R.J. Khayo returned the opening kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown and the Crusaders never looked back, stomping Hamilton 42-7 in a Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown game at a packed Virgil Schwarm Stadium on Saturday night.
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Quarterback Miles McBride, Moeller’s player of the game, completed 12 of 13 passes for 217 yards and four touchdowns before sitting out the final quarter.
“He looks comfortable on the football field,” Crusaders coach John Rodenberg said of McBride. “We have some weapons. We have some deep threats and good runners.”
Following a punt, Eric Wills burned Hamilton on a third-and-12 for a 95-yard touchdown reception, a play Big Blue coach Chad Murphy said was huge.
“We are down 7-0 and have them in third-and-12 and get hit on a 95-yard fade,” Murphy said. “So instead of getting the ball at midfield down 7-0, we are down 14-0 against a good football team.”
On Hamilton’s next possession, Michael Filipowski stepped in front of a screen pass, setting up Moeller at the Hamilton 30. Two plays later, McBride hit a wide-open Brendan Bates (four catches, 42 yards, two touchdowns) to open a 21-0 first-quarter lead.
Moeller made it 28-0 on a 28-yard toss from McBride to Carrington Valentine.
The Big Blue came up with a big goal-line stand late in the second quarter, only to turn it right back over on a fumble on the 7-yard line. Colin Thurman went over from 5 yards out to make it 35-0 at the half.
“I would have bet one million dollars we wouldn’t get beat like that,” said Murphy, still shaking his head after the game. “They got on a roll and everything just snowballed on us”
The Big Blue opened the second half on a 10-play drive capped by quarterback Khaliyal Sowell’s 6-yard touchdown scamper.
Sowell, making his Big Blue debut, completed 6 of 15 passes for 37 yards with two interceptions. He added 52 yards rushing.
One bright spot for Hamilton was Maleek Jarrett, who rushed for 77 yards on 14 carries. He was named Hamilton’s player of the game.
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“We came in wondering if we could run the ball, and that was one of our bright spots,” Murphy said. “We had success between the tackles. I can tell you this, I believe our kids will bounce back and play better next week.”
Moeller returns to action next Friday at Scott County (Ky.), while the Big Blue travel to Fairmont.
Moeller 21-14-7-0—42
Hamilton 0-0-7-0—7
M: R.J. Khayo 86 kickoff return (Kevin Thibodeaux kick)
M: Eric Wills 95 pass from Miles McBride (Thibodeaux kick)
M: Brendan Bates 8 pass from McBride (Thibodeaux kick)
M: Carrington Valentine 28 pass from McBride (Thibodeaux kick)
M: Colin Thurman 4 run (Thibodeaux kick)
H: Khaliyal Sowell 6 run (Gabby Oliva kick)
M: Bates 4 pass from McBride (Thibodeaux kick)
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