CINCINNATI, OHIO - The Saint Ignatius Wildcats (1-7) made the four-hour trek last Friday to Mount St. Joseph University to take on GCL powerhouse Archbishop Moeller Crusaders (6-2). The Wildcats and Crusaders were both coming off losses to rival opponents the week prior. The Wildcats lost to the Saint Edward Eagles (7-1), and Moeller dropped a close game to Elder (8-0).
Saint Ignatius and Moeller last met last year in a Friday night game at Byers Field that saw the Wildcats start their sophomore quarterback, Anthony Anghilante, in his first career start. Moeller would win that game 44-0 with a dominant performance from Matt Ponatoski, one of the top quarterbacks in the class of 2026. Moeller, that year, would go on to make a state title run, but ended up one game short, losing the state final by a score of 28-14 to Olentangy Liberty. Still, Moeller returned multiple weapons and a top contender in D1 in 2025.
With multiple injuries in the quarterback room, Senior Daniel Chalhoub was named the starter for this week's game. Chalhoub started the first five weeks of his junior year before suffering a season-ending injury against Hoban last year. Chalhoub started week one against Avon but left that game early and would not start again. Chalhoub did appear against Walsh Jesuit, where he threw an interception. Chalhoub, as a starter, came into the game with a 1-5 record.
The Saint Ignatius offense got off to a hot start as the game got underway. The Cats drove six plays for 26 yards before a pass from Daniel Chalhoub went backwards, and Luke Simms couldn't fall on it as Moeller recovered the fumble and took over.
The Moeller offense showed off why they are considered elite with a short field in front of them. Moeller drove seven plays for 46 yards on their first drive and found their way into the endzone for the first time tonight on a four-yard Conner Cuozzo run. Moeller took an early 7-0 lead with 6:38 left in the first quarter.
Saint Ignatius' next drive looked to start on a high note with a Trey Haddad reception for 35 yards, but an illegal man downfield penalty negated the big play. The Wildcat offense failed to recover from the penalty, and they punted three plays later.
Moeller's second drive started at the Wildcat's 43-yard line, and again, Matt Ponatoski and the Crusaders' offense showed off their skills. On third down and four, Ponatoski dumped off a pass to running back Tyler Joselyn, and he did the rest with his legs, going 37 yards to the house. With 3:47 left in the opening quarter, Moeller held a 14-0 lead.
The Wildcats got back to work on their next drive and looked sharp. The Cats, with the help of two big plays from both Shane O'leary and Luke Simms to set them up in the red zone, as the first quarter came to a close. The Wildcats were set up on a fourth down on the first play of the second quarter and sent out Griffin Roberts to attempt a 27-yard field goal. Roberts drilled it and cut the Moeller lead to 11 with 11:56 left in the half.
Moeller would answer right back on their next drive when Ponatoski uncorked a ball deep downfield and perfectly placed it into the hands of a streaking Landon Adams for a 58-yard touchdown. Moeller led it 21-3 with 10:54 left in the second quarter.
Despite a Billy Cole kickoff return that went to the Moeller 35-yard line, the Wildcat offense failed to produce points. The Cats were set up with a fourth and four situation, and Head Football Coach Ryan Franzinger'02 elected to go for it, but Chalhoub's pass fell incomplete off the hands of Haddad, and Moeller took over on downs.
Moeller capitalized on the Wildcat turnover in just five plays later when Ponatoski lofted a pass right into the bread basket of Cooper McCutchen for his third touchdown pass of the game to put Moeller up 28-3 with 7:50 left in the second quarter.
The Wildcat offense finally found its identity on its next drive as it strung together a nine-play 79-yard touchdown drive. Chalhoub threw his first touchdown of the year to Haddad on a pass to the back corner of the endzone that Haddad hauled in. The Cats cut the Moeller lead and made the score 28-10 with 4:31 to go in the half.
Moeller would collect the last score of the half on their next drive. On second and goal to go, Ponatoski tossed a fade in the direction of Reggie Watson, who made an incredibly athletic back shoulder catch on a perfectly placed throw to give Moeller a 35-10 lead.
A short time later, Moeller had a prime field position for a late first-half score after a shanked Wildcat punt. They trotted out the kicking unit to attempt a 30-yard field goal, but the snap was botched and the score stayed put. Moeller led 35-10 at halftime.
The second half saw little action. The only half score came on yet another Ponatoski to Watson connection, this time for 33 yards, as Moeller had a 42-10 lead and instituted a running clock from the 9:11 mark of the third quarter.
From that point on, both teams went back and forth but failed to score any points, and the game ended with a 42-10 final.
Matt Ponatoski finished the day with five touchdown passes and 259 yards on 15-of-20 throws. Chalhoub had spots of success in his first start back as he threw for 147 yards on 13-of-29 passing, along with one touchdown pass.
The Wildcats will take on St. Xavier in Week Nine of the third installment of the Paul Lammermeir Cup at Case Western Reserve University. Kickoff is Friday at 7:00 p.m. from DiSanto Field.
