Our Blitz 5 Game of the week features a rivalry that dates back decades as the St. Xavier Bombers take on the Moeller Crusaders on Friday night. The Bombers and Crusaders will clash at West Clermont High School but all the familiarity will be the same as all the electric battles over the years. The winner will be a step closer to a GCL-South title and quite possibly an inside track to the number one seed in the state playoffs. The Bombers are looking to continue their unblemished season as the Crusaders are looking to get things rolling come down the second half of the season. The atmosphere will be second to none when these two teams take the field under the Friday night lights.
#1 ST. XAVIER BOMBERS (4-0) at #2 MOELLER CRUSADERS (3-1)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
The Wolf Den, West Clermont Stadium
Follow on X @TSFootball
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Senior quarterback Jackson Frey as been the man in charge for the Bomber offense. Frey has thrown for 619 yards and eight touchdowns through four games and has led an efficient offense. Cam Taylor has been his most consistent target and has 220 yards receiving on the season. Aiden Graham and Spencer Stegbauer have manned the backfield as a running back duo.
Defensively the Bombers have been impressive. Aden Reeder leads the GCL in sacks with 3.5. Kobe Clapper (23 TKL), Brayden Reilly (19 TKL, 2 INT) and Daniel Vollmer (15 TKL, 1 sack) present about as tough on a defensive trio you will find with their ability to make plays and disrupt opposing offenses.
Moeller play caller Matt Ponatoski is one of the best players in the country and leads the GCL in passing with 864 yards, 12 TD and has completed 69.1% of his passes so far this season. Wideouts Reggie Watson (1st) and Carson Khayo (3rd) are top five in the league in receiving and are the quarterbacks top targets. Running back Tyler Joselyn is an experienced runner out of the backfield and ranks fourth in the league with 256 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively Conner Cuozzo, Christian Harris and Caleb Coe have been outstanding in defending opposing teams and taking away what they do best. Coe leads the league in interceptions and Cuozzo is in the top five in tackles. Harris leads the team in sacks.
TEAM TRENDS:
St. Xavier is the top ranked defense in the league as they are only giving up a mere 5.0 PPG and haven’t allowed more than a touchdown in any of their four games so far this season. They are the lowest ranked offense as they score 21.5 PPG and do quite a bit more damage in the air than on the ground so far this season.
Moeller leads the league in offense by averaging 39 PPG and over 360 yards per game. The Crusaders have scored 156 total points through their four games to start the season. The Moeller defense has given up over 200 yards per game through the air and 28 PPG on the season ranking them last in the league in overall defense.
HEAD COACHES:
Elder: Steve Specht (190-77 at St. Xavier, 21 years; 190-77 overall)
Moeller: Bert Bathiany (27-8 at Moeller, two years; 37-11 overall, three years)
PLAYOFF HISTORY:
St. Xavier (31 appearances, 59-27 overall) – 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.
Moeller (40 appearances, 67-31 overall) – 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’S KEYS TO VICTORY: The Bombers will need to continue their stout play defensively as they face one of the most prolific offenses in the area. Vollmer, Britt, and Reilly need to be effective in the secondary to slow down the passing attack of Moeller while Clapper needs to have a disruptive night up front.
MOELLER’S KEYS TO VICTORY: The Crusaders will need to step up their performance on the defensive side of the ball to give their offense breathing room. The secondary will need to be on their game to make the Bombers drive up the field methodically rather than hitting on the big play.
Prediction: Moeller 30, St. Xavier 27
