Week Five of the high school football season finds the Blitz 5 Game of the Week being a huge Greater Catholic League conference and Top 10 matchup, as the #4 Moeller Crusaders head across Interstate 75 to North Bend Road, where they will face off with 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 QB Nick Monserez and sophomore quarterback Hunter Hunter McLaughlin. Monserez is the second-leading passer in the GCL with 440 yards on the season, but has only completed 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, having completed 72 percent of his passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns against zero picks. The Crusaders other weapons offensively are Juice Glover-Brown, a sophomore running back 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 Division I All-Ohio Second Team last season.
Defensively, Moeller is led by senior linebacker Andrew Stofko, who has 18 total tackles so far this season, with 2.5 tackles for loss, and sophomore defensive back Mason Tate, who has three interceptions only four weeks into the season.
St. Xavier, meanwhile, will be led offensively by their dual threat quarterback, senior Aidan Newdigate, who is 33 of 62 through the air for 410 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions, and who has 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 to go with those five scores. Junior running back Aidan Graham gives the Bombers another weapon on the ground, as he has rushed 35 times for 225 yards and one touchdown, while adding 9 receptions for 108 yards on the year.
Defensively, the Bombers are led by junior linebacker Griffin Lyons, who was second-team All-GCL as a sophomore. Lyons, so far this season, has racked up 37 tackles, two sacks and five tackles for loss, while 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 not been above the .500 mark yet 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. Week Three, however, saw them fall to Louisville Trinity 31-14, then bounce back yet again last week with a 42-14 victory against Christ Presbyterian Academy of Tennessee. The Crusaders have been Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, as they have averaged 43.5 points per game in their two victories this season, but allowed 31 points per game in their two losses. Offensively, Moeller is averaging 356 yards per game – good for second in the GCL, behind Elder – and only allowing 252.3 yards per game on the defensive side, also good for second in the GCL.
St. Xavier’s 2026 season, so far, is quite similar to Moeller’s in the aspect of it has been back and forth. The Bombers have yet to be above .500 this season, opening the season with a 20-7 loss to Lakota West, beating Wayne 35-7, losing to Indianapolis Cathedral 30-21 in Week Three, and shutting out Westerville North 31-0 last week. The Bombers are struggling a little bit offensively, only averaging 291.5 yards and 23.5 points per game. Defensively, St. Xavier is strong, only allowing 261.5 yards and 14.3 points per game, while having the GCL’s second-highest total of interceptions with five.
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 Champions), 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. 16 straight playoff appearances for the Bombers.
MOELLER KEYS TO VICTORY: Stifle the St. Xavier rushing attack. It is a situation of an irresistible force meeting an immovable object, as Moeller has the GCL’s top rushing defense, allowing only 80.8 yards per game, and St. Xavier’s rushing attack is averaging 189 yards a game on the ground. Something will have to give. The Crusaders will have to win the battle in the trenches and force Bomber QB Aidan Newdigate to pass, where he has been prone to make mistakes. In their two losses this season, St. Xavier has averaged well below its season rushing average, and all five of Newdigate’s interceptions he has thrown have come in those two losses.
XAVIER KEYS TO VICTORY: Establish the run in order to open up the offense and keep Moeller guessing. The ground game is St. Xavier’s strength, between Newdigate and running back Aidan Graham. The Bombers are facing the GCL’s stiffest defense when it comes to the run, but if they can establish some semblance of a running game, Newdigate does have the arm and the receiving weapons to keep the Moeller defense on its heels. The Crusaders, in their two losses this season, have given up an average of 155 yards on the ground and five rushing touchdowns.
Prediction: St. Xavier 28, Moeller 24
