Week Five of the high school football season brings a huge Greater Catholic League and Top 10 matchup for the Blitz 5 Game of the Week, as the #4 Moeller Crusaders head across Interstate 75 to North Bend Road, where they will face the #5 St. Xavier Bombers in the first GCL game of the year for both squads.
#4 MOELLER CRUSADERS (2-2) at #5 ST. XAVIER BOMBERS (2-2)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m., September 18
At: RDI Stadium and Ballaban Field, St. Xavier High School, Cincinnati, Ohio
Follow on X: @TSFootball
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Moeller has a two-headed quarterback attack in junior Nick Monserez and sophomore Hunter McLaughlin. Monserez is the second-leading passer in the GCL with 440 yards on the season, but has completed just 50.7 percent of his passes while tossing two touchdowns and two interceptions. Monserez has also added 124 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. McLaughlin, meanwhile, is the fifth-leading passer in the GCL this season, completing 72 percent of his passes for 182 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Crusaders’ other offensive weapons include sophomore running back Juice Glover-Brown, who has 64 carries for 439 yards and five touchdowns on the season, and senior wideout Reggie Watson, the GCL’s second-leading receiver with 20 receptions for 270 yards and two touchdowns. Watson was a Division I Second-Team All-Ohio selection last season.
Defensively, Moeller is led by senior linebacker Andrew Stofko, who has 18 total tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss this season, and sophomore defensive back Mason Tate, who already has three interceptions through four games.
St. Xavier, meanwhile, is led offensively by dual-threat senior quarterback Aidan Newdigate, who is 33-of-62 through the air for 410 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions. He has also carried 85 times for 446 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
All five of Newdigate’s touchdown passes have gone to his favorite target, senior wide receiver Logan Von Holle, who has 14 receptions for 252 yards and five scores. Junior running back Aidan Graham gives the Bombers another weapon on the ground, rushing 35 times for 225 yards and one touchdown while adding nine receptions for 108 yards.
Defensively, the Bombers are led by junior linebacker Griffin Lyons, who was Second-Team All-GCL as a sophomore. Lyons has racked up 37 tackles, two sacks and five tackles for loss this season. His teammate in the St. Xavier secondary, junior Graham Uran, has 34 total tackles, 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss.
TEAM TRENDS: Moeller has yet to climb above the .500 mark this season, which is uncharacteristic for the Crusaders. They opened the season with a 31-24 loss to #1 Princeton – their first loss to the Vikings in 35 years – but recovered with a 45-7 pasting of Groveport Madison. In Week Three, Moeller fell to Louisville Trinity, 31-14, before bouncing back again last week with a 42-14 victory over Christ Presbyterian Academy of Tennessee.
The Crusaders have been Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, averaging 43.5 points per game in their two victories while allowing 31.0 points per game in their two losses. Offensively, Moeller is averaging 356.0 yards per game, good for second in the GCL behind Elder. The Crusaders are allowing just 252.3 yards per game defensively, also second-best in the GCL.
St. Xavier’s 2026 season has followed a similar back-and-forth pattern. The Bombers have also yet to climb above .500, opening the season with a 20-7 loss to Lakota West before beating Wayne, 35-7. They fell to Indianapolis Cathedral, 30-21, in Week Three before shutting out Westerville North, 31-0, last week.
The Bombers have struggled at times offensively, averaging 291.5 yards and 23.5 points per game. Defensively, St. Xavier has been strong, allowing just 261.5 yards and 14.3 points per contest. The Bombers also have five interceptions, the second-highest total in the GCL.
HEAD COACHES:
Moeller: Bert Bathiany (34-13 at Moeller, third year; 45-17 overall, fourth year)
St. Xavier: Steve Specht (199-82 at St. Xavier, 22 years; 199-82 overall, 22 years)
PLAYOFF HISTORY:
Moeller: (41 appearances, 68-32 overall) – 2025, 2024 (State Runner-up), 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: (32 appearances, 63-28 overall) – 2025 (State Runner-up), 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 (State Champion), 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 (State Champion), 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 (Regional Champion), 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. The Bombers have made 16 consecutive playoff appearances.
MOELLER KEYS TO VICTORY: Stifle the St. Xavier rushing attack. It is a case of an irresistible force meeting an immovable object, as Moeller has the GCL’s top rushing defense, allowing only 80.8 yards per game, while St. Xavier’s rushing attack is averaging 189.0 yards per game. Something will have to give.
The Crusaders must win the battle in the trenches and force Bombers quarterback Aidan Newdigate to beat them through the air, where he has been prone to mistakes. In their two losses this season, the Bombers have averaged well below their season rushing average, and all five of Newdigate’s interceptions have come in those two defeats.
ST. XAVIER KEYS TO VICTORY: Establish the run to open up the offense and keep Moeller guessing. The ground game is St. Xavier’s strength, led by Newdigate and running back Aidan Graham. The Bombers are facing the GCL’s stiffest rushing defense, but if they can establish the run, Newdigate has the arm and receiving weapons to keep the Moeller defense on its heels.
In their two losses this season, the Crusaders have surrendered an average of 155 rushing yards per game and five total rushing touchdowns.
Prediction: St. Xavier 28, Moeller 24
