A big night from Hunter McLaughlin and a relentless defensive effort helped #4 Moeller open GCL South play with a 30-15 victory over #5 St. Xavier in the Blitz 5 Game of the Week on Friday night.
McLaughlin completed 24-of-34 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns without an interception as the Crusaders improved to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play. Moeller finished with 398 yards of offense and averaged 6.4 yards per play.
The teams went to halftime tied at 7-7 after trading touchdowns in the opening two quarters. McLaughlin connected with David Boehm for a 45-yard score late in the first quarter before Aidan Newdigate answered with a 1-yard touchdown run for St. Xavier.
Moeller took control through the air in the third quarter.
McLaughlin found Reggie Watson for a 27-yard touchdown with 7:15 remaining in the period, capping a 99-yard drive. The pair struck again with a 51-yard touchdown with one minute left in the quarter, giving the Crusaders a 21-7 advantage.
Watson finished with seven receptions for 134 yards and two touchdowns, while Boehm added four catches for 62 yards and a score.
The Moeller defense created problems throughout the night. St. Xavier managed 217 total yards and only 73 through the air. Kaden Lawson led the pass rush with 3.5 sacks, while Andrew Stofko piled up 15 tackles.
A fourth-quarter safety extended Moeller’s lead to 23-7, but the Bombers made one final push. Newdigate scored his second rushing touchdown of the night with 5:41 remaining and followed it by finding Ethan Cole for the two-point conversion, trimming the deficit to 23-15.
St. Xavier got another opportunity after recovering a Moeller fumble with 2:19 remaining, but the Crusaders’ defense delivered the decisive play.
Pressure forced quarterback Dominick Dials into an errant throw, and Makaio Butler intercepted it before returning it 32 yards for a touchdown with 1:42 left, putting the game away.
St. Xavier finished with 144 rushing yards, led by Newdigate’s 81 yards and two touchdowns and Aidan Graham’s 80 yards on 13 carries. The Bombers completed just 8-of-20 passes.
The victory moves Moeller above .500 for the first time this season and puts the Crusaders alongside Elder at 1-0 in GCL South play.
SCORING BY QUARTERS
Moeller: 7-0-14-9-30
St. Xavier: 0-7-0-8-15
SCORING PLAYS
M: David Boehm 45 pass from Hunter McLaughlin (Jack Mallabar kick)
S: Aidan Newdigate 1 run (Owen Davidson kick)
M: Reggie Watson 27 pass from McLaughlin (Mallabar kick)
M: Watson 51 pass from McLaughlin (Mallabar kick)
M: Safety
S: Newdigate 1 run (Ethan Cole pass from Newdigate)
M: Makaio Butler 32 interception return (Mallabar kick)
RECORDS: Moeller (2-2, 0-0 in GCL South); St. Xavier (2-2, 0-0)
UP NEXT: Moeller at La Salle; St. Xavier at Elder
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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