Steve Specht reached a milestone with his 200th career win as St. Xavier edged undefeated Elder 31-29 at The Pit. The victory lifted St. Xavier to 3-3 for the season, including earlier wins over Huber Heights Wayne and Westerville North.
Specht’s career record now reads 200-83, a total achieved since he took over the Bombers’ program in 2004. After the walk-off win, he credited the achievement to the coaches and players who contributed to the success. “It means I've had a lot of really good coaches and really good players that played hard and won a lot of football games,” he said.
Since succeeding his mentor Steve Rasso, Specht has guided St. Xavier to nine outright Greater Catholic League-South titles and four Division I state championships in 2005, 2007, 2016, and 2020. He surpassed Rasso’s win total during week four of the 2025 season, when St. Xavier finished as the Division I state runner-up.
According to the Ohio High School Athletic Association record book, Specht is the 14th coach from Southwest Ohio to reach 200 wins. He joins Terry Malone, Pat Mancuso, Dan McSurley, Jay Niswonger, Steve Rasso, Doug Ramsey, Tom Grippa, Bob Lewis, Tim Dunn, Ron Byrd, Tom Bolden, Chip Otten, and Ken Osborne in this group.
The close victory over Elder, who entered the game undefeated, added another notable chapter to Specht’s career. The Bombers’ narrow 31-29 win came late in the game, underscoring the competitive nature of the matchup. St. Xavier’s ability to secure the win maintained their position in a challenging season.
Specht’s leadership since 2004 transformed St. Xavier into a consistent contender in Ohio high school football. His teams have regularly challenged for league titles and state honors, building on the foundation laid by his predecessor. The 200th win reflects both longevity and sustained success.
As St. Xavier continues its season, the focus will remain on navigating the schedule and building on this landmark victory. Specht’s milestone came in a game that tested the Bombers’ resilience and finished with a dramatic late victory.
According to Yahoo Sports.