A sold-out crowd at The Pit in Price Hill walked out of an all-time rivalry game between the Elder Panthers and the Moeller Crusaders on Oct. 3.
The Greater Catholic League-South crown on the line, Elder defeated Moeller 24-16 to end the Crusaders’ three-year ownership of the conference while making the Panthers solo champs for the first time since 2008. Elder and La Salle split the GCL-South in 2015.
Elder’s defense forced two Moeller safeties and sacked Kentucky-committed quarterback Matt Ponatoski twice on Moeller’s final drive to get Elder into victory formation.
Elder attempted a 31-yard field goal with 2:52 left in the game that would have put the Panthers up by 11 points. Adam Re missed left, giving Moeller a chance to tie the game with a touchdown. Moeller got as far as the Elder 39 before a hold pushed them back to midfield.
On third-and-20 with 1:49 left, Brody Turner sacked Ponatoski for a 16-yard loss. On a final fourth-and-36 attempt, senior Jayven Hutchinson sacked Ponatoski for the turnover on downs. The Panthers kneeled twice and notched a big goal in what has become a dream season for Elder.
Elder outgained Moeller 382-278 and limited the Crusaders to 52 yards on the ground.
Panthers junior quarterback Kaden Estep was 21-of-29 passing for 286 yards and three touchdowns with 41 rushing yards despite being sacked five times. He also pinned the Crusaders inside their own five-yard line, making the crucial punts that turned into Moeller safeties.
Jackson Ruth hauled in two touchdown passes in his nine catches for 139 yards. Chase Walpole had the other receiving score.
Ponatoski was 17-for-25 with 226 yards and two touchdowns to Cooper McCutchan and Reggie Watson. The touchdown to Watson was a 58-yarder that cut Elder’s lead to 15-13 before halftime.
Virginia commit Derek Uran led Elder with 10 tackles (seven solo) with a sack. Mason Chumbley had a forced fumble and Andrew Paff had a recovery. Moeller’s Ricardo Harris had three sacks for 23 yards.
Moeller (5-2) dropped its first conference game in four years and one day, last falling at Elder in a 59-58 overtime thriller. The Crusaders will host St. Ignatius (1-6) on Oct. 10 at Mount St. Joseph.
Elder stayed undefeated at 7-0, reaching that mark for the first time since 2001. The Panthers host Highlands (6-1) on Oct. 10 for the chance to improve to 8-0.
Elder 24, Moeller 16
Moeller – 7 60 3 – 16
Elder – 0 15 9 0 – 24
M– McCutchan 6 pass from Ponatoski (Mallabar kick)
E– Ruth 18 pass from Estep (Re kick)
E– Safety
E– Ruth 7 pass from Estep (kick failed)
M– Watson 58 pass from Ponatoski (pass failed)
E– Safety
E– Walpole 17 pass from Estep (Re kick)
M– FG Mallabar 30
Records: E 7-0 (3-0 GCL-S), M 5-2 (2-1 GCL-S).
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Undefeated Elder beats Moeller 24-16, wins first solo GCL-South crown since 2008
Reporting by Alex Harrison, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
