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Liberty defense delivers in state title win over Moeller, Mr. Football Matt Ponatoski
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- Liberty defense delivers in state title win over Moeller, Mr. Football Matt Ponatoski
CANTON – Facing Ohio's Mr. Football and one of top offenses in the state, the Olentangy Liberty defense was up for the challenge in its biggest game of the season.
The Patriots held Cincinnati Moeller quarterback Matt Ponatoski in check for most of their 28-14 win over the Crusaders in the Division I state title game Friday night at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
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The strong defensive effort helped Liberty (14-2) win its first championship after state semifinal appearances in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
"The defensive staff, led by coach Chris Sansbury, my younger brother, had a great defensive game plan," head coach John Sansbury said. "Just making them drive the ball, don't give up big plays. It's an explosive offense. It's an outstanding quarterback (with) big, tall receivers. Just make them drive and capitalize on mistakes that they make. It was outstanding by the defense, maybe the most outstanding defensive game I've seen."
The defense allowed only one touchdown, and that didn't come until the fourth quarter. Moeller's other score was Cooper Gearhart's 80-yard fumble return late in the first half.
Trailing 28-7, Ponatoski hit Landen Adams for a 3-yard score with 7:36 remaining.
Cincinnati Moeller's Matt Ponatoski throws a pass while under pressure from the Olentangy Liberty defense.
Ponatoski, who was named Mr. Football on Thursday, was limited to 112 yards passing, completing 16 of 30 attempts. He entered the game with 4,075 yards passing and 56 scores.
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Meanwhile, Liberty quarterback Andrew Leonard, a Mr. Football finalist, completed 17 of 23 passes for 272 yards and three TDs with one interception.
Linebacker Lincoln Gardner led Liberty defensively with nine tackles and defensive back Tyler Thornton had eight. Both are seniors.
Olentangy Liberty's Antonio Kish (24) wraps up Cincinnati Moeller's Dante Ware (26) during the Division I state final.
Liberty took advantage of two fumble recoveries and two fourth-down stands in the first half.
"We've just been emphasizing taking the ball away and pursuing the ball all year, and it shows up on the biggest stage," senior linebacker Austin Stamp said.
Moeller coach Bert Bathiany certainly noticed.
"We've been able create a lot of explosive plays throughout the year and we just weren't able to do that," he said. "We never really got in rhythm offensively. They did a really good job. They do what they do and they do it really well. There's a lot of power in that. Kudos to them for doing it. They put a lot of pressure on our quarterback."
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: How Olentangy Liberty's defense helped win OHSAA football state title
