The Moeller Crusaders have accomplished a lot in Bert Bathiany’s first two seasons at the helm of one of the area’s most revered high school football programs.
In 2023, Bathiany’s first year, Moeller went 10-5 and won Greater Catholic League-South and regional titles, losing in overtime in the Division I state semifinal. Last year, the Crusaders took a step forward, finishing 14-2 and making their first state championship game since 2013 where they lost, 28-14 to Olentangy Liberty.
So in Bathiany’s first two seasons leading the Crusaders, they’ve lost in the state semifinal and then the state final. The logical next step is glory.
But there are many months until Moeller realizes or doesn’t realize that glory. Here are five reasons to think they have a shot:
1. Matt Ponatoski
Matt Ponatoski won’t tell you that he’s the straw that stirs the drink for Moeller, but he is.
The senior-to be threw for 4,217 yards, 57 touchdowns (both single-season school records) and three interceptions last season, earning just about every accolade in the book including Ohio Mr. Football and the Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year awards. On Sept. 20 of last season, the 22nd game of his high school career and just a third of the way through his junior season, he became Moeller’s all-time leader in career passing yards (4,959) and career touchdown passes (50) with a six-touchdown performance against rival St. Xavier.
Ponatoski matched his football accomplishments by winning Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year in baseball as well, joining Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Mauer and Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss as the only people to win a state GPOY award for different sports in the same school year. Ponatoski in early July committed to Kentucky to play both baseball and football earlier in July.
Ponatoski’s junior season was as good as they come….
Source link : https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/high-school/ohio-high-school/2025/07/17/matt-ponatoski-and-cincinnati-ohio-moeller-high-school-football-preview-2025-gcl-s/85197023007/
Author :
Publish date : 2025-07-17 04:30:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
