ELDER vs. MOELLER
WHEN: Friday 10/8, 7:30 p.m.
LAST MEETING: 10/9/09, Moeller won, 35-13
RANKINGS: Elder (2-4), No. 28 in Ohio
Moeller (5-1), No. 14 in Ohio
WHY IT'S BIG: Cincinnati football, specifically the GCL South, has taken a major hit in perception this season. St. X lost to Good Counsel. Moeller lost to Indianapolis Cathedral. Elder already has four losses, including to Louisville Trinity. This is a game that enters two teams with their backs against the wall coming off dual 35-10 losses: Moeller to Cathedral, Elder to St. Xavier. It is a must-win for both teams but for very different reasons.
BEST MATCHUP: Moeller's run offense against Elder's defensive front. A week off of an impressive win over St. Xavier, the Crusaders looked like they had not played football before, getting blown off the field by Indianapolis Cathedral. Elder barely has been a speed bump for good rush offenses this year and should be tested early and often in this contest. Which team gets the better of that situation likely will win.
ELDER WINS IF: Its defense plays more like it did against Louisville Trinity than it did against Cincinnati St. Xavier. Both games ended in a loss, but Elder at least looked interested in playing against Trinity. Not to question if the team has given up on the season, but if it doesn't respond this week, the season is over in every sense of the word.
MOELLER WINS IF: It can match the Elder emotion. The Panthers are backed into a corner entering this game and should come out playing with their hair on fire. If Moeller can take its best punch early and turn the momentum, it could get the win and pointed back in the right direction. Moeller's time in the RivalsHigh 100 is likely over for this season, but its spot in the playoffs can be solidified in the next few weeks.
PREDCITION: Both teams need this game and only one can claim victory. If it is Elder, the GCL South is a mess. If it is Moeller, as expected, the Cincinnati football world will remain on its axis. The Crusaders have the better team coming into the contest but that doesn't always guarantee victory. The home-field advantage, in this case, does. - Moeller 28, Elder 10