Rob Schoenhoft showed Friday night why he is rated one of the best prep quarterbacks in America.
The St. Xavier senior led his team on a game-winning drive in the final minutes, throwing the winning touchdown with 13 seconds left as the Bombers beat Moeller 35-31 in a thriller at St. X.
Schoenhoft, off a play-action fake, hit tight end Kyle Gibler with a 2-yard TD pass to decide it. That made it 34-31, and John Milligan's extra point made it 35-31.
Schoenhoft, who has committed to Ohio State and is widely ranked as one of the top 10 prep quarterbacks in the U.S., was still trying to gather his thoughts in the on-field mob scene afterward. He marched the Bombers 64 yards over the final 3:22 of play. Overall he completed 11 of 18 passes for 143 yards, two TDs and an interception.
"Unbelievable," Schoenhoft said. "We've worked too hard for too long to lose this one. Our offensive line was unbelievable, my receivers made great catches. And we ran the ball great."
St. Xavier's Chris Cionni rushed 40 times for 205 yards, caught two passes for 45 yards and scored three times.
Moeller started its final drive on its 6-yard line. With one play left, the Crusaders tried a hook-and-ladder pass. Chris Reisert hit Tyler Dierkers, who flipped the ball to a trailing Pat Watt. Watt was run out of bounds at his own 35-yard line as time expired.
A sellout crowd of 8,000 watched at St. Xavier. The stadium seats 6,500, and about 1,500 standing-room tickets were sold, as the city's No. 5-ranked Bombers rallied to beat the No. 2 Crusaders in a big Greater Catholic League South game.
"There's not much to say," Moeller coach Bob Crable said. "I thought we showed a lot of character coming back."
Moeller roared back after trailing 28-9 after three periods. Reisert completed 24 of 39 passes for 341 yards, three TDs (all in the fourth period) and was intercepted three times.
Moeller went ahead 31-28 on a 64-yard TD pass from Reisert to Justin Smith with 3:27 left, the ball being caught after a Bombers defender tipped it.
St. X coach Steve Specht was thrilled for Schoenhoft, who had missed two games this year with a sprained ankle.
"People can talk about stats all they want, but like Robbie said, it's all about winning," Specht said. "We're 4-1, and that's all that matters. I love that kid, and he showed tonight how good he is. Heck, this whole team did the job. I have a great staff and great players, and I want to emphasize that."
St. Xavier built a 14-9 lead by halftime, after falling behind 6-0.
Schoenhoft threw a 29-yard TD pass to Cionni and scored on a 9-yard run in the first half.
Moeller chopped its deficit to 14-9 on a 28-yard field goal by Mike Carter as the first half ended.
Cionni rushed 17 times for 105 yards in the first half alone.
Moeller visits La Salle next week, while St. Xavier travels to Elder.
Moeller 6 3 0 22 -31
St. Xavier 0 14 14 7 -35
M-Williams 1 run (kick blocked)
SX-Cionni 29 pass from Schoenhoft (Milligan kick)
SX-Schoenhoft 9 run (Milligan kick)
M-Carter 28 FG
SX-Cionni 17 run (Milligan kick)
SX-Cionni 1 run (Milligan kick)
M-Watt 4 pass from Reisert (Carter kick)
M-Barnes 12 pass from Reisert (Carter kick)
M-Smith 64 pass from Reisert (Dierkers pass from Reisert)
SX-Gibler 2 pass from Schoenhoft (Milligan kick)
Records: M 4-1 (0-1 GCL-S), SX 4-1 (1-0).
