La Salle stuns Moeller in 55-14 rout
MONFORT HEIGHTS - Coming into their Greater Catholic League-South match-up, Moeller had won 48 of 55 games against La Salle. However, in sports, the saying "What have you done for me lately?" often applies.
Lately, La Salle has the upper hand of the foes on Montgomery Road.
The Lancers made it three in a row over the Crusaders Friday night in the most unlikely fashion. They scored 14 in the first quarter, 28 in the second and led at halftime 42-7. The final was an improbable 55-14.
Related: La Salle football schedule, stats
Junior quarterback Griffin Merritt threw for six touchdowns to three different receivers. Christian Turner had the hat trick, Josh Whyle had a pair and Ben Brabender one. For good measure, Merritt ran in a touchdown. The Lancers were held to 14 yards rushing by Moeller, with 388 of their 402 offensive yards coming from Merritt's right arm.
Nobody could have guessed the outcome, but it made for a festive Homecoming for the Lancers. There was a fireworks display afterward, but most of the fireworks came in the first half from Merritt's bombs.
Moeller opted for a change of pace against La Salle, starting sophomore Miles McBride at quarterback over Evan Ernst. The Crusaders were stopped in their first series, then La Salle had a quick strike score with Merritt spotting receiver Ben Brabender near midfield. The 6-foot-3, 192-pound senior took it the rest of the way for the game's first score less than three minutes into the contest.
Less than three minutes later, Merritt fpund another big target in 6-foot-7 Josh Whyle. The tight end took the toss and finished a 55-yard score to put Moeller in a hole for the second consecutive week.
Moeller finally responded with an 11-play 77-yard drive culminating in a 10-yard touchdown from McBride to junior Michael Filipowski.
From there, the wheels turned La Salle's way. Merritt took over the second quarter and led the Lancers on another scoring drive that ended with a 10-yard toss to Christian Turner. Then, McBride was picked off by senior Da'Meak Brandon who galloped with glee to the painted turf. TreSean Smith intercepted McBride again on the next drive and Merritt led another scoring effort that finished with him ramming in from the 2-year-line.
Before the half was over, Merritt had the Lancers in the red zone again and hit Turner for another touchdown to make it 42-7 with 4:43 before the bands played. Moeller had to score to stop a second half running clock and could not. It would be Moeller's first game on the opposite end of a running clock since the rule started.
Related: Moeller football schedule, stats
Having won the toss, La Salle started the second half with the ball and Merritt continued to roll. At 8:03 with the running clock, he hit tight end Josh Whyle for a 30-yard touchdown and it was 49-7. Before the quarter was over, Merritt added a 44-yard strike to Turner to make it 55-7. It was Turner's third scoring reception of the night and Merritt's evening was over.
In three quarters against Moeller, the junior was 17-for-22 passing for 388 yards and six touchdowns. His quarterback rating was an astronomical 315.4.
"Griffin Merritt played one heck of a game tonight," Lancers coach Jim Hilvert said. "We were clicking on all cylinders. We were playing against a really good football team."
Added Moeller coach John Rodenberg, "La Salle played a great game tonight and it doesn't look like we came ready to play."
Moeller scored in the mercy quarter with Evan Ernst going in from a yard away. Ernst relieved sophomore McBride late in the first half.
"He (McBride) got hurt, so we're probably back to Ernst," Rodenberg said. "You have some games like this. You just have to rebound."
As for the 41-point drubbing of Moeller, the field was a sea of red afterward. Friends and family surrounded the players and Jim Hilvert received many a glad hand from the Lancer faithful.
"It's been a week where there was a lot of doubters out there about our team," Hilvert said. "Our kids came out and put 48 minutes of great football together. We need to peak at the right time."
La Salle 4-2 (1-1) now prepares for another league battle as St. Xavier visits Friday night for the Battle of North Bend Road.. Moeller, 3-3 (0-2) hosts Elder at Lockland Stadium.
MOELLER 7 0 0 7 - 14
LA SALLE 14 28 13 0 - 55
LS - Merritt 80 yard pass to Brabender (Young kick)
LS - Merritt 55 yard pass to Whyle (Young kick)
MO - McBride 10 yard pass to Filipowski (Capano kick)
LS -Merritt 10 yard pass to Turner (Young kick)
LS - Brandon 40 yard INT return (Young kick)
LS - Merritt 2 yard run (Young kick)
LS - Merritt 4 yard pass to Turner (Young kick)
LS - Merritt 30 yard pass to Whyle (Young kick)
LS - Merritt 44 yard pass to Turner (extra point blocked)
MO - Ernst 1 yard run (Capano kick)