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Moeller clubs Centerville, heads to state title game

Moeller QB Matt Ponatoski (photo by: Sandy Mahoney/ X: @InMotionBySandy)

CINCINNATI, oh – The Mighty Men of Moeller are headed back to the state title game for the first time since 2013.

On a frigid, windy Friday night at Princeton High School, the Crusaders clobbered Centerville in the Ohio Division I state semifinals 49-10, with junior quarterback Matt Ponatoski setting one school record and tying another with a performance straight out of a Madden football video game.

Ponatoski, a finalist for 2024 Ohio Mr. Football, might have clinched that award with his performance Friday night against the Elks, going 13 of 18 in the air for 431 yards – including a 99-yard touchdown pass that set a Moeller record for the longest TD pass from scrimmage – and six touchdown passes, which tied a school record.

Moeller won the coin toss before the game and deferred to the second half, allowing Centerville to take the ball first. The Elks, led by QB Shane Cole and RB Parker Johnson, were able to work the ball out to their own 35-yard line before being forced to punt. The Crusaders took over at their own 34-yard line, and Ponatoski went to work immediately, hitting TE Cooper McCutchen for a 66-yard touchdown and an early 7-0 lead with 9:52 to go in the first quarter.

The Crusaders forced Centerville three and out on the next series, and took over on offense again and almost made it a 14-0 lead, as Ponatoski would hit wide receiver Landen Adams on a 60-yard scoring strike that ended up nullified due to a holding penalty. On the next play, Ponatoski would make his only  mistake of the night, as he was picked off by Elks linebacker Jacob Taylor. Centerville would take over at the Moeller 27-yard line, and six plays later Cole would hit Johnson on a 10-yard strike to even the game at 7 apiece.

That’s the closest Centerville would get the rest of the way.

The next series, Ponatoski took Moeller 82 yards on four plays, capping the 50 second drive with a  15-yard touchdown pass to junior TE Sam Hamilton to go up  14-7 with 4:36 left in the first quarter.

The Moeller defense again forced the Elks to go three-and-out, and the Crusaders offense took over again, with Ponatoski leading the offense 62 yards on eight plays, finished by Moeller RB Tyler Josleyn taking in it from nine yards out to increase the lead to 21-7 and still a minute left in the first quarter.

Any hopes of getting back in the game for Centerville, going into the second quarter, vanished quickly as Cole was intercepted by Moeller DB Griff Daley and returned 31 yards to the Centerville 11-yard line.  One play later, it was Ponatoski hitting Landen Adams on a 11-yard TD and now a 28-7 lead.

The Elks imploded on the next series, as a bad snap to Cole was recovered by Moeller DB Marino Middleton at the Centerville 40-yard line. Then, on the very next play, Josleyn took a pass from Ponatoski and rumbled 40 yards for his second TD of the game, and suddenly Moeller had a 35-7 lead and smelled blood in the water.

Centerville’s offense, at that point, was in disarray, and were again forced three-and-out. A booming 75-yard punt from Leland Gantz was a bright spot, however, pinning Moeller at their own 1-yard line with 5:43 left in the first half.

And, again, it would only take the Crusaders and Ponatoski one play – this time, a swing pass to wideout Jovan Love, who would take it and sprint 99 yards for the score – to up the lead to 42-7.

The Elks again went three and out, and unbelievably on the first play of Moeller’s next series, Ponatoski would do it again, hitting Matthew Fogler for a 79-yard touchdown pass and a 49-7 lead going into halftime.

The Crusaders, for the game, would see five of their seven scores all happen on one play and one play only. Ponatoski, for the first half alone, went an unconscious 13 of 17 for 431 yards and six touchdowns, with only the one interception.

“To be honest, I was making easy throws to our guys and letting our guys work,” Ponatoski would say of his first half. “We have the best receivers in the country … I was seeing how fast I could get off the sideline and get back on the sideline. But in all seriousness, just give it to my guys and let them make plays. I think we did a great job of that. Forty-nine points in the first half is excellent. Going into next week, we’ll have good momentum, but we have to stay focused.”

Moeller would take the second half kickoff, but Ponatoski would only throw the ball one more time – an incompletion – before coming out of the game and quarterbacking duties going to backup Grant Emery.

Centerville would have one highlight in the second half, from kicker Leland Gantz, as he would drill a 50-yard field goal in the windy conditions with 6:20 left in the third quarter to make it a 49-10 ballgame, which would end up the final.

On the night, the Crusaders would rack up 530 yards of total offense – going for 100 yards even on the ground – along with 18 first downs. Wide receiver Jovan Love would snag four catches for 154 yards, while three other Moeller receivers  would each have over  50 yards receiving. Their defense, meanwhile, would hold Centerville to only 93 yards of total offense, while forcing the Elks to punt six times on the night. They also racked up two sacks and forced one turnover.

Moeller head coach Bert Bathiany told his team after the game that “We’ve got one more week. Give me your best week ever!” and that his team’s performance Friday night left him somewhat speechless.

“I love this team, and I love these seniors,” he said. “It’s a little bit bittersweet, because I only get one more week with them, and it’s coming … I just love these guys. I’m happy for them that they get this moment. Three years in a row of disappointment, and last year was absolutely gut-wrenching with the way everything ended, and for them to be able to get to Canton (site of the 2024 title game), it’s really something special.”

Bathiany added that his junior quarterback’s video game-esque show Friday night also showed the state something.

“He’s just a stud,” Bathiany said. “I get to see that every day in practice. He’s unbelievable. He’s the best player in Ohio in my mind … I’ll just leave it at that. He’s the best player in Ohio.”

Friday’s victory gives Moeller its 14th  appearance in a state title game. The Crusaders are 9-4 in their previous 13 appearances, with their ninth and last state title to date coming in 2013.

Moeller moves to 14-1 on the year and will face off next Friday at Canton’s Fawcett Stadium against 13-2 Olentangy Liberty, who knocked off Lakewood St. Edward 21-7 for a ticket to the Ohio Division I state title game.

Centerville, meanwhile, finishes their season at 11-4.

BOX SCORE
Centerville 7-0-3-0 -10
Moeller 21-28-0-0-49

SCORING PLAYS
M: Cooper McCutchen 66-yard pass from Matt Ponatoski (Jack Mallabar kick)
C: Parker Johnson 10-yard pass from Shane Cole (Leland Gantz kick)
M: Sam Hamilton 15-yard pass from Ponatoski (Mallabar kick)
M: Tyler Josleyn 9-yard run (Mallabar kick)
M: Landen Adams 11-yard pass from Ponatoski (Mallabar kick)
M: Josleyn 40-yard pass from Ponatoski (Mallabar kick)
M: Jovan Love 99-yard pass from Ponatoski (Mallabar kick)
M:  Matthew Fogler 79-yard pass from Ponatoski (Mallabar kick)
C: Gantz 50-yard field goal

RECORD: Moeller 14-1; Centerville 11-4
UP NEXT: Moeller faces Olentangy Liberty (13-2) in Ohio Division I state final; Centerville’s season is complete

 

 

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