6A #4 St. Xavier vs. 3A #2 Central

6A #4 St. Xavier (1-2) hosts 3A #2 Central (3-1) after defeating 5A Fairdale 61-6. Central lost to 6A #10 Ballard 27-20. Last year St. Xavier defeated Central 42-7. Does St. Xavier lose to another ranked lower classification team?

This game will be interesting. If the X running game produces they should be fine, if it struggles like it did against DeSales and BG the game will be tight. Not sure what Central has offensively, but they’re typically a pronstyle team which tends to play into X’s strengths on defense.

I think X wins a relatively close, competitive game.

Central - 13

St. X - 27

X should win this game.

I think X wins by 14. I think X defense will hold Central to 10 or less points.

Was Sullivan kept out against Fairdale so he could heal up a bit or was it more than that?

Was Sullivan kept out against Fairdale so he could heal up a bit or was it more than that?

I think to give extra time since didn’t need him.

Tigers by 21 at home. In this series, St. X usually wins by a comfortable margin at home, and it is typically a very tight game at The Hive.

Saint X by 17-21 points.

The Tigers need this win to regain some confidence that may have been lost.

Who are the players for Central that could cause X the biggest problems on offense and defense?

Who are the players for Central that could cause X the biggest problems on offense and defense?

Malik Goodall is QB. Ukari Baker is WR and getting college interest. On defense leading tackler is Durrell Howard and I think he may be getting college interest also. The strength of their team is defense, but they have home run threat with Baker at WR.

I will be surprised if X can't pull this one out. X will not have the edge in speed but the line should be the difference.

Central - 22

X - 31

These two schools met for first time in 1951, and was the first integrated game in the state, so this series has historical significance.