Moeller QB Matt Ponatoski lights up box score in semifinal blowout of Centerville

Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller junior quarterback Matt Ponatoski completed 13 of 17 first-half passes for 431 yards and six touchdowns in a 49-10 blowout win over Centerville on Friday night.

With the win, Moeller (14-1) advanced to the Division I state championship game against Powell (Ohio) Olentangy Liberty.

One of the fastest risers in the class of 2026, Ponatoski lit up the scoreboard early and often against the Elks. Ponatoski threw touchdown passes of 66, 15, 11, 40, 99 and 79 yards — all before halftime. The Crusaders led 49-7 at the break.

Ponatoski attempted one pass in the second half, an incompletion, before resting for the remainder of the evening.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Ponatoski is the nation’s No. 440 overall prospect in the 2026 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is the No. 30 quarterback in the class and the No. 21 recruit from the state of Ohio.

But, On3 is significantly higher on Ponatoski than the other major recruiting services. In the latest release of the 2026 On300, he rose to four-star status ranked No. 109 overall. Per On3, Ponatoski is the No. 8 quarterback and No. 6 Ohio recruit in the cycle.

Last week in Moeller’s 28-23 regional final win over rival Cincinnati St. Xavier, Ponatoski was 16-of-21 passing with 240 yards and two touchdowns through the air with another score on the ground.

On the season, Ponatoski has completed 266 of 376 passes for 4,107 yards and 56 touchdowns with just three interceptions.

Moeller is looking to raise the state championship trophy for the first time in over a decade. The Crusaders won consecutive titles in 2012 and 2013. Since then, they’ve since their rival — St. Xavier — hoist the trophy twice; while Lakewood St. Edward has won six of the last 10.

Now, the Crusaders have their chance to get back to the top. Moeller will play Olentangy Liberty, who ended St. Edward’s three-year run as defending champs Friday night with a 21-7 victory.

Scout’s Take on Matt Ponatoski

On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings had this to say about Matt Ponatoski in October.

“Matt Ponatoski has seen his recruitment take off in football as a junior and he’s having a fantastic season, playing top competition at Moeller High in Cincinnati. His film as a passer is up there with the best we’ve watched so far in this junior season. He’s just dicing teams up, showing good arm talent, the ability to make throws to multiple levels, throwing with touch and accuracy. He has an interesting background. He’s considered an elite baseball prospect, the No. 1 baseball prospect in Ohio, has over 40 offers.

“I think he’s going to have a lot of options in football once he starts to gain traction with college coaches based on how he’s played to this point. His production as a passer is among the best we’ve seen in this cycle and I think he has the look of a national prospect at QB, based off the film and what he’s done so far this fall.”