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LAKEWOOD, OH – On the second play of overtime the Crusaders struck as Noah Geselbracht hit an open Tennel Bryant from 20 yards out to give them their first lead of the game at 28-21. Seconds later, Mitch McNulty would get the first turnover of the game, as he picked off a Christian Ramos pass to end it and hand St. Edwards their first loss of the season in an instant classic from Lakewood.
It was quite the night for Noah Geselbracht as he threw for 291 yards and 2 touchdowns on 23 of 33 passing. There wasn’t a pass he couldn’t make and his top threat Josh Kattus really helped matters. Kattus pulled down 11 catches for 116 yards.
Quite a few of the Crusader receivers had big nights, as Tennel Bryant had 4 catches for 45 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jared Merk caught 4 balls for 33 yards while Kurt Thompson had 3 catches for 51 yards. Running back Jordan Marshall was held to only 11 yards on the ground, but he did haul in 2 crucial passes late in the first half for 64 yards that led to a score.
For the Eagles, they did the bulk of their damage on the ground. Danny Enovtich would finish the night with 118 yards on 22 carries with 2 touchdowns. He also caught two balls for 39 yards. Christian Ramos also ran for 124 yards on 15 attempts. He threw for 101 yards with no touchdowns and a pick to end the game.
The Eagles took the opening drive 15 plays for 76 yards to strike early on the Crusaders. It was a heavy run attack with 11 of the 15 plays on the ground. It was Ramos with 4 carries for 29 yards while Danny Enovitch had 34 yards. The final run coming on a 3-yard Enovitch touchdown scamper to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead. The quarter would end by that same score.
The Crusaders would begin the second quarter on fire as Noah Geselbracht carved up the Eagle secondary throwing dimes all over the place. The fast-paced passing attack had the Eagles on their heels when suddenly the Crusaders snuck a run play that saw the speedy Alec Weeder take it 30 yards to the house. The extra point was blocked however, and the Eagles held the lead 7-6 early into the second quarter. Weeder would finish with 44 yards on the ground on 7 carries while scoring twice.
The Crusaders would try to pull a fast one with an onside kick, but it was recovered by the Eagles. A few Enovitch runs later would help the Eagles set up shop. A roughing the passer call would set the ball at the 13 for the Eagles shortly after. It appeared for a moment that Ramos had taken it in from 13, but it was then called back for holding.
Right after that however, it was yet another roughing the quarterback on Moeller that then made it first down again for the Eagles. This time Ramos would cash it in by rushing it in from 11 yards out for his 10th rushing touchdown of the season. This made it 14-6 Eagles with 8:04 to go in the half with a very strong run game.
Moeller began a two-minute drill at the 1:51 mark from their own 27-yard line to start. Geselbracht went right to work with 3 passes to move the ball inside the 10 of the Eagles in no time flat. He had two long connections to Jordan Marshall and then one to Josh Kattus. They would finish it with a Tennel Bryant touchdown grab. 4 plays, 4 passes, 73 yards and a touchdown. They would convert the 2-point conversion with a pass to Jared Merk to tie the game at the half.
The Eagles began to rush at Geselbracht in an attempt to hurry the young flame thrower. It worked in the third quarter as they kept him on the move and he began to throw incompletions. He went 7 of 13 in the quarter and was kept out of the endzone despite several key first downs being picked up, they still couldn’t score. The quarter would end 14-14.
The Eagles would stick to a strong running game. A few minutes into the fourth quarter, they broke through with a barrage of Danny Enovitch runs that would eventually payoff with a 12 play 85-yard drive capped off with the Enovitch 8 yard touchdown run. He has great foot skills that only get better and better when you factor in his hockey skills. It made it 21-14 with 10:18 to go in the game.
The Crusaders were not fazed and went right back to the air show with big connections to Jared Merk and Josh Kattus to move the ball again. A 15-yard facemask penalty really hurt St. Edward, as it moved the ball to the 22 of the Eagles for the Crusaders. A 17-yard strike to Kattus would then put it first and goal from the 4 yard line. Seconds later it was Alec Weeder rushing in from 4 yards out.
A 4th and 3 for the Eagles faced them from the Crusader 35-yard line with 1:18 to play. The Eagles chose to go for it. Ramos called his own number on an RPO but couldn’t get it, giving the ball back to Moeller with a full complement of timeouts.
The Eagles would hold however, and get the ball right back with 58 seconds to go. Two incomplete passes and then a run in the backfield getting stopped, held the Crusaders to have to punt.
The Eagles would start from their 32 with 45 seconds to go. A 24-yard strike to Jackson Miller gave the Eagles some momentum. He took a serious shot, but held on to the ball. They were unable to get any closer and we went to overtime.
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