CINCINNATI, Ohio – As fall settled in across Cincinnati on Friday night, Moeller found itself back on the road against Princeton. It was the second meeting between the teams this season, the first coming in Week 1 at Paycor Stadium. The Vikings won that matchup 31-24, and the Crusaders came in looking to even the series.
The action started early when Monsanna Torbert took the first play from scrimmage 80 yards for a touchdown. The extra point missed. Moeller’s opening drive stalled, and when the Crusaders tried to punt from inside their own 10-yard line, Brandon Martin Jr. blocked the kick and recovered it in the end zone for another Princeton touchdown. The Vikings missed the two-point try but led 12-0.
Just as things began to spiral for Moeller, Reggie Watson returned the ensuing kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. It was a much-needed answer for the Crusaders. The clock read 10:11. Only a minute and 49 seconds had passed, and three touchdowns were already on the board. They were a warning of the offensive showdown to come.
Princeton outlasts Moeller in a classic
40-36 Vikings. The Torbert brothers lead the way. https://t.co/hj6X6nPT0B
— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) November 14, 2026
A few minutes later, Lorenzo McMullen Jr. got in on the action, catching a 25-yard touchdown pass from Key’Sean Torbert. Princeton led 19-7 and seemed to have all the momentum.
Moeller got to work, though, putting together long drives and getting stops on defense. Watson caught a 45-yard touchdown pass from Hunter McLaughlin for his second score of the night. Juice Glover-Brown followed with touchdown runs of 5 and 2 yards in the second quarter. The early Princeton lead had turned into a 29-19 Moeller advantage.
With the clock winding down in the half, Princeton got the ball back needing a score, especially with Moeller set to receive the second-half kickoff. Torbert found McMullen for 59 yards to set up a 2-yard touchdown pass to David Fields with five seconds left. Moeller led 29-26 at the break.
Defense played a bigger role in the second half. The only score of the third quarter came on an 8-yard run by Key’Sean Torbert that put the Vikings ahead 33-29. Both defenses came up with stops as the game moved into the fourth.
Moeller regained the lead with 8:21 to go when McLaughlin connected with Watson for their second touchdown of the night. Up 36-33, the Crusaders were in position to get a playoff win on the road. They just needed a stop.
With 2:56 left, Key’Sean Torbert found his brother Monsanna in the back corner of the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown and a 40-36 Princeton lead. Moeller moved the ball on the next drive, but Princeton recovered a fumble near midfield with 1:15 remaining. The Vikings picked up the first down they needed and ran out the clock.
Moeller came close to avenging its Week 1 loss, but Princeton’s offense came through when it mattered. The Vikings piled up 514 yards, including 315 on the ground. Key’Sean threw for 199 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 84 yards and a score. Monsanna rushed for 118 yards, Jordan Hall added 116 and McMullen caught five passes for 140 yards. Glover-Brown rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns, and Watson scored three times for the Crusaders.
The Vikings are still unbeaten at 12-0 and headed back to Paycor Stadium to face Elder next Friday. It will be Princeton’s first regional final since 1993.
POSTGAME INTERVIEW
SCORING BY QUARTERS
Moeller: 14-15-0-7-36
Princeton: 19-7-7-6-40
SCORING PLAYS
P: Monsanna Torbert 80 run (Maurice Holloway kick failed), 11:50
P: Brandon Martin Jr. blocked punt recovery in end zone (Gianni Simpson run failed), 10:22
M: Reggie Watson 92 kickoff return (Jack Mallabar kick), 10:11
P: Lorenzo McMullen Jr. 25 pass from Key’Sean Torbert (Holloway kick), 7:12
M: Watson 45 pass from Hunter McLaughlin (Mallabar kick), 5:00
M: Juice Glover-Brown 5 run (McLaughlin reception), 11:55
M: Glover-Brown 2 run (Mallabar kick), 4:39
P: David Fields 2 pass from Key’Sean Torbert (Holloway kick), 0:05
P: Key’Sean Torbert 8 run (Holloway kick), 5:40
M: Watson 15 pass from McLaughlin (Mallabar kick), 8:21
P: Monsanna Torbert 17 pass from Key’Sean Torbert (Holloway kick), 2:56
UP NEXT: Ohio DI, Region 4 Final vs. Elder at Paycor Stadium
Get the complete scores from all of this week’s action on the Underground Sports Shop Scoreboard at TriStateFootball.com/scores.
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