Representing a school that opened in 2008, the Olentangy Orange football team made its state championship game debut Dec. 5 and won central Ohio’s second title of the day.

The Pioneers finished 15-0, defeating Cincinnati St. Xavier 28-14 in the Division I state final at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. It was the first meeting between the teams.

Watterson repeated as Division III state champion earlier in the day.

Read our live updates and analysis from Orange’s win.

Olentangy Orange captures first OHSAA state title

It’s over in Canton. Orange is the Division I state champion, defeating Cincinnati St. Xavier 28-14 behind standout play from its three offensive stars: quarterback Levi Davis, running back Lucas Fickel and wide receiver MC Walker.

It’s the same final score as Olentangy Liberty’s win over Cincinnati Moeller in the 2024 Division I state championship game.

Davis and star defensive back Treyton Schroeder won a state title in basketball last winter, and now they’re football champions.

Orange marching to dash St. Xavier comeback hopes

The running of Lucas Fickel has helped Orange move into position to restore a three-possession lead in the closing minutes. Fickel has surpassed 100 yards for the game and 2,000 yards for the season.

St. Xavier cuts into Orange’s lead

With a mixture of passes and scrambles, St. X quarterback Jackson Frey has led the Bombers on a 92-yard touchdown drive. Frey’s 12-yard TD pass to Aidan Newdigate has made it 28-14 Orange with 5:03 to play. Frey had a 24-yard run on the drive.

St. Xavier is on the move, but time is running short

We’re under the 7-minute mark. St. Xavier has moved to the Orange 31, but this is still a three-score game.

Is there anything Orange QB Levi Davis can’t do?

The Pioneers just had Davis punt, and he pinned St. Xavier at its own 8-yard line with 11:02 to play. It was a 35-yard punt. This happened after Davis’ 4-yard, fourth-down scramble for a first down was called back because of holding.

End of 3rd quarter: Olentangy Orange 28, Cincinnati St. Xavier 7

The Pioneers are driving again, and they’re now 12 minutes away from winning their first state championship.

Orange widens lead on St. Xavier with another long TD drive

The Pioneers open the second half with an 86-yard touchdown drive to make it 28-7 with 6:11 left in the third quarter. Lucas Fickel capped the drive with his second TD of the game, this one a 4-yard run.

Halftime stats for Orange-St. Xavier

Orange QB Levi Davis is 7 of 14 for 144 yards and two touchdowns. He also leads Orange’s rushing attack with 65 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. Lucas Fickel has 14 carries for 43 yards and a touchdown reception. MC Walker has five catches for 123 yards and a score.

St. Xavier was held to 65 yards passing and 33 rushing in the first half.

Halftime: Olentangy Orange leads Cincinnati St. Xavier 21-7

Orange sacks Jackson Frey on the final play of the second quarter. The Division I state final goes to halftime.

Orange drives 91 yards for touchdown

The Pioneers weren’t satisfied with their one-score lead. They just marched 91 yards to take a 21-7 lead with 13 seconds left in the second quarter. Levi Davis and MC Walker continued their exceptional first half, with Davis throwing a 39-yard pass to Walker on third-and-11 at the Orange 46. Davis then threw a 15-yard scoring pass to Lucas Fickel.

Orange defense holds, forces punt

After the nullified pick-6, Orange forced St. Xavier to punt. The Pioneers have the ball at their own 9 with 2:57 left in the first half.

Pass interference penalty costs Orange a pick-6

Treyton Schroeder’s interception return for a touchdown is called back because of a pass interference penalty on Orange. That gives St. Xavier a first down on a third-and-11 play. St. Xavier is now driving with just under 4 minutes left before halftime.

It’s the Levi Davis, MC Walker show for Orange

Orange leads St. Xavier 14-7 with 5:35 left in the first half thanks to a drive that showcased the athleticism of quarterback Levi Davis and receiver MC Walker. They combined for completions of 22, 34 and 4 yards on the drive, the latter going for a touchdown. The first completion happened after Davis scrambled around in the backfield and lofted a pass to Walker before taking a big hit.

St. Xavier answers Orange touchdown

Jake Britt weaves through the Orange defense for a 39-yard touchdown run, and the game is tied at 7 with 7:55 left in the second quarter. St. Xavier wasn’t hurt by Brennan Kesler sacking Jackson Frey for a 7-yard loss two plays earlier. On the play following the sack, Frey and Britt hooked up for a 13-yard gain.

Orange takes lead on Davis touchdown run

Orange quarterback Levi Davis takes a shotgun snap and runs into the right corner of the end zone for the first TD of the game. Running back Lucas Fickel made a key block. Orange leads 7-0 with 11:54 left in the second quarter.

End of 1st quarter: Orange 0, St. Xavier 0

The quarter ends with St. Xavier stuffing Lucas Fickel on third-and-goal at the 2. Orange will have the ball fourth-and-goal when the second quarter begins. This drive included Fickel gaining 3 yards on a fourth-and-1 run at the 8.

Orange forces St. Xavier to punt

The defenses have stood out so far. After a three-and-out for St. Xavier, Orange has first-and-10 at the St. Xavier 43.

St. Xavier turns over Orange on downs

Orange QB Levi Davis rolls right on fourth-and-2, has no room to run and his pass is batted down. St. Xavier takes over at its 8-yard line with 7:45 left in first quarter.

Zane Konczak intercepts Jackson Frey

Orange takes over at the St. Xavier 44-yard line. Levi Davis’ 25-yard scramble on third down extends the drive.

We’re underway in the Division I state final

Orange has kicked off. St. Xavier has the ball at its 27-yard line, and Jackson Frey is sacked on first down.

Olentangy Orange goes for first OHSAA football championship

The Pioneers (14-0) will try to win their first state title against a program that’s no stranger to reaching this game. This is the eighth championship game appearance for St. Xavier, which won titles in 2005, 2007, 2016 and 2020.

St. Xavier’s coach, Steve Specht, led the Bombers to all of those championships and has never lost a state final, having taken over the program in 2004. On the other sideline, coach Wes Schroeder is 23-3 in his second season at Orange after going 38-8 in four seasons at Division III Granville.

Orange’s defense, which allows only 9.7 points per game and is coming off a 28-0 shutout of Lakewood St. Edward in a state semifinal, faces an offense led by a quarterback who has a familiar name in central Ohio.

Senior Jackson Frey, a transfer from Bexley, has completed 166 of 267 passes for 2,402 yards and 25 touchdowns with seven interceptions. He is the son of former Ohio State quarterback Greg Frey, who attended St. Xavier. 

Orange senior defensive back Treyton Schroeder, a leader on the field and in the locker room, has 45 tackles and a team-high eight interceptions. Another senior defensive back, Zane Konczak, has 38 tackles and six interceptions.

The leading tacklers for Orange are junior linebacker Brennan Kesler (117), senior linebacker Kingston Johnson (97) and senior linebacker Jaxen Miller (82). 

St. Xavier’s defense features two of the top recruits in Ohio in senior linebackers Kobe Clapper (Notre Dame) and Aden Reeder (Michigan).

Speaking of top recruits, Orange senior quarterback Levi Davis is an Ohio Mr. Football finalist and an Ohio University signee. He has passed for 2,093 yards and 15 touchdowns with seven interceptions and rushed for 1,018 yards and 18 scores. 

Senior running back Lucas Fickel has rushed for 1,947 yards and 30 touchdowns on 278 carries, and senior receiver MC Walker has 44 receptions for 632 yards and five scores.

Davis and Schroeder also were key contributors to Orange’s first boys basketball state championship last winter.