Olentangy Liberty shocks Archbishop Moeller for its first Ohio football state championship: Live updates recap

Patriots' defense shuts down the Moeller offense to win its first DI state title

Olentangy Liberty's Jake Struck (21) catches a pass against Moeller in the first half of the Division I state championship game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Canton, Ohio. / Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Olentangy Liberty dethroned St. Edward last week, and next up for the Patriots are the Ohio high school football titans from Cincinnati, the Archbishop Moeller Crusaders.

The Division I OHSAA state championship game is a classic public vs. private school battle, with both teams making a long trip to Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

OHIO HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD

It's Olentangy Liberty's first appearance in the state championship game.

It'll be a cold night in Northeast Ohio, but the forecast isn't calling for all the snow Avon and Anderson dealt with Thursday in the Division II title game.

Follow along below for live updates from the state championship game between Olentangy Liberty and Archbishop Moeller, which is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET Friday, Dec. 6.

Olentangy Liberty vs. Archbishop Moeller, Division I championship game live updates

PREGAME

Moeller wins the toss and defers. Olentangy Liberty will start with the ball.

1ST QUARTER

We're underway! Olentangy Liberty starts its first drive on its own 26.

Jake Struck with a nice 15-yard run into Moeller territory.

INTERCEPTION! Strong opening drive for the Patriots stalls with a pick by Lincoln Murphy. Moeller ball on its own 40.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! What an answer by Olentangy Liberty. The Patriots' Lincoln Gardner stuffs Moeller's Tyler Josleyn on fourth and short, and they take over in Crusaders territory with 6:53 left, still 0-0.

TOUCHDOWN OLENTANGY LIBERTY! 26-yard connection from Andrew Leonard to Jake Struck sets up a 1-yard TD plunge by Struck. Patriots take a 7-0 lead with 3:54 left.

Moeller has to punt, and it's Patriots ball on their 22 with two minutes left.

END OF 1ST QUARTER: Olentangy Liberty 7, Archbishop Moeller 0

2ND QUARTER

Patriots start the second quarter at midfield. They had to punt, but pinned Moeller deep in its own territory.

Great punt return by Jake Struck, and Olentangy Liberty is in the Moeller red zone.

TOUCHDOWN OLENTANGY LIBERTY! Andrew Leonard finds Christian Moulton for a 20-yard touchdown to make it 14-0 Patriots, 7:24 left.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Moeller tries a fake punt and fails, giving the Patriots excellent field position again. They're on the Moeller 36 with 6:19 left, leading 14-0.

Patriots go backward on that drive and have to punt. Moeller ball on its own 20 with 5:05 left.

FUMBLE! After Moeller drives into Olentangy Liberty territory, Bailey Byrd forces a fumble, and the Patriots take over on their own 30, 2:52 left leading 14-0.

TOUCHDOWN MOELLER! Crusaders get the big play they needed, forcing a fumble on fourth and 1, and Cooper Gearhart returns it 80 yards for a touchdown. Jacob Cravens forced the fumble. It's 14-7 with 23 seconds left.

HALFTIME: Olentangy Liberty 14, Archbishop Moeller 7

HALFTIME STATS

Olentangy Liberty's defense has held Moeller to just 94 yards of offense, and Matt Ponatoski has just 39 yards passing. Andrew Leonard has 156 yards passing with a touchdown and an interception for the Patriots. Jacob Struck is the leading receiver with 74 yards.

3RD QUARTER

Second half is underway. Moeller starts with the ball on its own 13, trailing 14-7.

FAKE PUNT! This backfired last time but not this time. On fourth and 7 deep in Crusaders territory, Moeller's Mason Vitucci picks up 14.

FUMBLE! Jovan Love made the catch and ran for a first down on third and long, but then Luke Mulder knocked the ball loose and Lincoln Gardner recovered for Olentangy Liberty, which takes over on its own 17 with 7:22 left, leading 14-7.

TOUCHDOWN OLENTANGY LIBERTY! Great catch by Christian Moulton on a perfect throw by Andrew Leonard for a 61-yard TD. That turn of events rivaled the way the first half ended. It's 21-7 Patriots with 7:05 left.

Landen Adams with a 40-yard kickoff return to give Moeller a chance to answer with great field position in Olentangy Liberty territory.

Penalties kill that drive for Moeller, which has to punt. It's shanked for a 7-yard net, and the Patriots take over on their own 44, 4:50 left.

TOUCHDOWN OLENTANGY LIBERTY! Andrew Leonard finds Christian Moulton again, this time for a 13-yard score, and he was wide open. It's 28-7 Patriots with 1:39 left.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Another stuff by the Olentangy Liberty defense on fourth and short. Ryan Schapker made the stop.

END OF 3RD QUARTER: Olentangy Liberty 28, Archbishop Moeller 7

4TH QUARTER

Olentangy Liberty has the ball on the Moeller 33 with a first and 10.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Huge loss on fourth and 7 after a Christian Harris sack for Moeller. Crusaders still have a lot of work to do from their own 38, trailing 28-7.

TOUCHDOWN MOELLER! Crusaders score their first offensive TD with 7:36 left in the game. Matt Ponatoski hit Landen Adams for a 2-yard touchdown. It's 28-14 Olentangy Liberty.

Huge first down for Olentangy Liberty on third and 10. Andrew Leonard hit Geno Saccoccia for a 12-yard gain. Time running out for Moeller. 5:35 left.

Third and 7 coming up with 3:02 left for the Patriots at the Moeller 33, leading by 14.

Olentangy Liberty draws the Moeller defense offside on fourth and 5. That's a fitting way for this game to effectively end. No timeouts left for Moeller.

FINAL: Olentangy Liberty 28, Archbishop Moeller 14

Players of the game

Christian Moulton had eight catches for 161 yards and three touchdowns; Jacob Struck had 99 yards rushing and a touchdown plus 74 yards receiving; Andrew Leonard threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns; Ryan Schapker had five tackles and a sack.

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-- Mike Swanson | swanson@scorebooklive | @sblivesports