Moeller takes down St. Xavier in regional rivalry rematch

Arguably the biggest rivalry in Ohio high school football had an encore performance Friday night in the Ohio Region 4 final game.

Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller defeated Cincinnati St. Xavier 28-23 in a rematch of Greater Catholic League South rivals.

With under two minutes to go in the fourth quarter, St. Xavier blocked a Moeller punt and returned it for a touchdown to bring the game back within one possession. But a failed two-point conversion and a recovered onside kick sealed the regional title for the Crusaders.

Moeller quarterback and fast riser in the 2026 On300, Matt Ponatoski, finished 16-of-21 passing with 240 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Ponatoski also snuck in for another score on the ground.

On the flip side of the quarterback duel, Bombers QB Chase Herbstreit was 11-of-23 passing for 157 yards and two touchdowns of his own while adding 61 rushing yards.

St. X took a 17-14 lead into halftime after a pair of connections between Herbstreit and three-star junior tight end Daniel Vollmer. But the Crusaders were the picture of consistency, scoring exactly one touchdown in ever quarter. A scoreless third quarter ultimately doomed St. Xavier as the Bombers had to fight back from a two-score deficit in the fourth quarter.

St. Xavier quarterback Chase Herbstreit is the son of former Ohio State quarterback and current football broadcaster Kirk Herbstreit. The game received national attention on Tuesday when Kirk posted a graphic of the game’s ticket allotment being sold out to his social media.

Kirk Kerbstreit was in attendance Friday night ahead of College GameDay’s Saturday morning show in Columbus, Ohio.

SO PROUD of this @StXFB team. Once again, you guys left everything you had out on the field. Been absolute honor watching this program up close over the last 4 years. Such a brotherhood.
Hold your heads up high-played your hearts out. Congrats to @MoellerFootball and good luck…

— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) November 23, 2024

With the win, Moeller will head to the Division I state semifinal game against Centerville. The Crusaders are looking to get over the state title hump for the first time in more than a decade.