Archbishop Moeller knocks out St. Xavier in rivalry playoff game: Live updates recap

Moeller survives a late blocked-punt touchdown and near onside kick recovery afterward

Archbishop Moeller and St. Xavier know each other very well. / Ben Jackson

One of the biggest games in the Ohio high school football playoffs Friday is a rematch of one of the most entertaining games from the regular season.

Archbishop Moeller won the regular-season matchup 45-37 over rival St. Xavier, and now the two will meet in the regional final for the first time since 2014. 

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Keep up with the Archbishop Moeller vs. St. Xavier game with our live updates below. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET Friday, November 22, at Mason High School. 

Archbishop Moeller vs. St. Xavier Live Updates

St. Xavier wins the toss and defers. Moeller will start with the ball.

1ST QUARTER

Quick first down for Moeller, and the Crusaders are approaching St. Xavier territory. Bombers force a punt and start their first drive on their own 37, 9:12 left.

FIELD GOAL ST. XAVIER! Owen Davidson hits a 22-yard field goal to make it 3-0 after a long drive. 1:50 left in the quarter. Of the Bombers' 45 yards on that drive, 39 were on the ground.

TOUCHDOWN MOELLER! Matt Ponatoski keeps it himself for a 2-yard touchdown run in the waning seconds of the quarter. It's 7-3 Moeller.

END OF 1ST QUARTER: Archbishop Moeller 7, St. Xavier 3

2ND QUARTER

St. Xavier starts the quarter at its own 26.

TOUCHDOWN ST. XAVIER! Chase Herbstreit hits Daniel Vollmer for a 5-yard TD and the Bombers retake the lead after a balanced drive. It's 10-7 St. Xavier with 6:33 left.

TOUCHDOWN MOELLER! Matt Ponatoski fires a 33-yard strike to a wide-open Landen Adams to make it 14-10 Moeller with 4:14 left.

TOUCHDOWN ST. XAVIER! High-flying quarter continues with a 12-yard TD pass from Herbstreit to Vollmer again to make it 17-14 Bombers with 1:03 left.

HALFTIME: St. Xavier 17, Archbishop Moeller 14

3RD QUARTER

St. Xavier starts with the ball on its own 25, leading 17-14.

Bombers drive into Moeller territory but punt from the Crusaders' 45. It's Moeller ball on its own 22 with 8:27 left, trailing 17-14.

And the Crusaders punt right back. St. Xavier ball on its own 45, 7:24 left.

Remember that high-flying second quarter? The only thing high-flying about this quarter is the ball on punts. Moeller ball again on its own 15 with 6:14 left, trailing 17-14.

And there's the offense. Ponatoski hits Jovan Love on a play-action pass and he takes off for 46 yards. Moeller threatening to tie or take the lead, 4:52 left.

TOUCHDOWN MOELLER! Ponatoski fires a bullet to Cooper McCutchen for an 11-yard touchdown with 3:39 left. Crusaders retake the lead 21-17.

END OF 3RD QUARTER: Archbishop Moeller 21, St. Xavier 17

4TH QUARTER

Moeller will start the fourth on its own 39-yard line facing second and 8, leading 21-17.

TOUCHDOWN MOELLER! That drive was the Tyler Josleyn show. He had a number of tough runs, punctuated with a 2-yard TD leap to make it 28-17 Crusaders with 9:19 left.

Chase Herbstreit had one of the hardest-working 6-yard runs you'll ever see, and the Bombers are driving in Moeller territory with 7:17 left.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Moeller stuffs Herbstreit on third and goal and then fourth and goal from the 1-yard line and takes over with 5:15 left, leading 28-17.

Tyler Josleyn continues his strong second half by getting his team out from the shadow of the Moeller end zone. St. Xavier calls timeout with three minutes left, Moeller ball on its own 20.

Second and 8 for Moeller on its own 26, and St. Xavier is out of timeouts. 2:55 left.

TOUCHDOWN ST. XAVIER! Bombers get just what they needed, blocking the Moeller punt and recovering it for a touchdown. 28-23 Moeller after the two-point try is no good. 1:13 left.

Excellent onside kick by the Bombers, but Moeller comes up with it. Moeller in victory formation.

FINAL: Archbishop Moeller 28, St. Xavier 23

Pregame

Three-star junior quarterback Matt Ponatoski steers the Moeller offense, while St. Xavier counters with senior QB Chase Herbstreit (Kirk's son).

This will be the 11th playoff meeting between the Crusaders and Bombers and the 73rd overall.

That 45-37 game in September was the most points both teams have given up all season.

Archbishop Moeller finished the 2024 regular season ranked No. 1 in the Ohio High School on SI Top 25, while St. Xavier finished at No. 15.

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-- Mike Swanson | swanson@scorebooklive.com | @sblivesports