You know how it goes in Cincinnati. The air gets crisp, the lights at Mount St. Joseph start humming, and suddenly the only thing that matters is whether the Crusaders are ready to smash some pads. If you've been following the Archbishop Moeller football schedule, you already know that "easy weeks" simply don't exist for this program. Bert Bathiany doesn't do "cupcake" games. He schedules giants, and honestly, that's why we love watching them.
Looking back at the 2025 season, it was a wild ride that felt like a heavyweight title fight every Friday night. People were talking about whether Matt Ponatoski could repeat as Mr. Football, and the kid basically delivered a clinic. But the schedule itself? It was a gauntlet. We're talking about a lineup that featured heavy hitters from three different states before they even hit the meat of the GCL South.
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The 2025 Gauntlet: A Breakdown of the Schedule
Moeller’s 2025 campaign started with a bang against Princeton. Most teams like to warm up with a breather, but Big Moe went right for a Top 10 matchup in Week 1. They walked away with a 41-20 win, which set the tone for a season defined by explosive offense and a defense that—while it had its bend-don't-break moments—usually found a way to show up when the game was on the line.
The Week 2 heartbreaker against Chicago’s Mount Carmel (a 43-42 loss) was probably the game of the year for anyone who isn't a Moeller fan. If you were there, you saw a team that refused to quit, even when things got messy. They bounced back fast, though. Taking down Louisville Trinity 24-21 in Week 3 proved that this roster had the mental toughness to handle the pressure of regional rivalries.
Key Matchups and Results
- Week 1 (Aug 23): vs. Princeton — W 41-20. A statement win to start the year.
- Week 2 (Aug 30): vs. Mt. Carmel (IL) — L 42-43. A total shootout that came down to the wire.
- Week 3 (Sept 5): vs. Trinity (KY) — W 24-21. Pure grit under the lights.
- Week 4 (Sept 12): at Christ Presbyterian Academy (TN) — W 49-28. The road trip to Tennessee was a dominant showing.
- Week 5 (Sept 19): vs. St. Xavier — W 30-13. The first meeting with the Bombers was all Moeller.
- Week 6 (Sept 26): vs. La Salle — W 42-7. Complete dominance in the GCL South opener.
- Week 7 (Oct 3): at Elder — L 16-24. The Pit is just a different beast, plain and simple.
- Week 8 (Oct 10): vs. St. Ignatius — W 42-10. A clinical win against the Cleveland powerhouse.
- Week 9 (Oct 18): at St. Edward — L 10-35. A tough night up north against the reigning state champs.
- Week 10 (Oct 24): vs. Muskegon (MI) — W 56-13. Senior night was a fireworks display.
Why the GCL South Schedule is the Toughest in Ohio
If you think the non-conference stuff is hard, the GCL South is basically a wood chipper. You've got Moeller, St. X, Elder, and La Salle constantly beating the life out of each other. In 2025, the league was as balanced as it's been in a decade. Elder actually took the outright title after that Week 7 win over the Crusaders, which sort of shifted the momentum heading into the playoffs.
Basically, you can't look at the Archbishop Moeller football schedule and circle any wins in pen. You use a pencil. Maybe a light one. When you're playing at The Pit or hosting St. X at "The Mount," the records go out the window.
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The rivalry with St. Xavier reached a fever pitch last year. After Moeller handled them in the regular season, the rematch in the Regional Semifinals (Nov 14) turned into a nightmare for the Blue and Gold. A 17-13 loss ended the run. It was a bitter pill to swallow, especially with a roster that felt like it had "State Finals" written all over it.
Impact Players Who Defined the Season
You can't talk about the 2025 schedule without talking about Matt Ponatoski. The senior QB was surgical. He finished the regular season with over 1,900 yards and 24 touchdowns against only one interception. Think about that for a second. Playing that schedule and only throwing one pick is borderline insane.
Then you had Tyler Josleyn in the backfield. He wasn't just a "run between the tackles" guy; he was the heartbeat of the offense when Ponatoski needed a breather. Reggie Watson and Cooper McCutchan provided the size and speed on the outside that made the Crusader offense a nightmare to gameplan for.
On the defensive side, Christian Harris and Conner Cuozzo were the anchors. Harris was a force on the line, consistently collapsing pockets, while Cuozzo seemed to be in on every single tackle. This wasn't just a team of stars; it was a cohesive unit that understood the assignment every week.
2025 Postseason Path
The playoffs are where the Archbishop Moeller football schedule gets real. As the #2 seed in Region 4, they earned a first-round bye (a nice reward for survive that regular season).
- Regional Quarterfinals: vs. Lakota West — W 33-14. A solid performance to shake off the Week 9 loss to St. Ed's.
- Regional Semifinals: vs. St. Xavier — L 13-17. The game that haunted the off-season.
Looking Ahead: What to Expect Next
If you're already looking for the 2026 schedule, expect more of the same. Moeller usually keeps their rivalries consistent. You're going to see the big Cleveland schools (Iggy and Eds), you're going to see the GCL South battles, and you'll likely see a couple of out-of-state powerhouses to keep things interesting.
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The big question for the next cycle is how they replace a generational talent like Ponatoski. But if history tells us anything, the Moeller pipeline is always full. The JV team went 8-1 last year, which suggests the cupboard is far from empty.
If you're planning on attending games, keep an eye on the venue changes. Moeller doesn't have a true home stadium on campus, so they bounce between Mount St. Joseph University, West Clermont, and sometimes even the University of Cincinnati for big rivalry games. Always check the official "Let's Go Big Moe" site or their Twitter feed on Thursday nights to make sure you're heading to the right zip code.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Sync Your Calendar: Go to the official Moeller Athletics website and use the "Subscribe to Schedule" feature. This is the only way to stay on top of the inevitable time changes and venue shifts that happen mid-season.
- Secure Season Passes: GCL South games sell out fast, especially the St. X and Elder matchups. Buying a season pass through the Moeller ticket portal usually saves you about 20% compared to individual game prices and guarantees you a spot.
- Watch the Replays: If you missed a game, the Big Moe Podcast and ESPX broadcasts provide full replays and deep-dive analysis of the game film, which is great for seeing the tactical side of Bathiany's coaching.