Moeller seeks school's eighth state championship

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1 Moeller seeks school's eighth state championship 10:58 PM, Nov 28, 2012 Written by Kevin Goheen, Enquirer contributor A Crusaders football helmet sits on the 'Michael A. Stofko Memorial Field' at Archbishop Moeller High School, Tuesday, November 27, prior to practice. The team is preparing to go against Toledo Whitmer for the State Title in Canton's Fawcett Stadium on Saturday, December 1. The helmet belongs to running back Josh Lawrence, a senior. Moeller is making its 12th State title appearance. They last won in of 16 The Enquirer/Liz Dufour Moeller began the football season with expectations of being exactly where it is this week. The path to the Division I state championship game hasn t gone as smoothly or direct as the Crusaders had hoped, but it has landed them on the cusp of the program s eighth state championship. 1

2 All they have to do now is figure out a way to beat a Toledo Whitmer team that s decisively run, thrown and defended its way past every opponent it s faced this season. Moeller (11-3) and Whitmer (14-0) play for the state title Saturday at 7 PM at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, adjacent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Moeller, which was nationally ranked by USA Today and MaxPreps.com at the beginning of the season, was unranked in the final Associated Press state poll. Whitmer was picked in a preseason coaches poll to finish third in its own league, the Three Rivers Athletic Conference, after graduating six players who helped it reach back-to-back state semifinals to Division I colleges. The Panthers were ranked No. 3 in the final state poll and are ranked No. 6 nationally this week by MaxPreps. I think Whitmer is playing some great football right now, said Moeller Coach John Rodenberg. They re a tough, physical football team. If you re going to go four quarters with them, they re going to make sure they re banging with you. Whitmer has outscored its four playoff opponents Avon Lake, Hudson, No. 10 Massillon Washington and No. 7 Mentor by a combined score of It won its state semifinal against Mentor Mentor had scored 120 points in beating top-ranked Lakewood St. Edward and No. 4 Cleveland St. Ignatius in its previous two games behind senior quarterback and Ohio Mr. Football Mitch Trubisky. They re defense is big and athletic on the front; I know that gave Mentor some problem, said Rodenberg. (Mentor) has got that great quarterback, but they need some time to throw the football and Whitmer was getting there. Whitmer senior linebacker Jack Linch was named first-team All-Ohio by the Associated Press this week. Senior defensive lineman Marquise Moore and junior safety Marcus Elliott were named to the second team. Senior quarterback Nick Holley has rushed for 1,982 yards and 21 touchdowns, while passing for another 1,793 yards and 23 touchdowns with just five interceptions. Twin brother Nate Holley has caught 19 passes for 377 yards and four touchdowns on offense while amassing 143 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and five sacks as a linebacker on defense. As formidable as Whitmer looks on paper and has shown on film, Moeller has played its best football of the season in the postseason. The numbers might not be as impressive as those Whitmer has put up but the Crusaders have been winning games up front with their offensive and defensive lines. Senior running back Keith Watkins enters this game with 2,078 yards and 24 touchdowns rushing behind the offensive line of tackles Alex Gall and Matt Noble, guards Steve Langenkamp and Blake Chambliss and center Chris Henke. Their average height is just under 6-feet-4. Their average weight is 269 pounds. Watkins has been held to fewer than 100 yards in just one game this season he had 87 on 17 carries in a loss at Elder and when Pickerington North limited him to 115 yards on 36 carries in the semifinals, senior Joe Eramo stepped up with 154 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. They re very big and their guys are athletic, said first-year Whitmer coach Jerry Bell. Our front seven 2

3 guys are going to have to play extremely solid to stop the run against them. Moeller is playing in its 12th state title game but the first one since The Crusaders last won a state title in This is the first state championship game appearance for Whitmer. The Archbishop Moeller High School Crusaders opened their doors in Gerry Faust began the football program that quickly gained the team and him national recognition. This marble wall takes up a prominent spot at the 'Michael A. Stofko Memorial Field. The team, led by senior Quarterback Spencer Iacovone, will be playing Toledo Whitmer for the State Title in Canton's Fawcett Stadium on Saturday, December 1. Moeller is making its 12th State title appearance. They last won in of 16/The Enquirer/Liz Dufour 3

4 Some of the Archbishop Moeller High School Crusaders Football team listen to their coach talk strategy for their upcoming game Saturday against Toledo Whitmer for the State Title, to be played in Canton. Moeller is making its 12th State title appearance. They last won in In the background is linebacker Shane Jones. The senior is on crutches now, but he should be on the field this weekend. 3 of 16/The Enquirer/Liz Dufour 4

5 Spencer Iacovone, a senior, is the quarterback for Archbishop Moeller High School Crusaders Football team. He was working through drills with the team Tuesday, November 27, as they get ready go against Toledo Whitmer for the State Title. The game will be in Canton's Fawcett Stadium on Saturday. Moeller is making its 12th State title appearance. They last won in of 16/ The Enquirer/Liz Dufour 5

6 One of many good luck signs that's hanging in the hallways of Archbishop Moeller High School in preparation for the State bid against Toledo Whitmer. The game will be in Canton's Fawcett Stadium on Saturday, December 1. Moeller is making its 12th State title appearance. They last won in of 16 6

7 A poster hangs in the locker room at Archbishop Moeller High School. The football team will be playing Toledo Whitmer for the State Title in Canton's Fawcett Stadium on Saturday. Moeller is making its 12th State title appearance. They last won in of 16 The Enquirer/Liz Dufour 7

8 The Moeller Crusaders offensive line goes through drills at Archbishop Moeller High School, Tuesday, November 27. The team will go against Toledo Whitmer for the State Title in Canton's Fawcett Stadium on Saturday, December 1. Moeller is making its 12th State title appearance. They last won in of 16 The Enquirer/Liz Dufour 8

9 Spencer Iacovone, a senior, is the quarterback for Archbishop Moeller High School Crusaders Football team. Each player has their photo on their football locker. Iacovone is also one of the team captains. The team is preparing to play Toledo Whitmer for the State Title this Saturday in Canton's Fawcett Stadium. Moeller is making its 12th State title appearance. They last won in of 16 The Enquirer/Liz Dufour 9

10 The Moeller flag, along with the American flag, flies high at the 'Michael A. Stofko Memorial Field at Archbishop Moeller High School. The Crusaders Football team will go against Toledo Whitmer for the State Title in Canton's Fawcett Stadium on Saturday, December 1. Moeller is making its 12th State title appearance. They last won in of 16 The Enquirer/Liz Dufour 10

11 Some of the Archbishop Moeller High School Crusaders Football team gets ready for practice Tuesday, November 27. They are getting ready to meet Toledo Whitmer for the State title on Saturday in Canton. Moeller is making its 12th State title appearance. They last won in of 16 The Enquirer/Liz Dufour 11

12 Archbishop Moeller High School head football coach John Rodenberg became Moeller's fifth head coach in He started this wall in their locker room that denotes the schedule and win/loss record. The M is a win. Their last game will be against Toledo Whitmer for the State title on Saturday in Canton's Fawcett Stadium. Moeller is making its 12th State title appearance. They last won in of 16 The Enquirer/Liz Dufour 12

13 Students at Archbishop Moeller High School pass by a wall celebrating their football teams bid for the State title Saturday against Toledo Whitmer in Canton, Tuesday, November 27. Moeller is making its 12th State title appearance. They last won in of 16 The Enquirer/Liz Dufour 13

14 Spencer Iacovone, a senior, is the quarterback for Archbishop Moeller High School Crusaders Football team. He was working through drills with the team Tuesday, November 27, as they get ready go against Toledo Whitmer for the State Title. The game will be in Canton's Fawcett Stadium on Saturday. Moeller is making its 12th State title appearance. They last won in of 16 The Enquirer/Liz Dufour 14

15 Students at Archbishop Moeller High School pass by a wall celebrating their football teams bid for the State title Saturday against Toledo Whitmer in Canton, Tuesday, November 27. Moeller is making its 12th State title appearance. They last won in of 16 The Enquirer/Liz Dufour 15

16 Spencer Iacovone, a senior, is the quarterback for Archbishop Moeller High School Crusaders Football team. He was working through drills with the team Tuesday, November 27, as they get ready go against Toledo Whitmer for the State Title. The game will be in Canton's Fawcett Stadium on Saturday. Moeller is making its 12th State title appearance. They last won in of 16 The Enquirer/Liz Dufour 16

17 Spencer Iacovone, a senior, is the quarterback for Archbishop Moeller High School Crusaders Football team. He was working through drills with the team Tuesday, November 27, as they get ready go against Toledo Whitmer for the State Title. The game will be in Canton's Fawcett Stadium on Saturday. Moeller is making its 12th State title appearance. They last won in of 16 The Enquirer/Liz Dufour 17