Elder Panther Football - 1973

REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 7-3

Game #
Date
Opponent
Site
Score
W/L
Record
1
9/14/73
Woodward
H
12-7
W
1-0
2
9/21/73
Taft
H
26-14
W
2-0
3
9/28/73
Col. Bishop Watterson
H
27-0
W
3-0
4
10/5/73
Lancaster
A
6-0
W
4-0
5
10/12/73
Roger Bacon
A
8-0
L
4-1
6
10/19/73
La Salle
H
14-0
L
4-2
7
10/26/73
Moeller
H
17-7
L
4-3
8
11/2/73
Purcell
H
7-0
W
5-3
9
11/9/73
St. Xavier
A
20-12
W
6-3
10
11/22/73
Western Hills
Riverfront
7-6
W
7-3

Head Coach: Ken Haupt (Career Record: 37-11-2)

Captains: David Vater, Joe Heffernan

 

Final GCL Standings:

Overall
League

1. Moeller
10-0
5-0

2. St. Xavier
8-2
3-2

2. La Salle
7-3
3-2

4. ELDER
7-3
2-3

4. Roger Bacon
7-3
2-3

6. Purcell
5-5
0-5
 

Season Highlights: A mid-season slump characterized the 1973 season. Following four straight wins to open the campaign, the Panthers dropped three straight to GCL opponents, then ended the season with 3 wins. The Panthers' record ended at 7-3, 2-3 in the league, which left the Panthers tied for fourth with Roger Bacon.

Junior Kenny Brown and sophomore Elvis Clemons led the rushing attack; junior Mike Dwyer managed the offense at quarterback. In Game 1, the Woodward Bulldogs gave the Panthers a battle, but Brown's 2 touchdowns, one on a 7-yard run and one on a 25-yard pass from Dwyer, proved to be enough to win. The Taft Senators were next, and junior Jim Jump added 2 scores to two more from Brown, giving the Panthers a 26-14 decision.

Against Columbus Bishop Watterson, scores by Bob Sagers (a 15-yard TD run), Mike Rosenberger (a 1-yard run) and Kurt Leonard (a 9-yard pass from Dwyer) combined with another Clemons TD (on a 4-yard run) to shutout the Eagles, 25-0. Game 4 was another whitewash, this time against Lancaster. An Elvis Clemons second quarter TD run from 2 yards out was the difference as the Panthers won their fourth straight of the season, 6-0, setting the school record with 18 straight games over 3 seasons without a loss. The streak ended there, however, when Elder faced undefeated Roger Bacon in Game 5. Even though the Panthers dominated the statistics, outgaining the Spartans 173-71 in total yards, they couldn't get the ball into the end zone, and Bacon's fourth quarter TD, on an 85-yard punt return, gave them the victory, 8-0.

The Lancers defeated the Panthers for the second time in school history, 14-0, the following week, on 2 big scoring plays: a 40-yard pass and a 75-yard run. The losing skid grew to three games against Moeller, when Elder was defeated by the Crusaders 17-7, who at the time were ranked second in the state. The Panthers led at the half 7-3, on a Ken Brown TD run following a Moeller fumble, but the Crusaders scored twice in the second half to take the win.

Elder finally returned to the winner's circle in Game 8, narrowly defeating Purcell 7-0, as a result of a Mike Dwyer-to-Kurt Leonard 13-yard scoring pass. The next week, Dwyer connected with Ken Brown (24 yards) and Gary Thomas (30 yards) for passing touchdowns, and Bob Sagers added a 42-yard rushing score, defeating the Bombers 20-12, raising the Panthers' record to 6-3. To end the season, the Panthers edged the Mustangs in the first Thanksgiving Day game played at Riverfront Stadium, 7-6. Both teams scored in the second period, but Roger Coffaro's extra point kick made the difference. The game was witnessed by 24,294 fans, the largest crowd to witness a high school contest in the city's history.

Ken Brown led the scoring on the season, with 6 touchdowns and 36 points. Elvis Clemons carried the bulk of the rushing load with 316 yards in 109 carries, but Brown was close behind with 277 yards in 91 carries. Mike Dwyer passed for 713 total yards, completing 51 out of 111. Kurt Leonard was Dwyer's favorite receiver, snagging 18 passes for 307 yards. Chris Roczyki anchored the defense with 38 solo tackles and 71 assists, good for 185 tackle points, followed by Mike Hollstegge with 37 solo tackles and 31 assists for 142 points.

Co-Captain Joe Heffernan, who played linebacker, defensive tackle, and offensive guard, was the team's MVP, and was named first-team All-GCL and the defensive squad's captain. Heffernan was also named first-team All-City by the Post. Kurt Leonard, named Most Improved Player, also received first-team All-GCL honors. Defensive End Dave Hudepohl received first-team defensive honors from the Enquirer, and was named first-team All-District.

Moeller made the first appearance by a GCL team in the state playoffs, losing in the semi-final game to Youngstown Mooney, 34-7.

 

Team Roster

Number

Name
Position
Class
75

Berning, Dennis
C/T
Sr.
32

Brown, Kenneth
HB/C
Jr.
89

Broxterman, Steven
G/E
Sr.
67

Burkhart, Donald
G/LB
Sr.
79

Campbell, Thomas
T
Jr.
25

Clemons, Elvis
FB/C
Soph.
83

Coffaro, Roger
E/C
Sr.
44

DeFranco, Michael
FB/LB
Sr.
19

Dickman, Thomas
HB
Sr.
16

Dwyer, Michael
QB/S
Jr.
76

Eilerman, Joseph
T
Jr.
21

Frank, Kenneth
HB/C
Sr.
30

Gajus, Michael
HB
Sr.
53

Galvin, Thomas
C/H
Jr.
41

Geiger, Kevin
FB/H
Jr.
40

Grote, Mark
FB/LB
Jr.
63

Heffernan, Joseph
G
Sr.
50

Hollstegge, Michael
C/DE
Jr.
81

Hudepohl, David
E
Sr.
68

Janszen, Paul
E
Jr.
61

Johnson, Craig
G/H
Sr.
22

Jump, James
HB/C
Jr.
69

Lawson, Mark
G/T
Sr.
85

Leonard, Kurt
E
Sr.
88

Meyer, Daniel
E/H
Sr.
86

Meyer, Thomas
E
Jr.
82

Meyers, Gregory
E
Jr.
78

Mulligan, Michael
T
Sr.
52

Murray, Michael P.
C/LB
Sr.
74

Murray, Timothy
T
Jr.
23

Napolitano, Gary
FL/C
Jr.
17

Plageman, Robert
QB/C
Jr.
87

Pucke, Steven
E
Sr.
33

Reilly, Kevin
FL/C
Jr.
72

Rice, Daniel
T
Jr.
15

Ritter, Thomas
FL/C
Jr.
42

Rosenberger, Michael
FB/LB
Jr.
77

Rozycki, Chris
T
Sr.
31

Sagers, Robert
HB/C
Jr.
65

Soudrette, John
G/LB
Sr.
80

Stemler, William
E/H
Jr.
70

Streicher, John
T
Jr.
20

Thomas, Gary
FL/S
Jr.
24

Tschofen, John
HB/C
Sr.
64

Vater, David
G/H
Sr.
60

Wahl, Dale
G/LB
Jr.
18

Wanner, Thomas
QB/S
Sr.
73

Willing, Nicholas
T
Jr.

No. of Players
48
 

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