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.