PRICE HILL - Kaden Estep added his name to the top of Elder High School's record book Friday night, becoming the program's career passing leader while throwing five touchdown passes in the Panthers' 52-6 victory over Mt. Zion Prep at The Pit.
Estep completed 11 of 14 passes for 220 yards, helping Elder build a 45-6 halftime advantage in its regular-season finale. In the first half, Estep threw touchdowns to four different receivers.
The victory completed an 8-2 regular season for Elder, which bounced back from consecutive Greater Catholic League South losses to St. Xavier and Moeller by winning its final three games. The Panthers defeated Highlands, Indianapolis Bishop Chatard and Mt. Zion Prep during that closing stretch.
Elder will have a first-round playoff bye next week. The Panthers are expected to receive the No. 2 seed in Division I, Region 4 and return to action at 7 p.m. Nov. 6 at The Pit against an opponent to be determined.
Friday's game gave Elder's seniors a chance to celebrate one final regular-season victory at home, but the night's biggest individual milestone belonged to Estep.
He entered the game needing 67 yards to pass former Elder quarterback Peyton Ramsey for the program's career record. The senior needed just two completions to get there.
After Elder's defense forced a three-and-out on Mt. Zion's opening possession, the Panthers took over at their 34-yard line. Estep opened Elder's first series with a nine-yard run, and Andrew Tallen moved the chains on the following play.
Estep then found senior receiver Andrew Lyman over the middle. Lyman broke multiple tackles and sprinted down the sideline for a 55-yard touchdown. Tyler Homan made the extra point, giving Elder a 7-0 lead with 8:43 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Panthers quickly got the ball back when Mt. Zion quarterback Emile Lockhart mishandled a snap. Elder junior linebacker Sam Parton recovered at the Warriors' 15-yard line.
Two plays later, Estep connected with junior receiver Jake Bier for a 13-yard touchdown. The completion pushed Estep past Ramsey and made him Elder's career passing leader.
Estep finished the night with 53 career touchdown passes, leaving him three behind Mark Miller's school record of 56. Elder's playoff run will give Estep an opportunity to pursue that mark as well.
Mt. Zion fumbled again on the kickoff following Bier's touchdown, and junior linebacker Brody Turner secured Elder's second takeaway. The Panthers could not capitalize on that possession, however, as Tallen fumbled near the goal line and Mt. Zion recovered at its 2.
Elder's defense forced another punt, and Estep soon delivered his third touchdown pass of the quarter. After extending the play by moving to his right, he found senior Drew Wauligman near the sideline in the end zone. Homan's third extra point made it 21-0 with 5:25 left in the first quarter.
Estep's ability to spread the football around continued early in the second. Facing fourth-and-goal, Estep rolled right and found senior receiver Chase Walpole in the back of the end zone. The four-yard touchdown pass, Estep's fourth of the night, increased the advantage to 28-0.
Mt. Zion put together its best series of the game on the next possession. Lockhart connected with Jaleel Anderson for a long gain into Elder territory, then found Alonzo Reeder for a 20-yard touchdown in the right corner of the end zone. The Warriors' two-point pass was incomplete, leaving Elder ahead 28-6 with 8:58 remaining in the half.
Elder nearly answered immediately. Estep found Lyman deep for what appeared likely to become a 63-yard touchdown, but Lyman was hit from behind just before crossing the goal line. The ball went through the end zone, giving Mt. Zion a touchback.
It was one of the few mistakes in an otherwise dominant half for the Panthers.
Elder's defense quickly forced another punt, and Andrew Paff gave the offense excellent field position with one of his several productive punt returns. The Panthers drove inside the Mt. Zion 10 before settling for Homan's 21-yard field goal, his fourth consecutive successful field-goal attempt, to extend the lead to 31-6.
Tallen added a five-yard touchdown run out of a direct-snap formation with 1:21 left in the half. Senior Josh Menner kicked the extra point for a 38-6 advantage.
The Panthers were not finished.
Mt. Zion turned the ball over on downs at its 24 with nine seconds remaining, giving Estep one last chance before halftime. He took advantage, finding Walpole for a 24-yard touchdown as time nearly expired.
The scoring play was Estep's fifth touchdown pass of the half. Walpole finished with two touchdown receptions, while Lyman, Bier and Wauligman each caught one.
One of the night's loudest celebrations followed the fifth touchdown. Senior Roni Aguilar came on to kick the extra point and split the uprights, drawing an enthusiastic response from Elder's players and fans. Teammates surrounded Aguilar on the sideline after his successful kick, providing a memorable Senior Night moment and giving Elder a 45-6 halftime lead.
With the Panthers comfortably ahead, the second half was played with a running clock and provided Elder's younger players and reserves an extended opportunity.
Sophomore quarterback Luca Thompson directed a 16-play, 70-yard drive that consumed the entire third quarter and the opening seconds of the fourth. Thompson completed all three of his passes for 27 yards and added several productive runs, including an eight-yard conversion on fourth down.
Sophomore running back Kam Bedel capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. Senior Danny Mendez kicked the extra point for the final points of the night.
Bedel carried much of the workload during the drive, while Jude Kipp and Brent Raterman caught passes from Thompson. Anthony Mulvaney also received late carries as Elder emptied its bench and allowed numerous seniors to take the field in the final regular-season home game of their careers.
Elder's defense held Mt. Zion scoreless in three of the four quarters and limited the Warriors to 125 total yards. Parton and Turner recovered first-quarter fumbles, while the Panthers also turned Mt. Zion away twice on downs.
Pete Fortkamp was again active in the middle of the defense, and Major Kittles and Brayden Tepe helped produce a late first-half sack. Seniors such as Paff, Max Doogan, Aj Meyer, Tannar Carmen, Wyatt Olthaus, Ben Ruoff, Kyle Bien and Joey Starkey also contributed during the victory.
Special teams played an important role throughout the night. Aidan Brogan repeatedly sent kickoffs into the end zone, Paff produced strong returns, and four Elder kickers scored. Homan converted four extra points and his field goal, while Menner, Aguilar and Mendez each made an extra point.
The Panthers' 52 points were their second-highest total of the season, trailing only the 56 scored in the Week 2 victory at Covington Catholic. Elder finished the regular season averaging 36.9 points and allowed 15.0 per game.
More importantly, the Panthers enter the postseason with momentum, a healthy Estep and home-field advantage for their first playoff game.
Elder will be off Oct. 30 because of its first-round bye. The Panthers will use the break to recover from the regular season before returning to The Pit on Nov. 6 for the second round of the Division I playoffs.