wasn't concerned with Colerain's option.

"We played against the option all season, and the key is to play your assignment," Scheidt said. "We stuck to our assignments and got it done."

Rasso also pointed at the defense as one of the keys.

"To stop the option, you have to stop the dive," Rasso said. "They got outside a couple times but we did stop the dives. The past two weeks, we played against three of the best running backs in the state."

Rasso was referring to Askew, Colerain's Darly Robinson and Brandon Miree from Winton Woods.

St. Xavier set the tone for the game in the first half. The Bombers scored on their third possession. Sollmann took it in from one yard with 9:03 remaining in the second quarter.

The Bombers tacked on another TD with 3:57 remaining before halftime. Quarterback Matt Williams threw a screen pass to Larkin, who took it in from 17 yards out.

The halftime statistics also bear out St. Xavier's dominance during the first 24 minutes of action.

Sollmann was the catalyst, rushing for 172 yards on 16 carries and one touchdown. Williams completed two-of-six passes for 21 yards.

Colerain 0 0 6 8 - 14
St. Xavier 0 14 7 14 - 42

X--Sollmann 1 run (Kerr kick)
X--Larkin 17 pass from Williams (Kerr kick)
C--Askew 80 run (kick blocked by Michael Larkin)
X--Williams 2 run (Kerr kick)
X--Linz 2 run (Kerr kick)
C--Askew 2 run (Funk run)
X--Sollmann 40 run (Kerr kick)
X--Armstrong 1 run (Kerr kick)
Records: SX 10-1, Colerain 11-1.