The Moeller Crusaders have accomplished a lot in Bert Bathiany’s first two seasons at the helm of one of the area’s most revered high school football programs.
In 2023, Bathiany’s first year, Moeller went 10-5 and won Greater Catholic League-South and regional titles, losing in overtime in the Division I state semifinal. Last year, the Crusaders took a step forward, finishing 14-2 and making their first state championship game since 2013 where they lost, 28-14 to Olentangy Liberty.
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So in Bathiany’s first two seasons leading the Crusaders, they’ve lost in the state semifinal and then the state final. The logical next step is glory.
Moeller head coach Bert Bathiany, shown during a game in September 2024, has compiled 24 wins across his first two seasons at the helm of the Crusaders.
But there are many months until Moeller realizes or doesn’t realize that glory. Here are five reasons to think they have a shot:
1. Matt Ponatoski
Matt Ponatoski (7) already holds many Moeller school records with a season left to play in his high school career.
Matt Ponatoski won’t tell you that he’s the straw that stirs the drink for Moeller, but he is.
The senior-to be threw for 4,217 yards, 57 touchdowns (both single-season school records) and three interceptions last season, earning just about every accolade in the book including Ohio Mr. Football and the Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year awards. On Sept. 20 of last season, the 22nd game of his high school career and just a third of the way through his junior season, he became Moeller’s all-time leader in career passing yards (4,959) and career touchdown passes (50) with a six-touchdown performance against rival St. Xavier.
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Ponatoski matched his football accomplishments by winning Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year in baseball as well, joining Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Mauer and Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss as the only people to win a state GPOY award for different sports in the same school year. Ponatoski in early July committed to Kentucky to play both baseball and football earlier in July.
Ponatoski’s junior season was as good as they come. Unlike most who throw for more than 50 touchdowns in a season, Ponatoski has a chance to match his success in 2025. He’s focused on grabbing just about the last high school trophy not yet in his case.
“I don’t want to be the guy who came through Moeller and was really good but never won a state championship,” Ponatoski said. “At the end of the day, it’s about the team.”
2. The “Havoc Mob” on defense
Moeller’s defense calls itself the “Havoc Mob.”
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“We’re going to wreak havoc,” said senior defensive lineman and Wake Forest commit Christian Harris, who had 15.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks last season. “That’s always going to be our identity.”
Moeller’s Christian Harris, shown during a college showcase in May 2025, finished second in the GCLS with 8.5 sacks last season.
The Moeller defense was strong in 2024, allowing just under 18 points per game compared to the team’s 39.3 scoring average.
The unit will be younger in 2024. The Crusaders will miss linebacker/edge rusher Jonah Hayes, who is now on the roster at Northwestern University, along with lineman Thomas Gerke, who will play at Bucknell in 2025.
Harris will be a major cog in the defense, as will returning linebacker Connor Cuozzo, another baseball star who had 56 tackles including four for loss in 2024. Those are the two major contributors returning in the front seven. The secondary will be led by sophomore Marino Middleton (one interception, six passes defended and two forced fumbles), along with junior Ricky Thomas (40 tackles, two INT and nine PD).
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There are spots all across the defense where Moeller will be looking for less experienced players to step up, but if any program in Cincinnati has the depth to make that work, it’s the Crusaders. Regardless of who does step into those vacant spots, expect the unit as a whole to keep up the “Havoc Mob” mentality.
3. Crusaders have elite tight end corps
The Moeller roster features a pair of Power Four-committed tight ends in seniors Cooper McCutchan and Sam Hamilton.
McCutchan, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound North Carolina commit, caught 43 passes for 534 yards and seven touchdowns last season. Hamilton, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound West Virginia commit, made 22 grabs for 272 yards and five touchdowns a season ago.
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According to Bathiany, the depth of Moeller’s tight end room goes well past its two stars.
“I think we have five or six guys there that can play varsity football, so we can get in some big people alignments, which helps.”
You can bet that plenty of football coaches around Cincinnati and even Ohio have been spending a decent portion of the offseason figuring out how to slow down Ponatoski. Having a pair of big, reliable pass catchers will make the quarterback’s life easier after dropping back. That depth will help Moeller in the run game as well, where they return each of their top three rushers.
4. Continuity at running back
Moeller’s Tyler Josleyn (12) is hoping for an even better 2025 after rushing 162 times for 754 yards in 2024.
Moeller doesn’t return any of its top three pass catchers by receptions from last season. Jovan Love, Matthew Fogler and Roman Mason, who combined for more than 130 catches and nearly 2,200 yards, all graduated.
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The tight ends should help supplant that production, and even if Moeller’s receiver room doesn’t find its feet right off first snap, the Crusaders shouldn’t be afraid to lean on their run game until younger receivers settle in.
Tyler Josleyn was the team’s lead back last season, carrying it 162 times for 754 yards (4.7 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns. Dante Ware battled through injury to take 89 carries for 407 yards (4.6), and junior Greylo Coach carried the ball 58 times for 339 yards (5.8).
Moeller’s offense has the chance to be multidimensional nightmare for opposing coaches and players, though much of its success could come down to an inexperienced offensive line.
5. Young talent in the trenches
Bathiany believes that his starting offensive line in 2025 will begin the season with zero collective career varsity starts. Other than Harris, he doesn’t return much defensive line production either.
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Even still, he’s feeling optimistic about both units.
“The talent is through the roof,” Bathiany said. “Our offensive and defensive lines, I’m probably the most excited about those two groups over the next couple of years.”
Moeller’s offensive line was far more experienced last year, starting the season with six players who had significant varsity experience. This season will be a different challenge for Crusader players and coaches alike on that front.
The Crusaders start the 2025 regular season with a game against Princeton High School on Saturday, Aug. 23 at 4 p.m. at West Clermont.
Moeller 2025 schedule
Saturday, Aug. 23 at 4 p.m. – vs. Princeton at West Clermont High School
Saturday, Aug. 30 at 1 p.m. – vs. Mt. Carmel (Illinois) at Ironton High School
Friday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. – vs. Trinity at Mount St. Joseph University
Friday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. – at Christ Presbyterian Academy (Tennessee)
Friday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. – vs. St. Xavier at West Clermont
Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. – vs. La Salle at Mount St. Joseph
Friday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. – at Elder
Friday Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. – vs. St. Ignatius
Saturday, October 18 at 3 p.m. – at St. Edward
Saturday, Oct. 25 at 3 p.m. – vs. Muskegon (Michigan) at West Clermont
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Matt Ponatoski and Moeller football hope for another step forward in 2025
