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Moeller beats St. Xavier 19-14 in GCL-South opener

Brady Laber/Tristatefootball.com

FINNEYTOWN, OHIO – In a defensive struggle in front of a sellout crowd, the Moeller Crusaders earned a road win defeating the St. Xavier Bombers 19-14 at Ballaban Field.

The win was the first for the Crusaders against St. Xavier since 2014 which was also the last time Moeller had a winning season. After this performance its obvious that the turnaround under new head coach Doug Rosfelds has been spearheaded on the defensive side of the ball.

Moeller’s offense struggled through out the game until late in the third quarter. The Crusaders took over in St. Xavier territory trailing 7-0. The Bombers moved the ball efficiently thanks to the running of Chrystopher Watkins. Watkins ripped off four running plays setting up quarterback Mitch McKenzie for a 1-yard plunge into the end zone. 

On the ensuing drive, the Moeller defense seized an opportunity when St. Xavier quarterback scrambled out of the pocket and had the ball ripped out of his hand by Ryan Mullaney. Mullaney recovered the fumble giving Moeller another short field for the Crusaders offense.

Kevin Thibodeaux turned the mistake into points when his 29-yard field goal gave Moeller a 10-7 advantage. Thibodeaux kicked a 44-yard field goal with 4:57 left in the game extending the lead to 13-7.

It was still just a one-score game when St. Xavier began driving down the field but the Moeller’s defense struck again. Crusaders cornerback B.J. Hendrix was in coverage along the sideline when he jumped the pass attempt, ripping it out of the intended receiver’s hands and raced 45 yards to the end zone for pick-six.

St. Xavier scored a late touchdown narrowing the gap but the Bombers fell short in its comeback attempt.

Mullaney lead Moeller with 10 tackles, including two sacks and 3.5 tackles-for-loss.

The St. Xavier defense was the story of the first half holding Moeller to just 38 yards of offense, 24 of which were on the Crusaders final drive of the half. The Bombers defense forced a pair of first half turnovers. 

Tucker Hundley intercepted a pass on the Crusaders second play from scrimmage, returning it inside Moeller’s 10-yard line. St. Xavier could only muster a 22-yard field goal attempt that missed to the right of the uprights.

Late in the second quarter, Nathan Arthur took a pick-six to the house for a 30-yard interception return for the game’s first score for a 7-0 St. Xavier lead.

Thomas Kiessling flew all over the field for the Bombers registering two and 1/2 tackles-for-loss in the first half.

The Moeller defense was just as stingy in the opening half as the Crusaders only gained 61 yards. On two different occasions the Crusaders held St. Xavier on fourth down conversation attempts that stymied drives by the Bombers.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Moeller 0-0-7–12 – 19

St. Xavier 0-7-0-7 – 14

SCORING PLAYS

S – Nathan Arthur 30-yard interception return (Joe Sullivan kick).

M – Mitch McKenzie 1-yard TD run (Kevin Thibodeaux kick).

M – Kevin Thibodeaux 29-yard field goal

M – Kevin Thibodeaux 44-yard field goal

M – B.J. Hendrix 45-yard interception return (run failed).

S – Marshall Lang 27-yard TD catch from Wyatt Hudepohl (Joe Sullivan kick).

RECORDS: Moeller (4-1, 1-0); St. Xavier (2-3, 0-1)

UP NEXT: Moeller @ LaSalle (4-1, 0-0); St. Xavier @ Elder (3-1, 0-0)

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