Bill McGregor has heard some dumb questions in his 26 years as DeMatha football coach.
One of them came on a pleasant day in June when he was interrupted while jogging. On the phone was Josh Johnston, promoter of the Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge, who asked McGregor if he’d “mind” playing a game on ESPN.
“No, I didn’t have to think about it,” said McGregor. “I told him, ‘yes, of course.’”
Less than three months later, McGregor is preparing his perennial powerhouse squad for the first national TV game in the program’s history. Sunday at noon at the University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium, DeMatha will play St. Xavier of Cincinnati.
“I’m not nervous. More than anything, I’m excited. I think most of us feel that way,” said DeMatha tight end Joe Collura. “It’s a chance for us to be on ESPN, to get national attention.”
Even for DeMatha, the four-time defending champion in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, this is a unique opportunity. The Stags were invited to the second annual Herbstreit event in 2006, but McGregor declined because his schedule was already set.
This year, McGregor made sure to keep the first weekend of September open. Originally DeMatha was set to face Northmont of Clayton, Ohio, while famed Hoover High of Alabama was to play in the Herbstreit Challenge’s featured game against Ohio state champion Colerain of Cincinnati.
But when Hoover failed to get a waiver from the state of Alabama to play on Sunday, DeMatha and St. Francis eagerly accepted the national TV time slot. It’s a prime-time match-up in more waysthan one. St. Xavier is ranked No. 4 in USA Today. DeMatha is No. 5.
“They’re really good,” said McGregor. “They’ve got 130 kids on the varsity. Their O-line is huge. They’ve got six players with Division I offers. They’ve got 15 starters back. They’re ranked No. 1 in Ohio. That’s all you really need to hear to know how good they are.”
The man to stop for St. Xavier is explosive back Darius Ashley (5-foot-9, 185 pounds), who has rushed for 3,133 yards and 48 touchdowns the last two seasons.
St. Xavier will have to pay equal attention to DeMatha all-purpose standout Kenny Tate (6-4, 215), a long-distance threat at wideout, tailback and as a return man. Junior Tommy Chroniger, a starter at safety last year, makes his first varsity start at quarterback. His job is to solve the Bombers’ unusual 3-3-5 defense.
DeMatha and St. Xavier are among 22 teams in the Herbstreit Challenge. The games are played Saturday and Sunday in Cincinnati and Canton, Ohio. Each matches a national power against a team from Ohio.
DeMatha receives $5,000 to play in the event and accommodations and airfare for 75, including players and coaches. The Stags raised additional funds to send all 76 of its varsity players, plus coaches and other team personnel.
“For something like this, we couldn’t leave anyone behind,” said McGregor.
ROAD TRIP
A look at DeMatha’s schedule for the weekend:
Saturday
10 a.m. » practice at Riverdale Park
1 p.m. » bus ride to airport
3:30 p.m. » arrive in Columbus, Ohio
4 p.m. » bus ride to Cincinnati
5:30 p.m. » hotel check-in
6:30 p.m. » dinner at Lippert Stadium
7:30 p.m. » watch first half of Elder (Ohio) vs. Independence (N.C.) game
9 p.m. » mass
9:30 p.m. » team meetings
11 p.m. » lights out
Sunday
7 a.m. » wake up call
7:30 a.m. » breakfast
9 a.m. » arrive at stadium
Noon » kickoff
