Cincinnati Elder Panthers

[wadc45]

Cincinnati Enquirer

8/27/06

12th man plum perfect
Panthers' fans play a key role in 13-3 victory
BY RYAN ERNST | ENQUIRER STAFF
Elder football fans' loyalty has been tested in the past year. The normally imposingly raucous Purple Nation was neither imposing nor raucous last season, as the Panthers, two years removed from back-to-back Division I state titles, struggled through a 4-6 season.
But both the team and the fans made amends Saturday at Nippert Stadium in the finale of the Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown. The Panthers did their part with a 13-3 victory over Covington Catholic. The fans chipped in by disrupting the Colonels in a pair of late red zone opportunities.
"Our fans did a great job," Elder coach Doug Ramsey. "That's the way it was two and three years ago, where our fans make a difference in the game. They did that today."
After the Panthers took a 13-3 lead with 9:40 to go in the game, CovCath drove 65 yards to the 10-yard line, directly in front of the Elder cheering section and band. After the referees silenced the band for playing loudly, the cheering section turned up its own volume. The Colonels committed two false-start penalties on their first two plays from the 10.
On their third play, quarterback Josh Bleser collided with running back Brent Buckley and fumbled. Elder recovered.
"(The noise) was a problem," CovCath coach John Rodenberg said. "But that's what makes Elder Elder. You've got to love Elder's fans. They got into it. That's not illegal. It might have been illegal for the band, but it wasn't illegal for the fans."
A similar situation occurred on CovCath's last-ditch comeback attempt. After driving to the 20, the Colonels committed another false start. On the next play, senior defensive back Ross Metz picked off a Bleser pass at the goal line to seal the win.
Turnovers played a key role in the game for both teams. The Panthers fumbled the opening kickoff, giving CovCath possession at the Elder 33-yard line. After driving to the three-yard line, the Colonels settled for a 19-yard Shane Popham field goal. The two teams traded punts on the next six possessions before Elder started to get its offense going. The Panthers put together a 15-play drive on their last possession of the half, converting a fourth-and-four on an eight-yard pass from Derrick Ventre to Nick Olthaus. But four plays later Ventre threw an interception to Will Geisen and CovCath ran out the clock, taking a 3-0 lead into the locker room.
"I was not too pleased (at halftime)," Ramsey said. "I told them our defense was playing lights out, but the offense is walking up to the line of scrimmage like we were tired. I challenged those guys in the second half."
In the second half, Elder's offense responded. The Panthers rushed for 107 of their 152 yards in the second half. Most of those yards came from running back Patrick Williams, who finished the game with 112 yards on 30 carries.
"He's our guy," Ramsey said. "We put it all on Pat and he had a big game. I think we wore them down. You can give Pat the ball 40 times and he'll run the 40th like he ran the first."
Williams ran the ball three times on Elder's first scoring drive, which Ventre capped with a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kyle Rudolph. On the Panthers' next possession, Williams carried three more times, including the two-yard touchdown run that capped the scoring.
Williams said the team was ready for a new start after 2005.
"All summer, and really all winter," Williams said, "this is what we've been working for and thinking about."
E-mail rernst@enquirer.com

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Cincy

Elder ready for St. X showdown

BY MIKE DYER | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Elder coach Doug Ramsey senses the confidence has returned for the Panthers.
It sounds simple enough, but the shift in attitude began during the summer and hasn't ceased.
Elder went 4-6 in 2005 - the first losing season since 1986. But, that season seems to be a distant memory.
"It's been fun," Ramsey said. "I'm happy for the kids. I don't know what will happen the rest of season ... but the kids have done a good job of creating their own identity. This year, they have realized 'this is your shot, your team.' "
After a 35-34 double overtime win over La Salle last weekend at The Pit, Elder (4-1, Greater Catholic League-South 1-0) hosts reigning Division I state champion St. Xavier (4-1, 0-0) at 7:30 p.m. today.
"They've improved defensively, and they tackle better," St. X coach Steve Specht said. "(But) I thought they were good last year."
Elder, ranked No. 3 in the Enquirer Division I coaches' poll, hasn't defeated top-ranked St. X since 2003, but the Panthers have several weapons on both sides of the ball that could change that trend tonight.
Junior quarterback John Groene has filled in well for injured starter Derrick Ventre, who has been out with a broken hand. Ramsey said Ventre, a senior, is expected to be out for four weeks.
Groene is 35 of 48 passing for 407 yards and six touchdowns. He has offered more mobility as the quarterback, according to Specht.
In the La Salle game, Groene completed 25 of 36 passes for 271 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed 24 times for 74 yards and a touchdown.
"He has played real well and he makes plays against great competition," Ramsey said. "He makes decisions and goes with it."
On offense, there are several decisions because there are several options. Senior running back Pat Williams has rushed for 395 yards and nine touchdowns.
Junior 6-foot-7 tight end Kyle Rudolph has become a favorite target during the season. Rudolph has 20 receptions for 255 yards and six touchdowns.
Junior wide receiver Nick Olthaus had nine catches for 130 yards and a touchdown in the La Salle game.
"They're skilled players," Specht said. "Rudolph is a freak. You don't see that too often. He's athletic and he can run and jump. He also has good speed."
Elder has had a strong defensive line all season.
Senior lineman Jeff Rieskamp had three sacks against the Lancers.
The key, however, will be to stop St. X junior standout Darius Ashley, who has rushed for 596 yards and six touchdowns.
Ashley carried the ball 35 times for 203 yards against Covington Catholic last week.
"Once you get into league play, there are no secrets," Specht said. "Doug is not going to say, 'oh my gosh, we are going to change what we do this week.' "
Williams said the win over La Salle helped the Panthers' confidence, but didn't want to place too much emphasis on the game tonight.
"We've got to bring our 'A' game and play mistake-free football," Williams said.
But, the senior said every league game carries importance.
"I think we can win," Williams said. "(That's) because if we do our job and play to our ability, we can beat anyone."
E-mail mdyer@enquirer.com

Matchup in recent yearsElder has defeated St. Xavier three times in this decade and is 46-32-6 all-time against the Bombers heading into tonight. Here is a look at some of the recent scores:
Date Score Sept. 30, 2005*St. Xavier 44, Elder 10Oct. 1, 2004St. Xavier 33, *Elder 30 (2OT)Oct. 10 2003Elder 28, *St. Xavier 7Nov. 2, 2002Elder 20, St. Xavier 14 (playoffs)Sept. 27, 2002*Elder 21, St. Xavier 17Nov. 17, 2001St. Xavier 24, Elder 21 (playoffs)Oct. 12, 2001*St. Xavier 16, Elder 13Oct. 13, 2000St. Xavier 17, *Elder 14

[osugrad21]

Cincy

Elder ends 109-game streak
Panthers hand Charlotte team first loss since 2000, 41-34, in OT
BY TOM GROESCHEN | TGROESCHEN@ENQUIRER.COM


Elder snapped the 109-game winning streak of Charlotte Independence (N.C.) Saturday night, with a dramatic 41-34 overtime win in the Kirk Herbstreit Challenge at UC's Nippert Stadium.
The Panthers scored on their second play of overtime, a 14-yard pass from quarterback Johnny Groene to wideout Josh Jones. Anthony Miliano's PAT made it 41-34.
Elder defensive back Keith Hamberg ended the game with an interception, with Independence facing third-and-9 at the Elder 19-yard line. Hamberg snared the ball, immediately ending the game, and Elder players charged wildly and happily onto the field.



Cont...

[westbuck04]

Josh Jones is a stud at WR. He may end up being the best in-state for 09'. Not sure how he feels about tOSU, but I'm sure we'll be after him...

[Sportsbuck28]

Last year, Elder couldn't have hung with Independence whatsoever.

But, facing an Independence team that lost a bevy of starters to graduation and it's best receiving threat to injury certainly helped their upset.

[cincibuck]

Their #1 kid signed early with the Irish. He may change his mind if Weiss and Irish go 0 -5 for the first 5 games of the season. that's something to consider. In the meantime, for those outside of Cincinnati, Colerain bitch slapped the Panthers 28 zip in a scrimmage. The season will come down to St X and Colerain and that will be one hell of a match up.

[X Buckeyes07 X]

Colerain can't hang with St. X this year. Time will show that.

But back to Elder...if anyone wants to watch, they're starting the 4th quarter of the Independence game right now on ESPN U..this is where it starts to get good.