Archbishop Moeller defeats St. Xavier in top Ohio high school football showdown: Live score recap - Sept. 19, 2025

The Fighting Crusaders held the Bombers to two touchdowns in the game

Trinity Shamrocks Juleone Carney (8) tackles Moeller Crusaders running back Tyler Josleyn (12) in the first half of a high school football game between the Moeller Crusaders and Trinity Shamrocks, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, at Mount St. Joseph University’s Schueler Field in Cincinnati. / Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The No. 2 Archbishop Moeller Fighting Crusaders (4-1) defeated the No. 3 St. Xavier Bombers (4-0) 30-13 in a top Ohio high school football matchup on Friday at West Claremont High School.

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The Fighting Crusaders defense shut out the Bombers in the second half. Down by four points, the Bombers received the second half kickoff, but quarterback Jackson Frey threw an interception to
Paxton Dodsworth, who returned it to the goal-line.

Archbishop Moeller scored on the next play as part of a 13-0 second half.

Fighting Crusaders kicker Jack Mallabar hit three long field goals, including one to end the first half that gave Archbishop Moeller a 17-13 lead.

Archbishop Moeller will play at home against La Salle next week. St. Xavier will play at home against Elder.

Archbishop Moeller defeats St. Xavier in top Ohio high school football showdown: Live score recap - Sept. 19, 2025

First Quarter Updates

Moeller receives the opening kickoff, and we're underway.

TOUCHDOWN MOELLER! The Fighting Crusaders drive 80-yards for an opening touchdown, mostly on big run plays from Dante Ware and Tyler Josleyn. Ware ran in a touchdown from the red zone. PAT is good - Moeller 7, St. Xavier 0 - 9:52 1Q

St. Xavier can't convert on a pass on 3rd-and-9. The Bombers punt and Moeller will start a drive with the ball on its 21-yard line - 6:11 1Q

St. Xavier stops Moeller on 3rd-and-2. After a Moeller punt, the Bombers will start with the ball on their 33-yard line.

The Bombers punt after driving to the Moeller 44-yard line. The Fighting Crusaders will have the ball on their own 2-yard line after a great punt from Daniel Vollmer - 1:35 1Q

Moeller goes three-and-out, and the Bombers will have the ball with one second remaining in the first quarter on the Moeller 28-yard line after a penalty on Moeller during the punt.

TOUCHDOWN ST XAVIER! On the last play of the first quarter, Cameron Taylor catches a 28-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone from Jackson Frey. PAT is good - Moeller 7, St. Xavier 7

END OF FIRST QUARTER: Archbishop Moeller 7, St. Xavier 7

Second Quarter Updates

TOUCHDOWN MOELLER! Reggie Watson catches a 19-yard touchdown pass from Matt Ponatoski. Watson makes an over-the-shoulder catch for the score. PAT is good - Moeller 14, St. Xavier 7 - 7:47 2Q

TOUCHDOWN ST. XAVIER! Frey finds Jake Britt, who catches a 7-yard touchdown pass. He caught the ball out of the backfield and ran in for the score. PAT is no good - Moeller 14, St. Xavier 13 - 4:39 2Q

INTERCEPTION BY ST. XAVIER! Alex McClatchey intercepts the pass from a scrambling Ponatoski. The Bombers will have the ball on their 41-yard line with 1:43 remaining in the first half.

FIELD GOAL MOELLER! The Fighting Crusaders kicker Jack Mallabar hit a long field goal to end the first half.

HALFTIME: Archbishop Moeller 17, St. Xavier 13

St. Xavier will receive the ball to begin the second half.

Second Quarter Updates

St. Xavier receive the second-half kickoff and we're underway.

INTERCEPTION BY MOELLER! Paxton Dodsworth snags a pass and returns it along the sideline to the Bombers' 2-yard line - 8:57 3Q

TOUCHDOWN MOELLER! Josleyn runs in a 6-yard touchdown. PAT is good - Moeller 24, St. Xavier 13 - 8:52 3Q

St. Xavier punts on the next drive. The Fighting Crusaders will have the ball on their 32-yard line - 6:35 3Q

End of third quarter: Archbishop Moeller 24, St. Xavier 13

Fourth Quarter Updates

FIELD GOAL MOELLER! Mallabar hits a 37-yard field goal. The Fighting Crusaders long drive stalled in the red zone. Moeller 27, St. Xavier 13 - 11:52 4Q

The Moeller defense continues to stifle the Bombers' offense. St. Xavier punts from its own end zone, and the Fighting Crusaders take over from the Bombers' 33-yard line - 11:08 4Q

FIELD GOAL MOELLER! Mallabar hits another long field goal. Moeller 30, St. Xavier 13 - 9:33 4Q

Turnover on downs for St. Xavier. Once again, the Bombers' offense can't muster a long drive. Moeller will take over on its own 32-yard line - 5:40 4Q

Moeller runs time off the clock and punts. St. Xavier has the ball on its own 4-yard line with 2:08 remaining.

FINAL: Archbishop Moeller 30, St. Xavier 13

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