Elder Panther Football - 1987

REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 7-3

 
Game #
Date
Opponent
Site
Score
W/L
Record
1
9/4/87
Woodward
H
28-0
W
1-0
2
9/11/87
Lima Senior
H
27-13
W
2-0
3
9/18/87
Western Hills
H
19-14
W
3-0
4
9/25/87
Alter
H
28-21
L
3-1
5
10/2/87
St. Xavier
A
27-21 (OT)
L
3-2
6
10/9/87
La Salle
A
10-7
W
4-2
7
10/16/87
Moeller
H
35-14
L
4-3
8
10/23/87
Roger Bacon
H
30-19
W
5-3
9
10/30/87
Oak Hills
H
18-7
W
6-3
10
11/6/87
Aiken
A
33-27 (3 OT)
W
7-3

Head Coach: Tom Grippa (Career Record: 7-3)

Captains: John Albers, Tom Bonhaus, Don Hilvert, Tom Meier 

 

Final GCL Standings
Overall
League

1. Moeller
7-3
4-0

2. St. Xavier
8-2
3-1

3. ELDER
7-3
2-2

4. Roger Bacon
4-6
1-3

5. La Salle
3-7
0-4

Season Highlights: Midway through the 1986 season, Coach John Owens announced his resignation as Head Coach, effective at the end of the season. Tom Grippa, a Reading High School graduate and assistant football coach at La Salle for six years, was chosen to succeed him. In his first season, Coach Grippa turned the team around, compiling a 7-3 record, and instilling a positive attitude about the future.

Quad-Captains Tom Bonhaus (linebacker), Don Hilvert (defensive lineman), John Albers (fullback), and Tom Meier (tailback) led the team to wins in their first three games. Against Woodward, the Panther defense took charge, with four fumble recoveries (by Doug Reddington, Jeff Singler, and two by Tom Bonhaus) and 2 interceptions (by John Junker and Paul Jostworth). Senior Scott Dattilo started at quarterback, but suffered a broken collarbone in the second quarter and was replaced by junior Steve Keller. Combined, the two passed for 283 yards and 3 TDs, two by Jeff Meier and one by Dennis Penderghast. Penderghast added another rushing TD; Brian Daugherty and Mike Enginger split the kicking duties as Daugherty kicked three PATs and Enginger one. Coach Grippa had his first win as Head Coach, 28-0.

Penderghast had his first 100-yard rushing game, as he carried 24 times for 106 yards and four touchdowns against Lima Senior. Grippa's former work as defensive coordinator shone again as his charges recovered three fumbles (Jim Hilvert, Singler, and Bonhaus) and 2 more interceptions (by Jim Yetter and Jostworth). The game was tied at 13 at half-time, but the Panthers turned it on and scored 2 TDs in the fourth quarter as they won going away, 27-13.

The Panthers were out to break Western Hills' two-game winning streak, and did so, 19-14. Keller passed for 3 TDs, to Tony Pedoto (24 yards), John Albers (2 yards), and Jeff Meier (39 yards). Bonhaus and Jay Gramke intercepted two Mustang passes; John Junker recovered a fumble. Undefeated at 3-0, the Panthers welcomed Alter to the Pit. Elder outgained the Knights 381-242 total yards; Keller passed for 310, hitting 20 of 30. But Alter jumped out early with 2 first-quarter scores and held on to win, 28-21. Junker and Brad Austing added interceptions to the defense's growing total, while E. J. Klumb caught 8 passes for 139 yards to lead the receivers.

Coach Grippa's first GCL clash was against St. Xavier, at their field. The Bombers were undefeated as the game began, and at the end of regulation the score stood 21-21. The Bombers had the ball first in overtime, and scored on their third play, but missed the extra point. The Panthers made one first down and charged the Bomber defensive line in four attempts to score, but the St. Xavier line held, and Elder lost its first GCL game of the season, 27-21.

Brian Daugherty's 27-yd field goal in the fourth quarter provided the winning margin over La Salle, 10-7. The defense shutout the Lancers for three quarters; Bonhaus' fumble recovery and Junker's interception led the effort. The Crusaders opened the season at 0-2 but won the next 4, and entered the Elder game at 4-2, a record identical to that of the Panthers. The teams battled to a 14-14 tie at the half, but the Moeller defense eventually wore down the Elder line, sacking Steve Keller 5 times in the game, and won the battle, 35-14. The Crusaders' consecutive GCL win streak grew to 67 games.

The Panthers gained revenge the following week against the Roger Bacon Spartans, winning 30-19, upping their GCL record to 2-2 and their overall record to 5-3. The Panthers used a balanced attack, rushing for 177 yards (led by Penderghast's 138 yards and 2 TDs) and passing for 205 (led by Jeff Meier's 6 receptions for 86 yards and 2 TDs). Brian Daugherty kicked a 21-yard field goal and 3 PATs. Against the Oak Hills Highlanders in Game 9, the rushing game led the way, with 259 yards gained. Dennis Penderghast had his best game gaining 186 yards and scoring one touchdown. Steve Keller passed for only 59 yards and 1 touchdown (to E. J. Klumb), but they were enough to give him 1672 yards for the season with one game left, passing Scott Moeschl's school record of 1622 set in 1977.

The last game of the season, against Aiken, turned out to be a three-overtime marathon. Tied at the end of regulation at 27-27, the teams battled through the first two overtimes without scoring. Finally, Steve Keller rushed 10 yards for the Panther TD to win the game in the third overtime, 33-27. Keller passed for 369 yards in the game, setting the new school season-passing record at 2042 yards. The defense played a major part in the victory, recovering 6 Falcon fumbles (by Gramke, Jim Hilvert, Tony Acito, and 3 by Tom Bonhaus, tying the school's individual record) and 2 interceptions (by Austing and Bonhaus), as did Jeff Meier, who caught 11 passes for 219 yards and 2 TDs.

Dennis Penderghast led the team scoring for the season with 13 touchdowns and 78 points. Jeff Meier finished with 9 TDs and 54 points; kicker Brian Daugherty was third with 23 PATs and 3 field goals. For the receivers, E. J. Klumb caught 38 passes for 731 yards, while Jeff Meier caught 46 passes for 692 yards. Penderghast totaled 900 yards rushing for the season, on 191 carries. Tom Bonhaus anchored the defense, with 237 tackle points, 3 sacks and 6 fumble recoveries. Don Hilvert totaled 189 tackle points, 8 sacks and 1 fumble recovery; Jim Hilvert had 185 tackle points and 2 fumble recoveries; and Matt Klusman ended the season with 184 tackle points, 7 sacks and 1 fumble recovery.

The Princeton Vikings, who finished the regular season at 9-1, and St. Xavier (8-2) squared off in the first round of the tournament. The Vikings shutout the Bombers, 28-0. Princeton then went on to defeat Gahanna Lincoln (35-14), Toledo Whitmer (55-6) and Boardman (14-7) to win the state championship.

 

HONORS
SWOFCA ALL-DISTRICT ALL-STAR TEAM
Honorable Mention
Steve Keller, E. J. Klumb
CINCINNATI ENQUIRER ALL-CITY ALL-STAR TEAM
Honorable Mention
Steve Keller, E. J. Klumb, Jeff Meier, Scott Tate, Dennis Penderghast, Don Hilvert, Tom Bonhaus
CINCINNATI POST ALL-METRO ALL-STAR TEAM
First Team Offense
Jeff Meier
Honorable Mention
Steve Keller, E. J. Klumb, Scott Tate, Steve Fieler, Don Hilvert, Tom Bonhaus, Matt Klusman
G.C.L. ALL-STAR TEAM
First Team Offense
Scott Tate, Mike Fieler
Second Team Offense
John Albers
First Team Defense
Don Hilvert, Matt Klusman, Tom Bonhaus
Second Team Defense
Doug Reddington, Jeff Singler, Jay Gramke
Honorable Mention
Chris Pitchford, Tony Acito
Lineman of the Year
Don Hilvert
TEAM AWARDS
Most Valuable Player
Steve Keller
Best Offensive Lineman
---
Best Defensive Lineman
Don Hilvert
Best Offensive Back
Dennis Penderghast
Best Defensive Back
Jim Hilvert, Jeff Singler
Best Receiver
Jeff Meier
Most Improved Player
Mike Wills
Mr. Panther
Pat Crotty
Mr. Z. I. P.
John Albers

 

Team Roster

Number

Name
Position
Class
65

Acito, Tony
FB
Sr.
44

Albers, John
E
Sr.
56

Austing, Brad
LB
Jr.
22

Bacher, Bob
LB
Jr.
9

Bohan, Brian
FL
Sr.
95

Bonhaus, Tom
LB
Sr.
52

Bono, Rick
LB
Jr.
76

Busche, Ray
OG
Jr.
34

Collins, Scott
DB
Jr.
21

Conte, Chris
RB
Jr.
19

Crotty, Pat
FL
Sr.
15

Dattilo, Scott
QB
Sr.
4

Daugherty, Brian
K
Jr.
35

Enginger, Mike
K
Jr.
73

Fieler, Mike
G
Sr.
33

Fischesser, Rob
FB
Sr.
75

Flowers, Chris
OT
Jr.
58

Freeman, Paul
DT
Jr.
71

Glines, John
DT
Sr.
42

Gramke, Jay
LB
Sr.
8

Grawe, Mark
SE
Sr.
31

Groh, Jim
NG
Jr.
5

Hanavan, Mark
E
Sr.
79

Hanavan, Rob
E
Sr.
51

Hardman, Mike
DT
Sr.
88

Harmeyer, Greg
LB
Soph.
16

Hensler, Mike
QB
Jr.
64

Hilvert, Don
DT
Sr.
30

Hilvert, Jim
DB
Jr.
20

Hogue, Mike
TB
Sr.
83

Illing, Kevin
E
Jr.
86

Jostworth, Paul
DE
Jr.
84

Junker, John
DE
Jr.
18

Keller, Steve
QB
Jr.
66

Kelley, Bill
NG
Jr.
81

Klumb, E.J.
WR
Jr.
41

Klusman, Matt
E
Sr.
6

Lohmiller, Frank
WR
Jr.
50

Luthy, Walt
DT
Jr.
36

Meier, Jeff
WR
Jr.
23

Meier, Tom
TB
Sr.
78

Morano, Tony
DT
Sr.
61

Murphy, Bill
C
Sr.
28

Neidich, Scott
RB
Jr.
80

Nie, Joe
WR
Jr.
85

Pedoto, Tony
TE
Jr.
43

Penderghast, Dennis
RB
Jr.
62

Pitchford, Chris
G
Sr.
70

Pohlman, Steve
G
Jr.
69

Reddington, Doug
DT
Sr.
72

Rippy, Rich
OT
Jr.
45

Robbe, Jay
FL
Sr.
87

Rohe, Bill
TE
Sr.
91

Roll, Jeff
DE
Jr.
25

Ruwan, Tom
FB
Sr.
32

Singler, Jeff
DB
Sr.
89

Smith, Jeff
FL
Sr.
82

Steins, Rick
FL
Sr.
53

Tate, Scott
DT
Sr.
54

Tompkins, Steve
DE
Jr.
67

Weisker, Brian
OG
Soph.
17

Werle, Phil
DB
Sr.
90

Wieczorkowski, Jeff
DE
Sr.
60

Wilhelm, Greg
OT
Jr.
3

Wills, Mike
FB
Sr.
40

Wischer, Matt
FB
Sr.
24

Yetter, Jim
RB
Jr.

No. of Players
67
 

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