Ohio: Olentangy Liberty Wins First State Championship in Football, 28-14 over Archbishop Moeller (PHOTO GALLERY)

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Sykotyk | December 7, 2024

Olentangy Liberty’s Patriots took flight Friday night, defeating the Archbishop Moeller Crusaders in a hard-fought contest marked by big plays and turnovers. While the final score wasn’t a blowout, Liberty’s explosive offense, spearheaded by quarterback Andrew Leonard and receiver Christian Moulton, proved too much for Moeller to overcome. The game opened with Liberty throwing an interception in Moeller territory after driving 32 yards. Moeller, however, failed to capitalize on the early opportunity, going three-and-out on their opening possession. Liberty’s second drive proved more fruitful, culminating in a 1-yard touchdown run by Jake Struck after a 49-yard drive. A punt followed by another strong Liberty drive, ending with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Leonard to Moulton (32-yard drive), quickly extended their lead. After trading punts, Moeller stripped the Liberty Running Back of the ball and returned it 80 yards for a crucial TD to bring the Crusaders within one score of the Patriots.

The second half saw more of the same dramatic shifts in momentum. Liberty’s opening drive was a thing of beauty, an 83-yard march highlighted by a stunning 61-yard touchdown pass from Leonard to Moulton. The connection between the two proved unstoppable, as Leonard later found Moulton for a 13-yard score to further increase the lead (56-yard drive). While Liberty failed to convert on downs late in the fourth quarter, Moeller struggled to find their rhythm. Turnovers plagued the Crusaders throughout the game, with fumbles plaguing their offensive efforts. A late touchdown pass from Matt Ponatoski to Landen Adams, a 3-yard score, gave the Crusaders some hope. However, the Patriots would run out the clock on a time consuming drive with a little over 7 minutes to play when they received the kickoff.

Liberty’s ability to capitalize on Moeller’s mistakes and Leonard and Moulton’s explosive connection proved too much to overcome. The final score reflected a game decided not just by points, but by crucial turnovers and explosive plays. While Moeller showed flashes of potential, the Patriots’ efficiency and opportunistic defense ultimately sealed the victory. The Patriots with almost 400 yards of total offense, while Moeller finished with 233 yards. The game underscored the importance of ball security and drive efficiency on the outcome of the game. Liberty won the game 28-14.

Liberty’s Jake Struck led all rushers with 99 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Andrew Leonard passed for 272 yards and 3 touchdowns, completing 17 of 23 passes. Moeller’s Tyler Josleyn led his team with 44 receiving yards on 8 catches. Matt Ponatoski, recently named “Mr. Football,” completed 16 of 30 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown.

Article courtesy Yappi.com

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