DELHI TOWNSHIP, Oh. – After a tough Week 7 loss against Greater Catholic League archrival Elder, which cost them the GCL title, the Moeller Crusaders refocused their sights on Cleveland St. Ignatius Friday night on Senior Night at Mt. St. Joseph University.
That refocusing earned the Crusaders a 42-10 victory over the Wildcats, putting Moeller back on the winning track after their disappointing 24-16 loss to Elder last week.
The onslaught started early, with the Moeller defense recovering a Wildcat fumble inside the St. Ignatius 10-yard line, and promptly capitalized as back Conner Cuozzo took it in from four yards out to make it a 7-0 game.
The Crusaders would tack on another first quarter score, as the reigning Ohio Mr. Football – Moeller QB Matt Ponatoski – hit wideout Tyler Josleyn for a 37-yard score, and it was 14-0 after one quarter.
St. Ignatius would notch a field goal early in the second quarter to make it a 14-3 game, but then the avalanche began. Ponatoski would throw touchdowns of 57, 27 and 8 yards — including two to wideout Landen Adams – and Moeller would carry a 35-10 lead into halftime.
Ponatoski would add a fifth touchdown toss toward the end of the third quarter, a 33-yard strike to Landen Adams – the third TD reception by Adams – and it was 42-10.
The five TDs by Ponatoski now give him 23 on the year, against only one interception.
With the victory, Moeller moves to 6-2 on the season, while former powerhouse St. Ignatius drops to 1-7.
SCORING BY QUARTERS
Moeller 14-21-7-0 42
St. Ignatius 3-7-0-0 10
SCORING PLAYS
M: Conner Cuozzo 4-yard run (Jack Mallabar kick)
M: Tyler Josleyn 37-yard pass from Matt Ponatoski (Mallabar kick)
S: Griffin Roberts kick
M: Landen Adams 57-yard pass from Ponatoski (Mallabar kick)
M: Cooper McCutcheon 27-yard pass from Ponatoski (Mallabar kick)
S: Touchdown pass (Roberts kick)
M: Adams 8-yard pass from Ponatoski (Mallabar kick)
M: Adams 33-yard pass from Ponatoski (Mallabar kick)
RECORDS: Moeller 6-2; Cleveland St. Ignatius 1-7
UP NEXT: Moeller at Cleveland St. Edward; Cleveland St. Ignatius at St. Xavier
