Colerain Coach Bolden ready for the challenge.

The 37-year-old Bolden has the large task of replacing Kerry Coombs, who won 161 games and a state title in 16 years as Colerain coach. Coombs moved on to become University of Cincinnati defensive backs coach, and Bolden was elevated from Colerain offensive coordinator.

“I’m ready for the challenge,” Bolden said. “People are wondering if we’ll drop off, but I’m telling you it’s going to be the same Colerain football as always. We’ll run fast and hit hard and do all the things we’ve always done.”

St. Xavier Bomber's ranked #1 nationally in preseason.

St. Xavier will be rated No. 1 nationally in the preseason PrepNation.com and Rise magazine football polls, the polls' ratings editor said today.

Jamie DeMoney compiles the polls, with the PrepNation.com poll officially called the National Prep Poll. The NPP has been compiled weekly since 1987, making it the nation's second-oldest weekly high school sports ratings. The USA Today national ratings began in 1982.

He said he bases St. Xavier's rating on the fact that the Bombers return 15 regulars and will play another strong schedule, including national power DeMatha (Md.) in the Burger King Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge on Sept. 2 at the University of Cincinnati.

St. Xavier, the Ohio Division I state champion in 2005 and a regional finalist in 2006, returns several standouts, including running back Darius Ashley and linebacker Fred Craig. Craig committed to Stanford over the weekend, while Ashley is mulling Louisville, Virginia, Illinois and others.

News and notes

Here are a few items today:

• The Kings athletic department requests hall of fame nominations by Sept. 1. Contact AD Matt Koenig at 459-2939 for more information.
• Roger Bacon baseball player Eric Vanover, who graduated this past spring, has committed to play for Miami Hamilton.
• Badin seniors Abby Milillo and Megan Reimer have made oral commitments to play soccer in college, according to Badin coach Keith Harring. Milillo has chosen Ball State and Reimer will play at Gardner-Webb.
• Colerain senior RB Dominique Sherrer has orally committed to play at Eastern Michigan.