Olentangy Liberty outplays Moeller to claim first football championship

 

(Chuck Cordes - Ohsfbmedia.com)

By Gene Simmons | x.com

CANTON, Ohio--From the start of the game Olentangy seemed to be hitting on all cylinders to put a claim on an OHSAA Division I State title, beating Cincinnati Moeller 28-14.

In front of 4,800 fans they would prevail making more plays and capitalizing off mistakes.

It was all the Liberty in the early first half of play, jumping out to a 14-0 lead late into the second quarter, first Olentangy drive, a seven play drive, that ended in an interception by Moeller's Lincoln Murphy.

That drive would end in a turnover on downs only for Liberty to go down and score on a 1 yard run by Jake Struck with 3:54 left to put the first points on the board.

Liberty scoring wouldn't stop there as Moeller couldn't get going offensively resulting in a few punts and series going back and forth, Liberty would eventually score on a pass play to Moulton from Leonard, a 20 yard pass and catch to go up 14-0.

(Gene Simmons - Ohsfbmedia.com)

Moeller would respond as Patriots were driving in territory when Jake Struck would fumble and Cooper Gearhart would scoop and score on an 80 yard scamper with :23 seconds left in the half closing the gap by 7 to end the half. 

Opening up the third quarter defense would play a role as Olentangy held Moeller scoreless for the entire quarter, Patriots would put 14 more points on the board off two pass plays from Leonard to Moulton first a 61 yard pass with 7:05 left and a 14 yard pass that would push the Liberty up 28-7 again to Moulton.

Heading into the fourth the Liberty offense struggled even after a few penalties that would allow them to retain possession, the Crusaders would finally capitalize with pass play from Ohio Mr. Football Matt Ponataski to Landen Adams for a 3 yard touchdown again closing the gap to 14.

That would be all the scoring as Moeller again just couldn't get enough going offensively to stop Olentangy from capturing the first football title. 

Senior quarterback Andrew Leonard a Mr. Ohio finalist who didn't walk away with the prestigious award this year but he ultimately played like it when the lights were on, "I mean it's just winning this state title that we all wish for as we grow up playing football that end goal you don't wanna end on a loss," said Leonard.

"These guys played outstanding, that's a really good football team we played and um our best guys made the big plays when they needed to," said Coach John Sansbury.