Football: Davis, Walker jumpstart Olentangy Orange to first state title
Saturday, December 6, 2025
By Michael Rich
mrichnotwealthy@gmail.com
Levi Davis displays the state championship trophy as well as his MVP plaque after Olentangy Orange’s title win Friday over Cincinnati St. Xavier at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. Photo: Rojan Poudel
MC Walker and Levi Davis have known each other well on the hardwood, playing together since elementary school.
But the two put on a show on the gridiron to jumpstart the Olentangy Orange football team to its first state championship.
The two connected on several big plays late in the first half to help the Pioneers take control of a 28-14 win over Cincinnati St. Xavier in a Division I state final Dec. 5 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.
“That’s basically my brother,” said Davis, a senior quarterback for his classmate and wide receiver Walker. “We spend so much time with each other outside of football that on the field, it’s just an extension of what we’d do off the field. We did a lot of offseason work during the summer, and it just turned out well.”
Walker made all five of his catches for 123 yards and a touchdown on the final two possessions of the first half to help the Pioneers (15-0) take control.
Walker, who started last year at Westerville North before moving over to Orange in February, made an acrobatic catch on the sideline to finish off a 32-yard completion from Levi Davis.
Davis, who scrambled out of danger, appeared to be throwing the ball away. But he may have been looking at someone else on the play.
“I was kind of scrambling around and I actually did not mean to throw it to MC,” Davis said. “Fickel was actually behind the defense and I’m not sure if he saw that. But I saw there was space and I saw there were no X defenders around. So, I thought, ‘I’m going to give my guy a chance.’ And MC turns around and grabs the ball. That’s just the chemistry that’s there. I guess that’s just what he does.”
MC Walker makes one of his five first half catches that propelled Olentangy Orange to a 28-14 win over Cincinnati St. Xavier Friday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. Photo: Rojan Poudel
Orange rushed to the line to snap off the next play, avoiding a review, which may have negated the catch.
“He trusted me and I trusted him that nobody’s going to be there,” said Walker, a senior wide receiver. “I saw nobody behind me and just decided to go get it. So, I just had to run for it and just keep running until it’s in my hands.”
Still, it was the kind of play that gives opposing coaches headaches during preparation.
“(Davis is) a lot of fun to watch on film,” St. Xavier coach Steve Specht said. “He’s a nightmare to prepare for. It wasn’t as if we didn’t practice – he just created. My hat’s off to him.”
It led to a one-handed catch on the left side for a 4-yard touchdown reception to give Orange a 14-7 lead with 5:35 left in the first half.
“It was a phenomenal performance by (Walker),” Orange coach Wes Shroeder said. “The one-handed back-shoulder catch was a huge play. The one where Levi, I think, was throwing it away – he toe-taps and catches it. He had a bunch of catches and we’re proud of him.”
Walker added two more catches on the ensuing drive, including a 39-yard reception down to the St. Xavier 15 that set up another score before halftime.
Davis hooked up with a wide-open Lucas Fickel over the middle for a touchdown that pushed the lead to 21-7 with 13 seconds left before halftime.
Brennan Kesler (11) led the Olentangy Orange Patriots with eight tackles as they won their first state title Friday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. Photo Rojan Poudel
“That was a backbreaker,” Pioneers coach Wes Shroeder said. “Having a 21-7 lead with our offense and our defense and us coming out with the ball in the second half (was huge). We knew the game was far from over, but we liked where we stood at that point.”
Fickel further helped the Pioneers put a stranglehold on the game, capping a 12-play, 84-yard drive with a 4-yard run up the middle to push it to 28-7. The drive chewed up 5-minutes, 43-seconds.
The Pioneers had a more than 10-minute advantage in time of possession and finished with 403 total yards.
Davis finished 10 of 18 passing for 177 and two touchdowns and added 93 yards and another score on 14 carries. Fickel had 31 rushes for 133 yards and a rushing touchdown to go with his receiving one.
Brennan Kessler had eight tackles, including two sacks and Zane Konczak had an interception to lead the Pioneers defense, which held St. Xavier (11-3) to 192 yards of total offense.
Jackson Frey led the Bombers (11-3) with 117 yards, a touchdown and an interception on 17 of 27 passing as well as 34 yards on 10 carries.
Jake Britt had seven receptions for 40 yards and added 45 yards on four carries on the ground.
Kobe Clapper had six tackles on defense.
“I thought our kids fought back, it was just a little too late,” St. Xavier coach Steve Specht said.
The two programs had never met previously. Orange, which opened in 2008, had never gotten past the regional semifinal before this season.
Levi Davis, an Ohio University commit, rolls and looks to throw during Olentangy Orange’s state championship win over Cincinnati St. Xavier Friday. Photo Rojan Poudel