'That kind of game': Moeller grinds out playoff win over St. Xavier
The scoreboard read 10-7 in favor of Moeller. For all of the noise and chatter a Greater Catholic League-South playoff game creates, the result left Crusaders head coach Bart Bathiany with few words.
"We knew it was going to be a fight. We knew it was going to be that kind of game. I have so much respect for every team in the GCL, especially the teams led by coach (Steve) Specht," Bathiany said.
The first score came almost 22 minutes into the game after a flurry of big plays by both teams.
A lost fumble spelled trouble for St. Xavier. The Bombers could have been punished for a costly turnover just as they were in the regular season matchup. But Moeller quarterback Matt Ponatoski threw an interception on the third play of the ensuing drive.
Brayden Reilly's fourth interception of the season gave the Bombers the ball at their own 43. Four plays later, quarterback Chase Herbstreit found a wide-open Jacob Britt for a 49-yard touchdown pass.
Moeller answered right back, going on an 11-play, 67-yard drive that took just over two minutes. Running back Jordan Marshall had 25 rushing yards on the drive, including the game-tying two-yard score.
Seven weeks after a 20-10 loss to the Crusaders, St. Xavier entered the game with a refined plan: control the line of scrimmage and be tougher in the trenches. For the majority of the game, it worked. The Bombers out-rushed the Crusaders 63 yards to 58 yards in the first half. Herbstreit completed two screen passes, of 13 and 11 yards. Ted Hammond, Gus Folke, and crew started the second half with a defensive three-and-out.
Movin' on: Which Greater Cincinnati playoff football teams will battle it out in Week 13?
But it was field position that led to the Crusaders' triumph. Moeller started five possessions at its 30-yard line or better. On the fifth one, the Crusaders drove down to the Bomber six-yard line, where a Devin Orr 23-yard field goal proved to be the final score and the difference in the game.
"It always comes down to a couple of plays in a game, and Moeller made one more play than us," St. Xavier coach Steve Specht said.
The big storyline coming into the game was Marshall's health. The Michigan commit sustained an injury against St. Edward's in Week 9 and hadn't played since.
Marshall still ran for 129 yards and a touchdown, but the passing game stepped up when called upon. Despite only throwing for 160 yards, some of Ponatoski's best completions were in crucial spots.
Junior Jovan Love once again led the team with eight catches for 80 yards, including a 14-yard reception on third-and-12 with a defender draped all over him.
"Just fundamentals. I love to work. All offseason, I was just going out there, working every day with nothing else on my mind but to get to state," Love said.
Moeller now holds a 7-3 advantage over St. Xavier in the playoffs, having beaten the Bombers in back-to-back years.
Defense standing tall
Sophomore Connor Cuozzo had the best game of his short varsity career. Cuozzo led the team with a season-high 10 tackles while also recovering a fumble and grabbing an interception in the fourth quarter.
The defense had their best all-around game of the season when it mattered most. Moeller allowed 221 total yards of offense and just 74 yards in the second half. Take away Herbstreit's touchdown pass and the Crusaders allowed 102 passing yards on 12 completions.
To go along with Cuozzo's two turnovers, Moeller forced a turnover on downs on St. Xavier's first and last drives of the game.
"We wanted to try and take some more shots (on offense). It just didn't end up being that kind of game. We wanted to put ourselves more in a position to let our defense win the game for us," Love said.
Senior salute
St. Xavier graduates 45 seniors that had a 22-15 record over the last three years. Headlined by Folke, Hammond, Steven Napier, Jack O'Malley and Andrew Weber, these members of the "Long Blue Line" led the Bombers to four playoff wins, most notably advancing to the 2021 regional semifinals.
"I'm proud of these kids for how they live their lives. I'm proud of these kids for how I've seen them grow up. They're kids of character and they care about one another. That's what I'm proud of them about. When they walk off this field for the last time, I told them, 'I want your heads high.' " Specht said.
What's next for Moeller?
Moeller will face Mason in the regional semifinal on Friday, Nov. 10 at a neutral site that is to be determined. The Comets scored a touchdown on a blocked punt late in the third quarter of their game to beat top-ranked Milford 10-9
The Crusaders beat Mason in last year's regional semifinal. Moeller held a 21-0 halftime lead in that game on its way to a 24-16 win and an appearance in the state semifinals.
Moeller 10, St. Xavier 7
Moeller - 0 7 0 3 - 10
St. Xavier - 0 7 0 0 - 7
SX: Britt 49 pass from Herbstreit (Cengia kick)
M: Marshall 2 run (Orr kick)
M: 23 Orr FG
Records: M 8-4, SX 7-5
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio high school football: Moeller defeats St. Xavier with defense
