In the first high school football game at the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium in two years, St. Xavier lit up the night, equaling its season-high in points in a 49-16 rout of Moeller.
The Bombers reached a running clock late in the game, the fourth time in five games. St. Xavier outrushed Moeller 253-95 with 210 of those yards coming off of the cleats of senior Charles Kellom. Kellom, who came into the game with 206 yards in four games, more than doubled his season output.
"If we can run the ball like that the rest of the year, I think our offense has a chance to be different," St. Xavier coach Steve Specht said. "We were able to run it tonight, some nights we're going to have to throw it. It's nice to be able to see us do both."
Kellom became St. Xavier's first 200-yard rusher since Ben Glines ran for 251 in 2013 against Indianapolis Cathedral. Kellom had three rushing touchdowns and one via a 56-yard pass from fellow senior Brogan McCaughey.
"It was amazing!" Kellom said of his night. "It was a tough grind but it was all worth it at the end of the day."
The last four-touchdown game for St. Xavier came in last November's Division I state final win over Pickerington Central when Jalen Patterson snared four scoring passes from McCaughey.
Playing into the fourth quarter for the first time since week one against Lakota West, McCaughey was 14-for-21 passing for 210 yards and four touchdowns. Terrell McFarlin was on the receiving end of two, with Kellom and Jay Farrar also pulling in touchdowns.
"Every week we try to be the best version of ourselves," McCaughey said. "I think you saw that out here. We played good but we've got a lot more in the tank."
Moeller sophomore Van George got his second straight start at quarterback and finished 12-for-24 for 146 yards, albeit with three interceptions. Tennel Bryant had a 68-yard touchdown run on his lone carry, accounting for most of Moeller's ground game. Greater Catholic League-South leading rusher Jordan Marshall was held to seven yards.
"They're vastly superior to the teams we've played thus far," Moeller coach Mark Elder said. "They're good in all three phases. They consistently outplayed us throughout the day."
The Bombers pounced on the Crusaders early with a 10-play drive culminating in an 8-yard pass from McCaughey to Farrar, who caught the ball in front of the ecstatic, white-clad St. Xavier student section.
By quarter's end, Grant Lyons picked off a George pass close to the goal line. Kellom ran in from there for the two-touchdown lead.
Kellom was also part of St. Xavier's third score as the receiver on a 56-yard score midway through the second quarter. Moeller broke their drought on the next series. George shoveled the ball to Brandon White for a 56-yard gain which led to a 3-yard pass to Marshall for the score.
McCaughey had a 50-yard throw to McFarlin for the comforable 21-point lead late in the half but Moeller cut it to 18 when William Steele blasted a 42-yard field goal before the bands took the field.
The teams traded scores in the opening minutes of the third quarter. They then traded turnovers. Kellom then led the Bombers on a drive lasting 5:47 and added his third touchdown.
Another drive covering six minutes resulted in another Kellom score and No. 20 took the rest of the night off after surpassing the 200-yard threshold.
Afterward, some Bombers admitted feeling slighted by the inaugural OHSAA computer ratings, which listed Moeller as the top team mathematically (St. Xavier topped the media poll).
"It definitely put a chip on our shoulder but we just have to block that stuff out and do us," Kellom said.
St. Xavier now leads the series 43-22-1.
Both schools continue their GCL-South schedule next week as the 5-0 Bombers return home to host Elder.
Moeller (4-1) moves to their 2021 home stadium when they host La Salle at Norwood's Shea Stadium.
MOELLER 0 10 6 0 16
ST. XAVIER 14 14 14 7 49
StX - McCaughey 8-yard pass to Farrar (Rohmiller kick)
StX - Kellom 2-yard run (Rohmiller kick)
StX - McCaughey 56-yard pass to Kellom (Rohmiller kick)
M - George 3-yard pass to Marshall (Steele kick)
StX- McCaughey 50-yard pass to McFarlin (Rohmiller kick)
M - Steele 42-yard FG
StX - McCaughey 34-yard pass to McFarlin (Rohmiller kick)
M - Bryant 68-yard run (two-point attempt failed)
StX - Kellom 6-yard run (Rohmiller kick)
StX - Kellom 6-yard run (Rohmiller kick)
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