2023 Video Snapshot: Moeller

By Greg Shoemaker
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Updated: July 24, 2023

A new era begins on Montgomery Road as Bert Bathiany takes over as the Moeller head coach. Bathiany inherits a group of juniors and seniors that have won Division I Region 4 titles before falling to Springfield in the state semifinals in each of the past two seasons. With very few holes to fill the young front man has the utmost belief that this group of Crusaders has what it takes to set the bar even higher than those who came before them.

Division I, Region 4
2022 RECORD: 13-2, 3-0 GCL South
COACH: Bert Bathiany (0-0 at Moeller, first year; 10-3 overall, one year)

HONOR ROLL
Jordan Marshall, Sr, RB – The complete package. If not the top running back in the country, pretty darn close. A sensational junior campaign saw Marshall bring home OPSWA Division I Offensive Player of the Year, OPSWA First Team All-Ohio, OPSWA Southwest District Offensive Player of the Year, GCL South Athlete of the Year, First Team All-TriState Football and TriState Football Cincinnati Offensive Player of the Year honors. He ran for 1,951 yards, averaged 8.0 yards per carry, had at least two rushing touchdowns 10 times, topped the 100-yard mark rushing on 12 occasions, caught 19 passes for 364 yards and found the end zone 34 times (30 rush, four rec) against one of the toughest schedules in the country in 2022. Marshall, who has committed to Michigan has 3,237 yards rushing, 4,182 all-purpose yards, 43 receptions for 825 yards receiving and 59 touchdowns (48 rush, 11 rec), in his Crusaders career.

Ethan Page, Sr, P – A returning special teams weapon. Page pinned opponents inside their own 20-yard line 11 times on 28 punts, averaged 35.6 yards per punt and had a long punt of 59-yards earning First Team All-GCL South acclaim as a junior.

Eli Jacon-Duffy, Sr, TE – Has seen his stock really rise since last season ended. Jacon-Duffy had 20 receptions for 254 yards and two touchdowns on his way to being selected Second Team All-GCL South as a junior. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound scholar athlete has offers from Air Force, UAB, Akron, Army, BGSU, Bucknell, Colgate, Columbia, Dartmouth, Eastern Michigan, Harvard, Kent State, Lafayette, Lehigh, Liberty, Ohio, Penn, Princeton, Temple, Toledo, Western Michigan, Wofford and Yale.

Karson Hobbs, Sr, DB – A lock down defensive back who has fantastic closing speed. Hobbs registered 29 total tackles, had a sack, forced a fumble, snared an interception, and was in on 11 pass breakups last fall. He was named Second Team All-GCL South for his work. Hobbs has verbally committed to Notre Dame.

Jewett Hayes, Sr, DL – Came into his own in 2022 and should be even better as a senior. Hayes earned Second Team All-GCL South accolades after getting in on 42 total tackles, with two sacks, eight-and-a-half tackles for losses and two fumble recoveries. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Hayes has yet to commit but his offers include Cincinnati, Duke, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky and Virginia.

Moeller DE Jewett Hayes (photo by Sandy Mahoney/Twitter: @InMotionBySandy)

OTHER RETURNEES
Kyler Paul, Sr, LB – Plays with a relentless motor. Paul moves from defensive end to linebacker. He was in on 31 total tackles, had a sack, five-and-a-half tackles for losses, with two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries as a junior.

Drew Robinson, Sr, DB – Moves from quarterback to defensive back in 2022. Robinson threw for 276 yards and accounted for three touchdowns (two rush, one pass) in eight games as a junior.

Alex French, Sr, LB – Back for his third season as a starter. French has 91 total tackles, one-and-a-half sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception in his career.

NEWCOMERS
Micah Rice, Jr, DB – Teams with Robinson and Hobbs to give Moeller one of the fastest defensive backfields in the state. Rice started for Division II state champion Akron Hoban last fall then transferred to Moeller and won All-Ohio honors in track and field this spring. He has an offer from Kentucky and should start seeing the recruiting process really pick up with the expected excellent junior campaign that Rice should have.

Lincoln Murphy, Jr, TE/DB – Has come on strong this offseason. Murphy is going to make a difference on both sides of the ball.

Sam Hamilton, So, TE – 6-3/205 – Has a long an athletic frame that has room to get bigger at 6-foot-4 and 215-pounds. Hamilton will cause problems because he can line up at end or flank out. He has an offer from Kentucky.

Matt Ponatoski, So, QB – Heads into his sophomore year already battle-tested. Ponatoski started the regional championship win over Lakota West and state semifinal loss to Springfield in his first two varsity games as a freshman. He will play like a seasoned veteran for the Crusaders and his stats will bear that out.

Moeller QB Matt Ponatoski (photo courtesy of: ScoutingOhio.com)

PLAYOFF HISTORY
(38 appearances, 58-29 overall) – 2022 (Regional Champion), 2021 (Regional Champion), 2020, 2018, 2017, 2014, 2013 (State Champion), 2012 (State Champion), 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999, 1997 (State Runner-up), 1996, 1993 (State Runner-up), 1990, 1989 (State Runner-up), 1988, 1985 (State Champion), 1984, 1983, 1982 (State Champion), 1981 (State Runner-up), 1980 (State Champion), 1979 (State Champion), 1977 (State Champion), 1976 (State Champion 1975 (State Champion), 1974, 1973

2023 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/18/23 – BEN DAVIS (IN) (6-4 in 2022) – 7:30 PM*
Fri – 08/25/23 – BISHOP DWENGER (IN) (6-4) – 7:30 PM *
Fri – 09/01/23 – at East Central (IN)(13-2) – 7:30 PM
Fri – 09/08/23 – at Center Grove (IN) (12-2) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/15/23 – ST. XAVIER (5-7) – 7:30 PM^
Fri – 09/22/23 – LA SALLE (2-9) – 7:30 PM*
Fri – 09/29/23 – at Elder (10-3) – 7:30 PM
Sa – 10/07/23 – ST. IGNATIUS (8-4) – 2:00 PM*
Sa – 10/14/23 – at St. Edward (15-1) – 4:00 PM
Fri – 10/20/23 – at Martin Luther King (MI) (10-3) – 7:00 PM
*At Mount St. Joseph University
^At Welcome Stadium (University of Dayton)