Colerain High School pummels Moeller High School 45-0 in first round of Ohio high school football playoffs

Colerain head coach Tom Bolden leaned back, lifted his hands to his mouth and howled. His players responded. 

Moments later, fans already on the field began taking pictures of the scoreboard: 

Colerain 45, Archbishop Moeller 0.

In truth, the Cardinals were expecting a win Friday night. After all, they were the No. 2 seed playing the No. 7 team with a losing record in Division I Regional semifinals. But even with the high expectations, the mood around Colerain High School Football Stadium was joyous and surprised. 

"It just says a lot about us as a team," linebacker Dan Bolden – Tom's nephew – said after the win. "A lot of people had some questions marks about us and I think tonight really showed those people that we're the real deal and we're here to play." 

The senior linebacker was the star Friday night, finishing with 13 tackles, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and a sack. His first interception was returned 23 yards for a touchdown. 

Bolden was the centerpiece of a Cardinal defense that has brutalized opponents during this now nine-game winning streak. In the first eight games, opponents averaged less than 10 points per matchup. Against Moeller, the visitors missed two 47-yard field goals but never threatened to find the end zone. 

With the Crusaders quarterback woes continuing since starter Miles McBride got injured midway through the season, the Cardinals capitalized, forcing five turnovers, including two fumbles and three second-half interceptions. 

"I think I played pretty good, but you have to give praise for the guys up front," Dan Bolden said. "(They were) rushing the quarterback and tipping the ball." 

Moeller finished with 148 total offensive yards; Colerain finished with 391. 

A running clock eventually arrived with 2:21 remaining in the third quarter, but the Cardinals offense emphatically moved the ball down the field. The team had touchdown drives of 96 and 98 yards. 

Quarterback Gunnar Leyendecker tantalized the Moeller defense with 133 rushing yards on eight carries. He also completed only three passes, with two resulting in touchdowns. 

"It's huge," Dan Bolden said of the win. "It's a huge confidence booster for us going on. We're on top of the world right now and we fell like we can beat anybody."

Perhaps it is huge. 

Colerain's two losses this season came in a 20-17 overtime clash with St. Xavier and a 7-3 showdown with La Salle. Since then, the Cardinals went on to record their 18th-consecutive Greater Miami Conference title and have the offensive and defensive weapons to keep the postseason alive. 

With the win, No. Colerain plays No. 3 Mason next week. The Comets beat West Clermont 26-0 on Friday night. 

"We're gonna get better next week," Dan said.

Moeller's season of struggle has embarrassing conclusion

By the end of the game, with the clock already running, the Moeller fans pleaded to their team to just show effort. It was hardly the expectation the program is used to in the postseason, but in 2017, that's the reality. 

Moeller’s season was hardly dominant.

Entering Friday night 4-6, the Crusaders were one of just two schools with a losing record in the Ohio state playoffs. The other program with a losing record was Warren John F. Kennedy.

Moeller was winless in Greater Catholic League South play and lost five of its last six regular-season games.

Much of the year’s decline, though, could be attributed to losing starting quarterback Mile McBride, a junior who threw for 17 touchdowns and two interceptions over 956 passing yards. McBride was injured in week five. On Friday, he wore a boot on his left foot and offered support to teammates along the sideline. 

Backup Mitch McKenzie filled the void, but could never produce the same passing dominance. Entering the Colerain game, McKenzie had thrown 17 more passes but had four more interceptions and almost 350 fewer passing yards. He finished the season with SIX touchdown passes.

Wide receiver Austin Bradfish, who's been used as a last-resort quarterback, featured again Friday, throwing two interceptions. 

Moeller hadn't appeared in the playoffs since 2014. The Crusaders won the state championship the two previous years.