The Fighting Crusaders lost a heartbreaking Division 1 Semi-Final playoff game to Springfield High School, 26-19, in overtime. Moeller was a few plays away from getting a rematch with St. Edward in the state championship game.
The team finished with a 10-5 overall record. Moeller had big wins against rival St. Xavier twice, Lakota West, LaSalle, Mason, and Detroit Martin Luther King. Five losses may seem slightly high, but they were to some of the elite programs in the Midwest. St. Edward (Ohio Division 1 State Champs, 15-1), East Central (Indiana 4A State Champs, 15-0), Ben Davis (Indiana 6A State Champs, 13-1), Centerl Grove in overtime (Indiana 6A Runner Ups, 11-2), and Springfield in overtime.
In the last three seasons, Moeller has returned to being one of the top powerhouse programs in the Midwest with a 34-11 record. The hurdle they haven’t been able to overcome has been Springfield High School. Springfield has knocked them out of the playoffs for the last three years. In 2001, Moeller lost 22-21. In 2022, Moeller lost 28-24, and this past year, in overtime.
Bert Bathiany took over the Moeller head coaching job in March 2023 and had 4½ months to prepare his team for the season. Bathiany did an outstanding job in his first season against a brutally tough schedule. Based on his team’s performance, he earned Greater Catholic League South Coach of the Year honors in Cincinnati.
As we head into the 2024 season, Bathiany’s program is poised to be one of the top contenders for the Ohio Division 1 State Championship. Their schedule is full of difficult games. They graduated some great players, but they have a core group of blue-chip prospects returning, ready to take the program to the highest level.
Offense
The Fighting Crusaders lost one of their best players in the school’s history, running back Jordan Marshall. Last year, Marshall was Ohio’s Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 1,585 yards and 17 touchdowns. He signed with the team up north, the University of Michigan.
The offense will be in good hands with Matt Ponatoski leading the way. The 6’2”, 190-pound 2026 quarterback was a standout as a sophomore, earning 1st Team All-District honors. He completed 61% of passes, threw for 3,334 yards (a school record), and 29 touchdowns. Ponatoski is a two-sport star in football and baseball. He is considered the #1 overall baseball prospect in Ohio in the Class of 2026. Over the offseason, he has received scholarship offers from Vanderbilt, Purdue, Cincinnati, and several MAC schools.
On the receiving end of Ponatoski’s passes are a few of the best receivers and tight ends in Ohio. The wide receiver trio of Jovan Love (6’3”, 190), Roman Mason (6’1”, 195), and Matthew Fogler (6’0”, 165) all had fantastic seasons in 2023. Love caught 44 passes for 941 yards, scored 9 touchdowns, and was 1st Team All-District. Mason caught 42 balls for 646 yards, scored 9 touchdowns, and was 1st Team All-Greater Catholic League. Fogler caught
28 passes for 460 yards, scored 3 touchdowns and is committed to Colgate. Carson Khayo (5’8”, 155), Ricky Thomas (6’0”, 185), and Marvin Dukes (5’11”, 165) are more receivers who will be weapons in the passing game.
Two exciting young tight ends who made a big splash this offseason are Cooper McCutchan (6’5”, 225) and Sam Hamilton (6’4”, 225). Both will be major focal points in the offense in 2024. McCutchan has twenty-plus scholarship offers, including Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Duke, Virginia, Indiana, and Purdue, to name a few. Hamilton has a dozen Division 1 offers.
On the offensive line, Moeller has a lot of depth and experience. Mateo Armento (6’3”, 305), Marty Adkins (6’2”, 260), and Titus Land (6’2”, 285) all return after earning 2nd Team All-League honors. In addition to these three, 2027 offensive tackle Patrick O’Brien (6’6”, 260) is a blue-chip prospect. He has an early offer from Toledo, and the sky is the limit. A huge pickup for Moeller is Camden Pawlick (6’3”, 250), a transfer from Saline High School in Michigan. He has been a two-way starter since his sophomore year. Chuck Powell (6’3”, 275), Jordan Brown (6’4”, 320), Ollie Hamre (6’2”, 260), and Jeremiah Bolah (6’2”, 240) are all linemen that will see a lot of action.
In a new era without Jordan Marshall, the Fighting Crusaders have several running backs prepared to put their name on the map. Carl Jeffries (5’8”, 170) and Deacon Simmons (5’9”, 170) are two seniors. Desmon Gault (5’8”, 170) is a junior, and Benjamin Yuudai Rice (6’0” 193) is a sophomore in the 2027 class. Rice should emerge as the feature back who will get the bulk of the carries.
Defense
The defense had a nice 2023 season, allowing 16.6 points per game. However, the Fighting Crusaders lost a handful of great talent: Karson Hobbs (Notre Dame), Jewett Hayes (Virginia), Drew Robinson (Cincinnati), and Kyler Paul (Dayton).
The two high-profile defensive returners are Jonah Hayes (6’6”, 215) and Micah Rice (6’2”, 185). Hayes is an edge rusher that can put a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. He is committed to Northwestern. Rice is a big-time Safety who can cover and come up and make the highlight reel hit. He is committed to Louisville and will play in the US Army All-American game in December.
In the middle of the defense, Conner Cuozzo (6’2”, 220) was 2nd Team All-League as a junior with 63 total tackles. He is another 2-sport star in football and baseball. Brody Foltz (6’2”, 215) is a senior linebacker who is a projected starter and Lincoln Murphy (6’2”, 200) is a hybrid who could move to the second level or play in the secondary.
On the defensive line, Christian Harris (6’1”, 270), Luke Stuerenberg (6’2”, 286), and Thomas Gerke (6’2”, 270) all made all-league honors in the Greater Catholic League South. On the opposite side of Hayes, Will Adkins (6’2”, 235) will be the starter.
In the secondary, Griffin Daly (6’0”, 190) returns as the other safety. He recorded 58 total tackles and 2 interceptions as a junior. Cooper Gearhart (6’1”, 175) is projected to be one of the starting corners. Caleb Coe (5’11”, 175) is another defensive back who will add depth and experience to this position group.
2024 Schedule
Cincinnati Moeller’s schedule is extremely tough from Week 1 to the playoffs. They open with Princeton on August 23. Princeton was 12-1 last season. They have three out-of-state opponents: Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (IN) on August 30 and East Central (IN) on September 6. The last game of the regular season is against national power St. Frances Academy (MD). Their in-state games are against St. Edward, St. Ignatius, Elder, LaSalle, and rival St. Xavier. This is a schedule most teams wouldn’t survive, but it is standard practice to play the best of the best at Moeller.
2024 Outlook
The Fighting Crusaders had a balanced offensive attack last season. This year will be a little different. With Marshall gone, they will look to air it out more with Ponatoski and his star-studded group of receivers. We expect Patrick O’Brien to emerge as a future Power 4 prospect in the 2027 class. Pawlick will show the fans in Cincinnati that he is the real deal and will give this team a huge boost.
The defense will have its work cut out for them, but Rice and Hayes are two phenomenal talents who will lead the charge.
The team may take a few on the chin during the regular season, but we expect them to be in position and on the hunt for some hardware in December when it is all said and done.
