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Preview: #1 Moeller at #4 St. Xavier 

Moeller WR Jovan Love (Sandy Mahoney / X: @InMotionBySandy )

The GCL South begins play and it starts with a great one as top-ranked Moeller travels to #4 St. Xavier in the Blitz 5 Game of the Week. Big Moe has won four straight in the series.

The home team Bombers are riding a three-game winning streak and look to keep the momentum going. Moeller suffered its first loss last Saturday. The Crusaders have the unenviable task of trying to bounce back on just six days of rest, on the road, against their top league rival and in front of their packed house.

#1 MOELLER CRUSADERS (3-1) at #4 ST. XAVIER BOMBERS (3-1)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
RDI Stadium, Tom Ballaban Field
Follow on X @TSFootball

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Moeller is a team that is very balanced on both sides of the ball with many veteran and accomplished players. On offense, junior quarterback Matt Ponatoski fuels the engine. He has thrown for 1,105 and 13 touchdowns (to eight different receivers). Seniors Jovan Love, Roman Mason and Matthew Fogler have combined for 40 receptions, 547 yards and seven scores.

A quartet of seniors, Thomas Gerke, Will Adkins, Christian Harris and Jonah Hayes, anchor the Crusaders’ defensive line. They have combined for eight sacks and 15 tackles for losses. Harris has a team and league high four sacks. Hayes has committed to Northwestern.

One of the most pleasant surprises of 2024 has been the play of St. Xavier quarterback Chase Herbstreit. The senior has become a dual threat, adding his wheels to his arm. He leads the Bombers with 225 yards (2nd in the GCL South) and four touchdowns rushing to go along with his 567 yards and six touchdowns passing.

St. Xavier QB Chase Herbstreit (Photo By: Shelby Frieszell / TriStateFootball.com)

Head coach Steve Specht was looking for juniors Daniel Vollmer and Cam Taylor to take their games to the next level this season and they have answered the call. Vollmer has a team high five scores (four rush, one rec) and 268 all-purpose yards. Taylor leads St. X with 16 receptions, 190 yards receiving and three touchdown catches.

On defense, senior Lucas Bishop along with juniors Jakobe Clapper and Brayden Reilly are playing like all-state performers. Clapper and Reilly’s classmate, Aden Reder, has burst onto the scene with a team-high four tackles for losses and a sack. Keep an eye on sophomore Josh Fasbender who is showing tremendous promise.

TEAM TRENDS: Moeller has won three consecutive regional championships. The Crusaders have beaten St. Xavier in the regular season and in the playoffs in each of the past two seasons. Three of those games have been decided by seven points or less.

St. Xavier has been very opportunistic the past three weeks with a plus-seven turnover margin. The Bombers have 10 takeaways in that span.
 
As good as the Moeller offense has been they are only converting 23 percent of their third-down snaps. The Crusaders aren’t afraid to go for it on fourth down converting 8-17 (47%) attempts.

HEAD COACHES:
Moeller: Bert Bathiany (13-6 at Moeller, second year; 23-9 overall, third year)

St. Xavier: Steve Specht (179-74 at St. Xavier, 21st year; 179-74 overall)

PLAYOFF HISTORY:
Moeller (39 appearances, 62-30 overall) – 2023 (Regional Champion), 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

St. Xavier (29 appearances, 55-25 overall) – 2022, 2021, 2020 (State Champion), 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 (State Champion), 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 (Regional Champions), 2010, 2009, 2007 (State Champion), 2006, 2005 (State Champion), 2004, 2002, 2001 (State Runner-up), 2000, 1999, 1998 (State Runner-up), 1997, 1994, 1993, 1992 (State Runner-up), 1987, 1981.

ST. XAVIER’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Feeding off the home crowd will be a huge plus but the Bombers must be wary of getting too emotional from it. Add in that the seniors have never beaten Moeller and there are plenty of reasons for St. X to get overhyped. This team is at its best when it plays cerebral and under control and that needs to override all the other factors on Friday night.

MOELLER’S KEYS TO VICTORY: The Crusaders have proven they can dominate in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Doing that will lead to positive results in this affair. The defensive front has to bring their “A” game and stop the Bombers offense at the point of attack.

Prediction: Moeller 21, St. Xavier 17

 

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