Preview: Moeller at Wayne

It’s one of the marquee contests on out 2016 U.S. Marines Battle of the Gridiron Series as Moeller heads to Huber Heights to face off against Wayne. Two programs with high aspirations this fall will get a look at just how good or how far they need to go in order to get to the promise land. This could be a possible preview of the Division I state semifinals.

Wayne RB Fred Pitts (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

These programs have been the class of the public and private school football in Southwest Ohio over the past four years. All signs point to that royalty continuing this fall. Expect nothing less than a hard-hitting well played affair that will see its stars take center stage. This contest is going to be well worth the price of admission and then some.

MOELLER CRUSADERS (1-0) at WAYNE WARRIORS (0-0-1)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m., Heidkamp Stadium
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PLAYERS TO WATCH: Dynamic players litter the Moeller offense. Junior RB Colin Thurman is off to a breakout campaign coming off career highs of 1115 yards and two touchdowns rushing in the opener. Over his last six games TE Matt Dotson has had at least two receptions and four touchdowns catches. Sophomores RB/slot RJ Khayo and QB Miles McBride are just beginning to tap into their amazing talent. The sky is the limit for those youngsters. They are “scary” good. The Big Moe defense is still a work in progress. Studs DE Aeneas Hawkins, LB The-Moor Kelly and LB Hunter Hughes could make this a very special unit by seasons end.

Moeller QB Miles McBride (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

Life is good for Wayne head coach Jay Minton knowing he can rely on a dependable, proven set of offensive skill players that includes RB Fred Pitts FL/DB Matt Wilcox, SE L’Christian “Blue” Cochran-Smith and transfer from Xenia FL/DB Ray James. Wilcox, Smith-Cochran and James have a combined 282 receptions for 4,659 yards and 50 touchdowns catches at the varsity level. The Warriors defensive line is stellar with studs like DE Alex Reigelsperger and DL Mazon Walker anchoring it.

TEAM TRENDS: These two are becoming familiar foes with this being their fifth meeting in the last seven years. Wayne has won the last two including the ’14 state semifinal matchup. Moeller won the only game in that span decided by more than seven points in the first round of the ’14 playoffs, 43-21.

Over the past four seasons Moeller has gone 13-1 in the playoffs including state championships in ’12 and ’13. Wayne is 10-3 in postseason play over the past three campaigns. The Warriors were state runner-ups in ’15 and ’14.

Moeller LB Hunter hughes (photo by mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

MOELLER’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Depth is an issue with Wayne. The Big Moe o-line needs to wear them down and make this contest a battle of attrition in the fourth quarter. The Crusaders defense got good pressure on Lakota West in Week 1 and it led to three interceptions. Forcing a young Warriors signal-caller into bad decisions could lead to a comfortable margin on the scoreboard and that would allow Moeller to open things up on offense.

WAYNE’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Let the horses do their job on offense up front and at the skills positions. Long sustained drives using all the weapons in the arsenal is a must. The Warriors aren’t going to win if they let this become a shootout.

Prediction: MOELLER 31, WAYNE 27

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