Cincinnati, OH - Friday night lights at "The Pit" once again delivered drama, passion, and four full quarters of hard-hitting football as the Elder Panthers survived a furious Covington Catholic rally to win 28-20. The victory keeps Elder undefeated at 2-0 as they now prepare for the grueling stretch of four consecutive road games beginning next week at Springboro. Elder Leans on Balance, Survives Tough CovCath Challenge One week after cruising past Mt. Zion Prep 34-0 in a game that served more as a tune-up than a test, Elder learned plenty about itself in Week 2. The Covington Catholic Colonels-an 11-win team from just across the Ohio River last season-came into the game hungry after a tough opening loss to Ryle. From the opening kickoff, it was clear this was going to be a battle. The Colonels stunned the purple-clad crowd when Dylan Gazer returned the opening kick 96 yards to set up a first-and-goal from the three. But Elder's defense stood tall, stonewalling three consecutive rushing attempts and forcing a short field goal that gave CovCath a quick 3-0 lead. That defensive stand would set the tone for much of the night. From there, senior running back Tommy Becker (#21) and junior quarterback Kaden Estep (#10) began grinding behind Elder's big offensive line. Estep capped Elder's first scoring drive with an 11-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, aided by a key block from fullback/long-snapper Kenny Baker (#15). That score made it 7-3, and the Panthers went into halftime leading 14-6 after another Estep rushing touchdown from 33 yards showed off his decisiveness and speed. Estep finished 16-of-19 passing for 219 yards while adding 91 rushing yards and two touchdowns. It was a near-flawless performance under constant pressure. Becker Finds the End Zone... Twice While Estep engineered the offense, it was Becker who delivered the knockout blows on the ground. The senior tailback shouldered 20 carries for 97 hard-earned yards and a pair of short touchdown runs (three yards apiece) that bookended Elder's drives in the second half. Both scores were vintage "Elder football"-patient blocking up front, bruising finishes in close, and no wasted movement. On his second score early in the fourth quarter, Becker bulled into the end zone from two yards out to put Elder ahead 28-13. It proved to be the decisive touchdown, even as CovCath rallied late. Notably, the depth of Elder's running backs continues to shine. Last week, junior Andrew Tallen (#14) scored three touchdowns. This week, Becker took his turn occupying the starring role. As the season wears on, the Panthers' ability to rotate fresh backs could prove lethal. Elder's Receivers Step Up The aerial assault wasn't neglected either. Senior wideout Jackson Ruth (#4) and junior Chase Walpole (#13) turned in big nights, each hauling in seven receptions. Ruth's 92 yards and steady route-running proved key on third downs, while Walpole consistently stretched the field and finished with 112 yards. Time and again, Estep found them on crisp out-routes and sideline throws, keeping drives alive. Junior tight end Drew Wauligman (#85) also contributed key grabs in the red zone. Colonel Fightback and Elder Defense Answer Covington Catholic quarterback Cash Harney confirmed the pregame hype. Slippery in the pocket, fearless on scrambles, and more than capable with his arm, Harney piled up yards and challenged Elder's defense repeatedly. His 51-yard strike to Logan Sanning in the fourth quarter pulled CovCath within 28-20, and suddenly the Pit grew tense. But with under two minutes left and the Colonels threatening again, senior defensive back Mason Chumbley (#1) made the play of the game. Reading Harney's eyes across the middle, Chumbley intercepted the pass and returned it all the way to the CovCath 42. The turnover sealed victory for Elder and earned him redemption for narrowly missing an earlier interception opportunity. The defense also benefitted from monster plays by linebacker Pete Fortkamp (#11), who disrupted multiple fourth-down attempts, and outside linebacker Alex Dugan (#2), who lived in the CovCath backfield most of the evening. Senior linebacker Derek Uran (#5) was also frequently around the football making tackles in space. Special Teams: Good, Bad, Important Special teams were both Elder's biggest weakness and biggest resilience test. The kickoff return to start the game led to points for CovCath, and a missed field goal in the fourth quarter left the door open for the Colonels' late push. But the Panthers can take solace that their defense compensated and the team showed mental toughness when the game hung in the balance. At a Glance - Key Stats Final Score: Elder 28, Covington Catholic 20 Passing: Estep - 16/19, 219 yards Rushing: Estep - 91 yards, 2 TD; Becker - 97 yards, 2 TD Receiving: Walpole - 7 rec, 112 yards; Ruth - 7 rec, 92 yards Defense: Chumbley - game-sealing interception; Fortkamp - multiple tackles for loss; Dugan - constant pressure Record: Elder 2-0 (Wins: Mt. Zion Prep, Covington Catholic) The Cooper Electric Star of the Game Unsurprisingly, the honor went to junior QB Kaden Estep. His composure, efficiency, and dynamic dual-threat playmaking were the difference. Two touchdown passes weren't necessary when he could simply run them himself. With Estep under center, Elder's ceiling this fall rises. The Road Ahead There's no rest for Elder. Next week the Panthers leave the Pit and begin a daunting month-long road trip starting at Springboro High School. The Panthers from up north enter at 2-0 after a dominant win over Edgewood. Following Springboro, Elder travels to archrival La Salle, then powerhouse Louisville St. Xavier, and perennial rival St. Xavier in Cincinnati. All four games are away from home. Surviving that stretch with minimal damage in the win-loss column will be crucial if Elder hopes to contend for postseason seeding in Division I, Region IV. Final Word On a perfect late August night at the Pit with 74 degrees, partly cloudy skies, and a beautiful sunset, Elder football reminded its fans of two things: first, that Panther Nation knows how to gut out a tough one; and second, that this year's squad is more than capable of fighting through adversity. A gritty 28-20 victory won't earn style points, but it builds character. And as every Elder fan knows, character wins in November. Final Score: Elder Panthers 28, Covington Catholic Colonels 20 Next Game: Elder (2-0) at Springboro (2-0), September 5th, 7:00 p.m.  [Read More]