Elder Panther Football - 1968

REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 7-2-1

 
Game #
Date
Opponent
Site
Score
W/L
Record
1
9/13/68
Woodward
H
30-18
W
1-0
2
9/20/68
Walnut Hills
H
46-6
W
2-0
3
9/27/68
St. Xavier
H
8-0
L
2-1
4
10/4/68
Newport Catholic
H
26-18
W
3-1
5
10/11/68
La Salle
H
26-0
W
4-1
6
10/20/68
Roger Bacon
XU
0-0
T
4-1-1
7
10/27/68
McNicholas
H
36-24
W
5-1-1
8
11/1/68
Moeller
H
14-0
W
6-1-1
9
11/8/68
Purcell
A
12-6
L
6-2-1
10
11/28/68
Western Hills
H
26-0
W
7-2-1

Head Coach : Mike Honold (Career Record: 31-8-1)

Captains: Mike Minges, Larry Parker, Tom Stricker

Final GCL Standings

 
Overall
League

1. St. Xavier
9-0-1
6-0-1

2. Roger Bacon
8-1-1
5-1-1

3. ELDER
7-2-1
4-2-1

3. Moeller
6-2-2
4-2-1

5. Purcell
6-4
4-3

6. Newport Catholic
4-6
2-5

7. La Salle
2-8
1-6

8. McNicholas
2-8
0-7

Season Highlights: After 10 years of disappointment, 1968 was St. Xavier's year to win the GCL. The Bombers defeated everyone in the league except Moeller, who tied the Bombers late in the season. The Panthers dropped a second league game to the Cavaliers, and were tied by Roger Bacon, and so they finished tied for third in the league with the Moeller Crusaders.

The winning streak of last season stretched to nine as the Panthers won their first two games. In the season opener with Woodward, Larry Parker gained 138 yards rushing with 2 TDs, while Ron Martin gained 135 and 1 score. Mike Minges added another TD as the Panthers topped the Bulldogs 30-16. The following week the Panthers trounced the Walnut Hills Eagles 46-6. The offense netted 175 yards rushing and an equal distance passing. Kim Knoppe caught 2 TD passes, one from Bill Farrell for 73 yards and one from Mike Dinkelacker for 32 yards. Overall, Knoppe caught 5 passes for 162 yards. Larry Parker added three TDs on the ground, along with scores by Martin and Mike Marchioni. Farrell also made two of the team's four interceptions, the other two coming from Tom Beck and Jim Conly.

In Game 3, the Bombers defense held the Panthers to only 85 total yards, and 3 interceptions and 3 fumbles by the Panthers kept the ball in the Bombers' control. One TD was all they needed, as St. Xavier won the game, 8-0. Wins over Newport Catholic and La Salle followed the St. X loss; Larry Parker scored 2 TDs in the Newport game, gaining 206 yards rushing, and 4 against La Salle on 140 yards rushing and a 48-yard punt return for a TD. Elder outgained Roger Bacon 228 yards to 69, but neither team could score, leaving the game in a scoreless tie. The Panthers then topped McNicholas 36-24; Larry Parker again scored 4 TDs, one on an 82-yard run. He totaled 302 yards rushing for the game on 40 carries, setting a still-standing Elder record.

Against Moeller, the Panthers were forced to punt 13 times, but Larry Parker again provided the scoring in the Panther win, one TD rushing and one receiving, on a 22-yard pass from Farrell. Purcell defeated the Panthers 12-6, scoring the winning TD in the fourth quarter on a 35-yard punt return. Elder's Thanksgiving Day streak stretched to 10, as they shutout the Mustangs, 26-0. Parker (on a 4-yard run), Knoppe (on a 15-yard pass from Marchioni), and Jim Christopfel (on an 18-yard return of a blocked punt), provided the Panthers with 3 scores in the second quarter. Parker added a fourth late in the game, to give him 19 TDs on the season and second place in the city's scoring race.

Larry Parker's 19 touchdowns and 6 conversions set the school record for total points in a season with 126, a record which would last until 1977. He gained a total of 1283 yards rushing on 255 carries during the season, both still school records. And his career totals are also Elder records: Most Career Yards Rushing (2344), and Most Career Rushing Attempts (483). He also holds the record for Most Career Points Scored with 228, and is co-holder of the record for Most Career Touchdowns Scored with 33.

Parker received the team's Most Valuable Player award at the end of the season, was the GCL's Player of the Year, first team All-City and the Enquirer's Player of the Year, first team All-District and Back of the Year, and Honorable Mention All-Ohio. Kim Knoppe, although he was second-team All-City, was named first-team All-District, and was also Honorable Mention All-Ohio. Jay Mayer was an Enquirer first-team All-City All-Star and first-team All-District.

 

Team Roster

Number

Name
Position
Class
16

Beck, Thomas
HB
Jr.
72

Bockhorst, Dennis
C
Jr.
69

Bogner, Reinhard
G
Sr.
70

Bolger, Thomas
T
Jr.
34

Brennan, Daniel
HB
Jr.
64

Broxterman, Gary
G
Jr.
42

Broxterman, Raymond
HB
Jr.
88

Buzek, Michael
E
Sr.
83

Christopfel, Jim
E
Jr.
63

Collins, Michael
G
Jr.
31

Conly, James
HB
Sr.
82

Cotter, Anthony
E
Jr.
52

Daffin, James
C
Soph.
33

Dattilo, Kenneth
FB
Jr.
18

Dinkelacker, Michael
QB
Jr.
76

Eilerman, William
T
Soph.
53

Erpelding, Timothy
C
Sr.
20

Farrell, William
QB
Jr.
21

Frank, Michael
HB
Sr.
62

Hemsath, Steven
G
Jr.
75

Holthaus, Jerome
T
Sr.
54

James, Timothy
C/G
Sr.
40

Joerling, Michael
HB
Sr.
78

Kent, David
T
Sr.
87

Kersting, Thomas
E
Jr.
43

Kneflin, Mark
SE/HB
Sr.
85

Knoppe, Kim
E
Sr.
32

Krauser, Richard
HB
Jr.
77

Lockett, Edward
T
Sr.
61

Lorenz, Gary
G
Jr.
17

Marchioni, Michael
QB
Jr.
84

Martin, Ronald
E/FB
Sr.
66

Mayer, John
T/G
Sr.
51

McLaughlin, Timothy
C
Jr.
22

Minges, Michael
HB
Sr.
68

Ott, Dennis
G
Sr.
19

Parker, Lawrence
HB
Sr.
41

Parker, Michael
HB
Jr.
60

Purcell, Jerome
G
Sr.
71

Purcell, John
E
Jr.
30

Ruwan, Ralph
HB
Sr.
79

Sandman, Arnold
C
Sr.
65

Schroth, James
G
Sr.
44

Sparks, Steven
HB
Sr.
23

Stricker, Thomas
HB
Sr.
67

Studt, William
G
Sr.
24

Tieman, Edward
HB
Jr.
50

Welch, Thomas
C
Sr.

No. of Players
49
 

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