Sunday, September 17, 2000
Elder 21, Highlands 14
Panthers ruins Bluebirds' hopes for national title
By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Highlands has been rated among the nation's top prep football teams. But its power and prestige has nothing on Elder.
Before perhaps the largest crowd in Ohio high school history, Elder rallied for a 21-14 victory over the Bluebirds on Saturday night at the Bengals' Paul Brown Stadium.
The crowd was estimated at 25,000.
Elder, facing a 14-7 halftime deficit just as it had last year, again turned to 250-pound fullback Kyle Koester and a bruising offensive line. The Panthers bulled their way to back-to-back touchdown drives, then shut down the potent Highlands offense on two final scoring chances.
“This is amazing,” Koester said. “Playing here, with this huge crowd, and beating a great team ... it's the best experience ever.”
Highlands began its last drive with 2:55 left, and converted two long third downs and a fourth-down chance to reach first down at the Elder 35. But Highlands quarterback Gino Guidugli overthrew Brett Hamblen at the 21-yard line, and Elder senior defensive back Justin Wendling grabbed his first career interception.
With 1:18 left, Highlands had no time-outs, and Elder (2-1) ran out the clock.
Highlands (3-1), which is among the top 15 in eight national ratings, had called this its national championship game. With a high rating of No. 3 by TonyBianco.com, it was in range of a mythical national title from at least one ratings service.
But Elder now has dealt Highlands its only two losses in its last 33 games.
Elder held the Bluebird offense in check and patiently forged a comeback. Koester had 94 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries, and senior quarterback Matt Scholl completed 14-of-24 passes for 160 yards and a TD.
“This (game) says this is a tough group of kids,” Elder coach Doug Ramsey said. “Like last year, we're down 14-7 to a great team, but we again responded and had a great second half.”
The Panthers had a grueling 18-play, 92-yard drive in the third quarter which consumed 7:08, with Koester scoring on a 5-yard carry. But the extra point was wide left, and Elder trailed 14-13.
On its next possession, Elder went 61 yards, Koester carrying 3 yards for the score. A two-point conversion pass from Scholl to Eric Renzenbrink made it 21-14.
Elder, which had seen Colerain rally to beat it in the season opener, wouldn't let Highlands steal this one. Guidugli went 13-of-29 for 135 yards and had few open receivers on the final drive.
“People didn't think we lived up to our (Cincinnati preseason No. 1) ranking,” Wendling said. “We wanted to come out and show we could beat this team. Now we're rolling.”
Elder ....... 0 7 6 21
Highlands ....... 7 7 0 14
H--Mulroney 18 pass from Guidugli (Chuke kick)
E--Sullivan 11 pass from Scholl (Boeing kick)
H--Mueller 4 run (Chuke kick)
E--Koester 5 run (kick failed)
E--Koester 3 run (Renzenbrink pass from Scholl)
Records: Elder 2-1, Highlands 3-1.
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Kentucky football scores
Anderson 31, Mason 7
Batavia 21, Williamsburg 18
Beechwood 14, Covington Catholic 0
Bellevue 33, Rowan County 9
Blanchester 48, Jamestown Greenview 16
Boone County 28, Conner 7
Chaminade Julienne 38, Purcell Marian 13
Cin. Country Day 53, CHCA 7
Colerain 37, Sycamore 0
Fairfield 28, Lakota West 20
Finneytown 34, Deer Park 13
Glen Este 21, Harrison 14
Henry Clay 28, Ryle 10
Indian Hill 27, Mariemont 0
Kings 45, Norwood 10
Landmark 38, Lockland 6
Lebanon 48, Little Miami 6
Lemon-Monroe 53, Dayton Stebbins 0
Lex. Bryan Station 34, Campbell County 6
Lloyd 27, Fleming Co. 17
Loveland 33, Goshen 6
Madeira 26, Reading 12
Canton McKinley 28, LaSalle 21
Miamisburg 27, Edgewood 12
Middletown Madison 20, Carlisle 12
Milford 38, Hamilton 24
Moeller 21, Bethlehem Catholic 6
Mount Healthy 41, Taft 0
New Richmond 22, Western Brown 8
Nicholas County 49, Ludlow 0
Princeton 35, Oak Hills 13
Roger Bacon 28, McNicholas 13
Ross 25, Wilmington 6
Simon Kenton 16, Scott County 14
St. Ignatius 29, St. Xavier 10
Summit Country Day 38, N. College Hill 10
Talawanda 20, Dayton Carroll 10
Turpin 35, Northwest 28
Walnut Hills 19, Hughes 0
West Carter 42, Newport 14
Western Hills 40, Woodward 6
Winton Woods 21, Amelia 7
Withrow 33, Aiken 8
Wyoming 37, Taylor 14
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