Friday, October 15, 1999
St. Xavier still believes in Sollmann
Numbers down, but tailback still Bombers' key
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The player tagged “The Forgotten Man” could turn out to be unforgettable for St.Xavier tonight against Elder in the prep football game of the year in Cincinnati.
Steve Sollmann, a 5-foot-10, 182-pound senior tailback who holds several St.X offensive records, is the player the Elder defense can't overlook, despite his mediocre statistics this season.
“If we forget about Sollmann, we're in trouble,” Elder coach Doug Ramsey said. “He doesn't get the ball as much as in the past, but he can do so many things. If we lay off and play against the pass, he'll do some damage.”
The stakes are high in this game between the No.1 (Elder) and No.2 (St.X) teams in the Enquirer's coaches poll.
Besides the poll championship, on the line are the Greater Catholic League South title, first place in the Harbin Rankings and a possible Division I Associated Press state championship.
The 8p.m. game is sold out.
Sollmann is the Bombers' all-time leading rusher with 3,155 yards. He also has the single-game record of 316 yards against Colerain last year and the single-season record of 1,592 yards, also last year.
But this year, Sollmann has
been held to 530 yards rushing on 105 carries while catching 10 passes for 89 yards,
Another record that Sollmann, in his third year on the varsity, could surpass is career touchdowns. Going into tonight's game, he has scored five this year and 47 total. His brother, Scott, holds the career record of 57.
“Steve is sort of the forgotten guy (this year),” St.X coach Steve Rasso said. “But he's the crux of our offense, and teams have to defense him. He's the reason our passing game is so strong this year.”
Sollmann realizes that he's the center of attention of every opponent's defense.
“Teams try to stop me to force (sophomore quarterback) Marty (Mooney) to throw the ball,” Sollmann said. “Elder has a very athletic defense, but we're not sure what they'll try to do.”
As for the decreased yardage, Sollmann isn't concerned with statistics.
“I just go out there and do what is best for the team,” he said.
Sollmann — considered a major-
college baseball prospect — also is a threat as a receiver and as a kickoff and punt returner. But most teams kick short to keep the ball away from him.
“Steve brings the whole package to every game,” Rasso said. “He's also a great blocker, which most people don't realize. He has great hands and returns punts and kickoffs well.”
Elder has its own ground attack in the name of Kyle Koester, a 6-1, 240-pound tailback who has scored 13 TDs and rushed for 985 yards on 154 carries this season.
If the defenses stop the run, St.Xavier will rely on Mooney (61-for-96, 857 yards) while Elder will counter with QB Collin Carey (56-of-98, 1,066 yards).
The outcome could come down to the kicking game.
Elder's Tom DeFranco is perfect, with a school-record 40 consecutive PAT conversions. The dominant Panthers offense has stalled only once, but DeFranco missed his only field goal attempt.
Junior Evan Nolan handles the kicking for St.X. He is 1-of-5 on field goals, a 29-yarder last week against LaSalle.
“Physically we are bigger than St.X,” Ramsey said. “But they are quick and run around well.”
Defensively, both teams have held opponents to fewer than 225 total yards and eight points a game.
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