CINCINNATI — The lights of The Pit snapped on for November football, and Elder High School’s postseason journey picked up exactly where its regular season left off — pounding the ball, controlling the tempo, and letting its defense smother another opponent. Behind a record night from senior running back Tommy Becker, the Panthers defeated the Fairfield Indians 27-7 in Friday’s Division I, Region 4 quarterfinal at Elder’s historic stadium.

Senior night energy mixed with playoff intensity, but once the first few exchanges were finished, it looked like the same formula that carried Elder to a perfect 10-0 regular season. Becker scored four touchdowns — the third time this year he has hit that mark — and churned out 150 yards on 32 carries, earning him the Cooper Electric Star of the Game honor. His steady runs were all the Elder offense needed to keep Fairfield trailing and chasing.

Elder’s physical rhythm returns quickly

Questions were asked in the pre-game: how would Elder react to a first-round bye? Would an undefeated team come out sharp or sluggish? In the opening series, Fairfield moved the ball, but when senior linebacker Derek Uran knifed through for an early stop and blocked a punt, the offense inherited the ball on midfield, and the tone was set.

Quarterback Kaden Estep — the Greater Catholic League’s Offensive Player of the Year — handed off early and often. Behind an offensive line anchored by seniors Tyrell Scott, Aedan McKenna, Caleb Broxterman, and Nick Cassaro, Elder’s first drive chewed nearly six minutes off the clock. Becker finished it from two yards out, pushing through two tacklers to give the Panthers a 7-0 lead.

The first drive showed Elder’s trademark style — a blue-collar, physical possession built on disciplined line play, patience from the backfield, and complete control of the tempo.

Fairfield, the region’s No. 8 seed, entered fresh from a 46-41 shootout win over Mason and brought a dynamic rushing attack featuring senior tailback Gabe Ross. Elder’s defense, however, allowed only brief flashes: every time Ross looked ready to pop a long one, someone in purple filled the lane. Senior linemen Alex Dugan and Jayven Hutchinson were relentless, and sophomore linebacker Pete Fortkamp delivered another signature outing, intercepting a pass and recovering a fumble on consecutive Fairfield possessions.

Becker keeps answering

The Panthers’ second major march began late in the first quarter and carried into the second. Alternating direct snaps to Becker and quarterback keepers from Estep, Elder advanced 13 plays in six minutes. Becker dove over the goal line again from a yard out to double the lead, 14-0.

Fairfield finally responded just before halftime. Quarterback Dominic Back threaded a nine-yard touchdown to John Abramson with 14 seconds left to make it 14-7, handing Elder its first moment of discomfort in weeks. The Pit crowd quieted, but the halftime locker room did not. Observers on the broadcast noted that the halftime discussion must have been a spirited one that refocused the players.

Whatever Elder head coach Doug Ramsey said worked. The Panthers re-emerged focused on their identity: run behind the line, mix in high-percentage throws, and let conditioning take over.

Second-half control

Elder opened the third quarter with another long possession — 10 plays, 79 yards, essentially perfect execution. Estep’s passing touch returned; he hit Brady Andriacco and Chase Walpole on crisp routes to offset Fairfield’s loaded box. Becker punctuated the drive with a five-yard score. A mishandled extra-point snap kept the advantage at 20-7, but the drive itself deflated the visitors.

Moments later, Fortkamp’s family produced their second turnover of the night when defensive end Henry Fortkamp pounced on a Fairfield fumble at the Elder 32. Four minutes later, Becker sprinted left and crossed the stripe again, his fourth touchdown giving Elder all the cushion it needed, 27-7, with just over ten minutes left.

From there, the Panthers simply strangled the game. Estep (six carries, 45 yards) used safe read-options to milk the clock, Walpole added two drive-extending catches, and Elder’s defense slammed the door. Fairfield’s final three possessions ended in a fumble, a sack, and a four-and-out.

Defensive dominance

The numbers told the story. Fairfield managed 197 total yards, only 54 on the ground. Elder’s defense collected three takeaways and four sacks, living up to its season average of allowing barely 12 points per game.

Seniors Andrew Paff, Uran, and Dugan combined for 21 tackles. Sophomore linebackers Pete and Brody Turner filled lanes like veterans, while defensive backs Aidan Sullivan and Jared Lammers limited yards after catch — Lammers added six tackles of his own.

The coaching staff emphasized that the players’ trust in one another and fast, disciplined execution exemplified what playoff-level defense looks like.

Elder offense: patience and precision

Elder ran 55 offensive plays for 288 yards. The split was almost textbook balanced: 180 rushing, 108 passing. Estep finished 12-of-18 for 108 yards without a turnover after the halftime reset. Walpole caught six for 48, Ruth added three receptions for 34 yards, and Andriacco’s 22-yard grab on the opening second-half drive was a catalyst.

Still, it was Becker who drew all eyes. His 18 touchdowns this fall trail only a handful of single-season marks in Elder history. Friday he became the first Panther back since Ryan Brass to post three separate four-TD games.

Becker explained after the game that his focus was simply on following the blocking of his linemen and maintaining the team’s physical identity after the bye week, and he felt they achieved that goal.

Legacy of balance

Offensive coordinator Peyton Ramsey — former All-Big Ten quarterback at Indiana — has shaped Estep’s growth with an offense that can morph from smash-mouth GCL style to spread tempo without blinking. Friday’s plan blended both beautifully.

According to the coaching staff, Estep now demonstrates full command of the offense; with a strong offensive line and a productive back like Becker, he can make smart decisions without forcing plays.

Rob Florian, observing from the broadcast booth, described it as a classic Elder blueprint: staying composed, relying on leadership, and finishing with all eleven players working together.

Around Region 4 and what’s next

While Elder was finishing up early, other regional games were still grinding into the fourth quarter. On the other side of the bracket, St. Xavier rolled past Lakota East 35-7, while at the Mount St. Joseph complex Moeller edged Lakota West 19-14. The game with direct implications for Elder came in Sharonville, where Winton Woods and Princeton were locked in a 16-10 struggle at last report.

The Panthers will host the winner of that contest next Friday in a regional semifinal back at The Pit. If Winton Woods advances, it will bring an athletic defense led by University-bound playmakers; if Princeton rallies, it sets up a rematch of contrasting styles — Princeton’s speed versus Elder’s discipline and depth.

Either way, Elder remains the region’s top seed and the only unbeaten Division I program in Southwest Ohio.  

Keys moving forward

Ramsey’s postgame checklist emphasized the same fundamentals as always: stay healthy, avoid penalties, win the turnover battle, and trust the process. His team did all four Friday. Elder committed only three infractions for 25 yards and zero turnovers in the second half. The Panthers also enjoyed more than 30 minutes of possession, compared with Fairfield’s 18, illustrating total domination of tempo.

Final Book

Scoring Summary
Elder — Becker 2 yd run (Ray kick)
Elder — Becker 1 yd run (Ray kick)
Fairfield — Abramson 9 yd pass from Back (Gagan kick)
Elder — Becker 5 yd run (kick failed)
Elder — Becker 3 yd run (Ray kick)

Totals — Elder 27, Fairfield 7

Team statistics
Elder 288 yards offense (180 rush / 108 pass)
Fairfield 197 yards offense (54 rush / 143 pass)
Turnovers — Fairfield 3, Elder 1
Time of possession — Elder 30:02, Fairfield 17:58

Individual leaders
Rushing: Becker 32 att 150 yds 4 TD; Estep 6 att 45 yds
Passing: Estep 12-18 108 yds
Receiving: Walpole 6 rec 48 yds; Ruth 3 for 34; Andriacco 1 for 22
Tackles: Uran 7; Paff 7; A. Dugan 7; Lammers 6
Turnovers forced: P. Fortkamp INT + FR; H. Fortkamp FR

Final: Elder 27, Fairfield 7. Record 11-0.

Next game — Regional Semifinal vs Princeton, Friday, November 14 at The Pit. (Game time 7 p.m) Tickets will go on sale on Monday. 

Byline: Prep Sports Radio Network - Elder Game Report