PRICE HILL - Kaden Estep accounted for four touchdowns, Pete Fortkamp produced the game-changing defensive play and Elder High School pulled away in the second half Friday night to defeat Springboro 37-20 in the second round of the Ohio high school football playoffs. The victory advanced Elder to a Division I, Region 4 semifinal against Greater Catholic League South rival St. Xavier at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at The Pit. The Bombers advanced with a 51-14 victory over Lakota West. Elder improved to 9-2 and extended its all-time home playoff record to 20-0, but the final margin did not reflect how much pressure Springboro applied during the middle portion of the game. After Elder built an early 14-point advantage, Springboro scored 13 unanswered points and trailed only 17-13 at halftime. Springboro then opened the third quarter by driving into Elder territory with a chance to take its first lead. Fortkamp changed the direction of the game. The junior linebacker knocked the ball loose from Springboro quarterback Max Miller, and junior defensive back Brayden Ackerman recovered the fumble. Seven plays later, Estep broke through the defense for a 33-yard touchdown run, giving Elder some badly needed breathing room. The Panthers added another touchdown later in the third quarter and controlled the closing minutes to secure another week of football at The Pit. Fortkamp finished with 10 total tackles, two tackles for loss and two sacks in addition to forcing the pivotal fumble. Estep completed 21 of 25 passes for 260 yards and one touchdown. The senior quarterback also carried 17 times, finishing with 84 net rushing yards and three touchdowns. His performance came shortly after he announced that he had changed his college commitment from Miami University to the University of Cincinnati. Senior receiver Andrew Lyman caught nine passes for 100 yards and one touchdown. Junior Jake Bier contributed throughout the night, rushing 13 times for 57 yards and a score while also making a season-saving 53-yard reception during an unusual second-quarter possession. Elder scored on its opening drive after sophomore Kam Bedel gave the Panthers good field position with a strong kickoff return. Estep completed passes to Chase Walpole and Lyman as Elder quickly moved into Springboro territory. The Panthers faced third-and-1 at the Springboro 23, and Estep kept the ball to move the chains. He later connected with Lyman to set up first-and-goal before scoring on a short quarterback run. Tyler Homan's extra point made it 7-0 with 9:48 remaining in the opening quarter. Springboro responded with a lengthy possession, using Miller's accurate passing and the running of Birdsong to cross midfield. On fourth-and-4 from the Elder 44, however, Miller kept the ball and came up short of the first-down marker. Elder could not capitalize immediately, but its defense forced another punt after Springboro's next possession unraveled. Brayden Tepe recorded a sack on third down, leaving Springboro facing fourth-and-33 from deep in its own territory. Starting with excellent field position, Elder drove for its second touchdown. Estep and Bier supplied most of the work, and the offense continued the possession into the second quarter. On first-and-goal from the 7, Bier ran up the middle, kept his legs moving behind the offensive line and was pushed across the goal line by a group of teammates. Homan's extra point extended Elder's lead to 14-0 with 11:15 left in the half. Springboro refused to let the game get away. A long run by Birdsong moved the visitors into scoring range, and Miller found Noah Bilinski wide open for a 27-yard touchdown. The extra point cut Elder's lead to 14-7. Elder's next drive nearly fell apart because of penalties and negative plays. A delay penalty and sack eventually left the Panthers facing second-and-35 from their own 37. That was when Estep delivered one of the game's most memorable plays. Rolling to his left under pressure, Estep reversed his shoulders and launched a deep pass across the field. Bier had worked free behind the defense and made the catch for a 53-yard gain to the Springboro 10. Elder could not finish the drive with a touchdown, but Homan converted a 26-yard field goal to make it 17-7. Springboro answered with Kripe's 32-yard field goal, then got the ball back at midfield after partially blocking an Elder punt late in the half. Miller completed a 23-yard pass to Kru Collins on the first play of the possession, moving Springboro into Elder territory. The Elder defense prevented a touchdown, but Kripe made a 33-yard field goal with five seconds remaining to reduce the Panthers' lead to 17-13 at halftime. The visitors carried that momentum into the third quarter. Collins returned the opening kickoff to the Springboro 45, and Miller moved the offense to Elder's 28. Fortkamp then delivered the game's turning point. Miller scrambled on third down, but Fortkamp pursued the quarterback and knocked the ball free. Ackerman recovered at Elder's 28, ending Springboro's opportunity to take the lead. Estep made the turnover costly. After completions to Lyman, Jason Forte and Bier moved the Panthers across midfield, Estep took off on third-and-7 from the Springboro 33. The quarterback found an opening, accelerated through the second level and raced untouched into the end zone. Homan's extra point gave Elder a 24-13 lead with 6:53 remaining in the third quarter. Springboro went three-and-out on its next possession, allowing Elder to take over near midfield. The Panthers then produced another composed drive that included a reception by Walpole and carries by Estep and Bier. From the Springboro 21, Estep faked the handoff and delivered a short pass to Lyman. The senior receiver made the catch, turned upfield and broke into the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown. Homan's extra-point attempt hit the upright, but Elder had stretched its lead to 30-13. Miller and Springboro mounted one more challenge early in the fourth quarter. A pass-interference penalty and several completions to Bolinski moved the visitors into the red zone. On third-and-goal, Miller found Collins in the right corner of the end zone for a touchdown. Kripe's extra point reduced Elder's advantage to 30-20 with 9:12 remaining. The Panthers responded with the kind of possession needed to close a postseason game. Bedel returned the ensuing kickoff to the Elder 41, and the Panthers used Bier as a direct-snap runner to control the clock. Bier repeatedly gained tough yards behind the offensive line, while Estep added a first-down run and short completions to Lyman. The 12-play, 59-yard possession consumed 6:25. Estep completed it with a 7-yard touchdown run, sweeping left and reaching the end zone for his third rushing score of the night. Homan added the extra point to establish the final 37-20 margin with 2:41 left. Springboro reached midfield on its final possession, but Caleb Curry broke up one pass and Miller threw incomplete on fourth down. Elder took possession and moved into victory formation. The second-half turnaround provided another example of the resilience Elder has shown throughout the season. After losing consecutive games to St. Xavier and Moeller, the Panthers recovered to defeat Highlands, Indianapolis Bishop Chatard and Mt. Zion Prep before receiving a first-round playoff bye. Now Elder gets another opportunity against the Bombers. The postseason rematch will begin at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at The Pit. The winner will advance to the Division I, Region 4 championship game against the winner of Moeller and Princeton.  [Read More]