KHSAA state championship football: Live updates, scores and highlights of Male vs. St. Xavier

It's all come down to this.

Since August, hundreds of teams across the commonwealth have gone to battle week after week to get to where we are today. It's No. 1 Male vs. No. 2 St. Xavier for the biggest prize in the largest classification of Kentucky high school football.

Ever since Male held off the Tigers in a 28-21 win earlier this season, the two top teams in the state have been on a collision course for this highest-of-stakes rematch.

If you can't make it to the game — or even if you can — follow along with our live blog for updates, insight and highlights of the high school football season's grand finale.

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10:37 p.m. Final: St. X 31, Male 21

St. X completes the comeback for the second time in as many weeks, as they upset the Male Bulldogs, 31-21, to take the 2021 6A state title.

10:27 p.m. Tigers with the dagger, lead 31-21 late

Jack Sivori finds Mekhi Smith for the second time tonight for a 45-yd score that could seal it with 1:52 left to play.

10:15 p.m. Male scores, still fighting in the fourth quarter

Nic Schutte and Vinny Anthony connect for the second time this evening to draw closer to St. X, who still leads it 24-21 with 5:21 left to play.

10:07 p.m. Tigers go up 24-13

Jack Sivori connected with Mekhi Smith on a six-yard touchdown to make it a two-possession game over Male with 8:02 left to play.

9:56 p.m. End of 3Q: St. X 17, Male 13

St. X looks on the way to manufacturing another postseason comeback, as the Tigers lead the Bulldogs 17-13 going into the fourth quarter.

9:47 p.m. St. X leaps ahead of Male

Jack Sivori finds Michael Duddy through double coverage for the 26-yard scoring strike and puts St. X over Male 17-13 with 1:49 left in the third quarter.

9:32 p.m. St. X closes the gap

St. X took their first possession of the second half and knocked in a 26-yard field goal to close the gap with Male, who still leads it 13-10.

9:25 p.m. Photo: A look at championship weekend

Check out this gallery from this weekend's state championship action

9:08 Some halftime numbers for Bulldogs-Tigers

Here's a couple stats updates for the first half of Male-St. X

9:02 p.m. Halftime: Male 13, St. X 7

We have a one-possession game at halftime, as Male has leaned on the ground game to finish the first half with a 13-7 lead. St. X to get the ball at the start of the third quarter.

8:47 p.m. Bulldogs reclaim lead

Nic Schutte had all day to find Dominic Vrbancic in the corner for an 19-yard touchdown to put Male back up, 13-7 with 4:05 left in the half.

8:33 p.m. Tigers take the lead

A two yard trot for St. X quarterback Jack Sivori has given the Tigers a 7-6 lead over Male in the second quarter with 8:15 left in the half. The scoring play came after Mekhi Smith snagged a one-handed grab on 3rd and 8 to set up the touchdown.

8:26 p.m. End of 1Q: Male 6, St. X 0

Male leads St. X 6-0 at the end of the first quarter, as Nic Schutte found Vinny Anthony on the Bulldogs' first possession for an 88-yd touchdown.

Playing through pain

Our thoughts, prayers and condolences definitely go with the Schutte family. Male quarterback Nic Schutte lost his father suddenly this past week. Here's how the Bulldogs' signal caller is planning to handle it.

Renewing old acquaintances

Hard to believe that this will be the first ever matchup of these two Kentucky powerhouse programs in a state championship game. But it's definitely not the first time Male and St. Xavier have met on the field. If history is any indication, there are at least five good reasons to believe this version of Male-St. X could be an instant classic.

Sizing 'em up

Our sports staff did yeoman's work this week breaking down all the angles surrounding the 6A title game. We tackled everything from examining the "three-headed snake" that makes Male's offense go, to the business-like mentality St. X is taking into the biggest game this program has played in years and a good, old-fashioned "tale of the tape" comparison at the state's two top-ranked teams.

A grand reunion

Both Paducah Tilghman and Belfry took rather unconventional paths to the final game. By now, you already know who won, but still treat yourself to this great story by J.L. Kirven about the legacy those two programs brought into the Class 3A matchup.

Can we pick 'em?

It's our last chance of the 2021 season to try our hand at properly predicting the action. Take a look at our picks for the full complement of state championship games this week, and see how it matches up with the Class A, Class 2A, Class 3A, Class 4A and Class 5A finales.

8:14 p.m. Video: Schutte finds Anthony for six

8:08 p.m. Male strikes first

Nic Schutte makes up for his earlier mistake and finds Vinny Anthony for a 88-yard TD strike. Male leads St. X 6-0.

8:01 p.m. Male fumbles away first possession

Quarterback Nic Schutte took off from the shotgun, but dropped the ball on the turf for St. X to recover.

7:42 p.m. Almost go-time!

We are about 10 minutes away from kickoff and the crowd is filing in nicely. Should be a good one tonight. Follow our live blog for on-the-spot analysis, highlights and updates.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA football: Male vs. St. Xavier live updates, scores, highlights