REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 9-1
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REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 9-1
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Playoffs
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Head Coach: Tom Grippa (Career Record: 17-5)
Captains: Steve Keller, Brad Austing, Ray Busche, Jim Hilvert
Final GCL Standings
1.
ELDER 2. Moeller 3. St. Xavier 3. Roger Bacon 3. La Salle
Season Highlights: With an enthusiastic winning coach, a record-setting quarterback in charge of the offense, and a tough, disciplined defense, all the pieces were in place for the 1988 Panthers to lead their spirited fans into the playoffs for the first time in school history. Elder had been left out of the playoff wars for 15 years, and had watched the Moeller Crusaders go undefeated in the GCL for 15 seasons. The 1972 Panthers had been the last GCL team to beat the Crusaders, and it only seemed fitting that it should be an Elder team to break Moeller's league winning streak of 70 games.
The season opened with an outstanding win over Woodward, 41-0. Steve Keller passed for 165 yards and 4 touchdowns. Jeff Meier had 7 receptions for 125 yards and 3 scores. Dennis Penderghast led the ground game with 86 yards and 1 TD. Junior Joe Huber added a TD reception from Keller. Rob Paff entered the game at QB, and threw one pass for 37 yards and a TD to Tony Pedoto. Mike Enginger kicked 3 PATs and Brian Daugherty kicked 2. The defense contributed four interceptions, by Jim Hilvert, Scott Collins, Jeff Weber, and Frank Lohmiller.
Game 2 was a tougher test for the Panthers, on the road against Lima Senior. The Panthers led at half-time, 14-6, and held off the Spartans behind 3 fumble recoveries (by Greg Harmeyer, Paul Jostworth and Frank Lohmiller), and a Jim Yetter interception to win, 28-20. Keller passed for 202 yards and 4 touchdowns, with E. J. Klumb leading the receivers with 94 yards and 2 TDs. Dennis Penderghast had 19 carries for 100 yards, and caught only one pass, but it was a beauty: an 83-yard TD bomb from Keller. Jeff Meier added another TD to the total; Brian Daugherty kicked 4 PATs.
Against Western Hills in Game 3, the Panthers led all the way. With 14 points in the first quarter, the game was never in doubt, and the final score was 30-7. Keller and Paff totaled 283 yards through the air; E. J. Klumb had 6 receptions for 175 yards, setting a school record for average yards per reception in a game, a record he would break later in the season. Jeff Meier caught a 3-yard scoring pass from Keller, and Scott Neidich caught his first TD pass of the season, an 11-yard toss, also from Keller. Brian Daugherty's 30-yard field goal and Mike Enginger's 3 PATs completed the scoring.
In Game 4, the Panthers faced the defending state champions, the Princeton Vikings, for only the second time in school history. (Princeton beat Elder, 28-20, in 1979.) Both teams were undefeated at 3-0, and for the Panthers it was a test to see if they were ready to move into the "elite" ranks of Cincinnati football. Elder scored first, on a 1-yard run from Dennis Penderghast. Following Daugherty's successful PAT, the Vikings drove 49 yards in four plays to tie the game. The Panthers responded with another score, on a 7-yard pass from Keller to Penderghast. The Vikings scored again before the half to tie the game at 14. Elder scored first in the second half, again on a Dennis Penderghast run; Daugherty's kick was again good. Score: Elder 21, Princeton 14. Princeton tied the game again, and Elder took the lead shortly thereafter, on a TD pass from Keller to Klumb. But this time the extra point was blocked, and that proved to be the difference, when, with under 3 minutes remaining in the game, Princeton scored a touchdown and kicked the PAT to take the lead for good, 28-27. Although Elder lost the game, the Panthers won the statistical battle, outgaining the Vikings 380 to 275, with 280 yards passing (125 yards to Meier and 112 to Penderghast) and 107 rushing (Penderghast finished with 94). The Panthers didn't know it at the time, but it would not be the last time they would meet the Vikings before their season was over.
In Game 5, the Panthers dominated the Bombers, 38-6, scoring 24 points in the first half while keeping St. Xavier off the scoreboard. Penderghast rushed for 3 TDs, Meier scored on a 10-yard pass from Keller, and Jim Yetter returned a Bomber fumble 27 yards for a score. Brian Daugherty contributed 5 PATs and a 25-yard field goal. The defensive effort was also a highlight: Paul Jostworth had 5 sacks, and Collins, Austing, and Yetter contributed interceptions.
Against La Salle, the Panthers racked up 489 total yards and held the Lancers to 162, as they won their 5th game, 41-6. Penderghast picked up 134 yards on the ground; Jeff Meier led the receivers with 151 receiving yards. Meier and Huber contributed two TDs each, and single scores were tallied by Klumb and Kevin Martin. Pedoto's 2-point conversion, Daugherty's 2 PATs and Enginger's single extra point rounded out the scoring.
For Game 7, the Panthers headed for Galbreath Field, and the overflow crowd of about 12,000 was filled with anticipation. Moeller took a 2 touchdown lead and the Panther fans wondered if history would repeat itself. But the Panthers battled back, tying the game 14-14 at the half, on a 6-yard TD run from Penderghast and an 11-yard TD pass from Keller to Meier. Moeller opened the second half with a TD. Elder responded with 2 scores, on Keller's long scoring passes to Penderghast (31 yards) and Meier (47 yards). Elder was in the lead for the first time, 28-21, with 5:21 left in the third quarter. Moeller then scored twice, but missed a PAT attempt and a conversion run, making the score 33-28. A six-yard scoring pass from Keller to Meier and a conversion pass, also from Keller to Meier, put the Panthers back up, 36-33, with 4:21 to play. Moeller started their drive for a TD, but with 2:27 left, Brad Austing picked off a Moeller pass and Elder ran out the clock to win the game.
The streak of 70 straight GCL wins for Moeller was over, and their run of 15 consecutive league championships was in jeopardy. But the Panthers needed one more win over Roger Bacon to take the title. The defense rose to the occasion, holding the Spartans to -1 yard rushing and 76 total yards, with 3 interceptions (by Yetter, Junker, and Collins). The offense picked up 30 points, 21 in the third quarter, to win 30-0. The game clinched the Panthers first league championship since 1972.
But the dream season was not over. Two more games stood between the Panthers and their first chance to make the playoffs. First up was Oak Hills, but it wouldn't be easy. Oak Hills held the lead at half-time, 7-6, but 15 points in the second half were too much for the Scots, and they fell, 21-14. Penderghast carried for 151 yards and had 57 yards through the air, scoring 1 TD on a 50-yard run. Joe Huber added a 35-yard rushing TD, and the third TD came on a 25-yard Keller-to-Klumb pass.
Game 10 was against Aiken. Keller matched a 53-year-old school record and threw 5 TD passes, as the Panthers won, 33-0. The defense was unstoppable, holding the Falcons to -1 yard in total offense. Three of Keller's TD passes went to Klumb, two to Meier. Following the game, the Enquirer Coaches Board voted the Elder Panthers as City Champions, for the first time since the undefeated team of 1954. (Moeller, Princeton, and Elder all carried 9-1 records; during the season, Moeller had beaten Princeton, Elder defeated Moeller, and Princeton defeated Elder, so all three teams had staked a claim for the title.)
When the Harbin ratings were calculated, Elder finished second to Princeton, Moeller was third and Huber Heights Wayne was fourth. Elder was match to play arch-rival Moeller in the regional semi-final, the Panthers' first visit to the playoffs. The Crusaders and Panthers met at Welcome Stadium in Dayton; Elder wanted a repeat of the season's first meeting between the two teams, Moeller wanted revenge. A crowd of 10,500 watched the Panthers prove that their earlier win was no fluke as they defeated Moeller, 24-14. The Panthers jumped to an early 14-0 lead on a Dennis Penderghast 7-yard TD run, Scott Collins' 48-yard interception return for a TD, and Brian Daugherty's 2 PATs. That lead lasted until early in the second half, when Moeller scored with 6:51 left in the third period. E. J. Klumb responded with a 28-yard TD reception from Keller, to put the Panthers in front, 21-7. The teams exchanged interceptions, and Moeller scored again with 6:53 to play, making the score 21-14. Elder drove to the Moeller 34 and Brian Daugherty kicked a field goal to make the score 24-14 with 3:07 left. Moeller's attempt to score was stopped by Collins' third interception with 1:10 left, and the Panthers killed off the remaining time to win their first playoff game. Klumb caught 5 passes for 199 yards, setting the school record for average yards receiving in a game.
The Princeton Vikings won their playoff game against Wayne handily, 43-13, so another rematch was in the offing for the Panthers. The teams again returned to Welcome Stadium, and a capacity crowd of about 12,000 filled the stands. Princeton's plan was to keep the pressure on Steve Keller, but in spite of their efforts, Keller passed for 295 yards on 15 completions out of 31 attempts. Jeff Meier was his primary target, picking up 189 yards on 8 receptions and 1 TD. The rushing game was virtually stopped, however, as the Panthers gained only 54 yards on the ground and 1 TD by Dennis Penderghast from 1 yard out. Princeton scored 4 TDs on 429 total yards of offense, and won the game, 28-14, ending the Panthers' first playoff run. (Princeton went on to defeat Westerville North, 35-12, in the state semi-final game, but was defeated in the championship game by Cleveland St. Ignatius, 10-7.)
The scoring leader during the regular season was Dennis Penderghast, with 15 TDs and 90 points. (He scored two more TDs in the playoffs.) Jeff Meier was close behind with 86 points, on 14 TDs and a conversion. (He scored 1 TD in the playoffs.) On the season Steve Keller passed for 2254 yards, setting the school's individual passing record for a season. (Blaine Jorg's 71 yards passing and Rob Paff's 9 yards through the air make the team record for a season 2334.) Keller completed 150 passes out of 246 attempts, throwing only 5 interceptions. Keller's 29 TD passes during the season not only set a new school record, but also broke the city record of 28 set in 1985. Dennis Penderghast led the team in rushing for the second consecutive year, with 904 yards in 164 carries. Jeff Meier was the leading receiver with 861 yards on 60 receptions. (Meier added 189 additional yards on 8 receptions during the playoffs.) Brad Austing was the team's leader in tackle points with 200, and he also had 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, and 2 interceptions. Jim Hilvert had 170 tackle points, 1 fumble recovery and 1 interception.
The 1988 Panthers hold or share the following team records: Most Wins (Regular Season) with 10; Most Touchdowns Passing in a Game with 5 (twice); Most Yards Passing in a Season with 2334; and Most Total Yards Gained in a Season with 3654. (Keller went on to play for the University of Dayton Flyers, led the team to a 10-0 season in 1991, and received the White-Allen Trophy in 1991 and '92 as their Most Valuable Player.)
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OHIO
STATE ALL-STAR TEAM
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First
Team
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Steve
Keller
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Second
Team
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Dennis
Penderghast
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ATLANTA TOUCHDOWN CLUB BOBBY DODD AWARD |
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Ohio Back of the Year |
Steve Keller |
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Special
Mention
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Jeff
Meier
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Honorable
Mention
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Brad
Austing, Jim Hilvert
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Back of the Year |
Steve Keller |
Co-Coach of the Year |
Tom Grippa |
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Special
Mention
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Chris
Flowers, Brian Daugherty, Jim Hilvert, Paul Jostworth, Brad Austing
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Honorable
Mention
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E.
J. Klumb, Kevin Illing, Scott Collins, Jim Vetter
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Player of the Year |
Steve Keller |
CINCINNATI
POST ALL-METRO ALL-STAR TEAM
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First
Team Offense
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Steve
Keller, Ray Busche, Jeff Meier, Dennis Penderghast, E. J. Klumb
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First
Team Defense
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Jim
Hilvert, Brad Austing, Kevin Illing
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Honorable
Mention
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Chris
Flowers, Brian Daugherty, Brian Weisker, Tony Pedoto, Scott Collins,
Jim Vetter
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Player of the Year |
Steve Keller |
Coach of the Year |
Tom Grippa |
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E.
J. Klumb
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Jim
Hilvert, Brad Austing, Kevin Illing
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Jim
Yetter, Paul Jostworth
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Honorable
Mention
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Jim
Groh, Scott Neidich, John Junker, Scott Collins, Brian Daugherty
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Player
of the Year
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Steve
Keller
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Joe
Quinn Scholar-Athlete Award
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Steve
Keller
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Best
Defensive Back
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Jim
Hilvert
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Best
Linebacker
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Brad
Austing
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Best
Receiver
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Jeff
Meier
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Most
Improved Player
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Kevin
Illing
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Mr.
Panther
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Dan
Driehaus, Jeff Taulbee
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Mr.
Z. I. P.
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Jim
Hilvert
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Special Teams Award |
Bill Kelley, Mike Hensler |
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Name |
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Aspinwall, Jason |
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Austing, Brad |
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Bacher, Bob |
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Baker, Doug |
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Beckenhaupt, Dan |
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Bonhaus, Matt |
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Bono, Rick |
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Brogan, Brian |
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Brogan, Mike |
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Busche, Ray |
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Cain, Jeff |
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Collins, Scott |
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Conners, Greg |
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Conte, Chris |
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Daugherty, Brian |
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Driehaus, Dan |
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Enginger, Mike |
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Ficker, Joe |
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Fieler, Steve |
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Flowers, Chris |
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Freeman, Paul |
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Grau, Tom |
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Groh, Jim |
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Grote, Doug |
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Harmeyer, Greg |
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Haussler, Mike |
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Hensler, Mike |
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Hilvert, Jim |
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Huber, Joe |
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Illing, Kevin |
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Jorg, Blaine |
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Jostworth, Paul |
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Junker, John |
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Keller, Steve |
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Kelley, Bill |
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Klumb, E.J. |
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Kock, Jeff |
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Lohmiller, Frank |
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Luthy, Walt |
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Lynd, Chris |
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Martin, Kevin |
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Mazzaro, Matt |
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Meier, Jeff |
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Merkle, Ray |
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Neidich, Scott |
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Nie, Joe |
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Otten, Paul |
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Paff, Rob |
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Pedoto, Tony |
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Penderghast, Dennis |
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Renneker, Ted |
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Rippy, Rich |
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Rohe, Dan |
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Roll, Jeff |
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Soldano, Chris |
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Taulbee, Jeff |
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Taylor, Nick |
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Tompkins, Steve |
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Unger, Chad |
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Vornhagen, Dan |
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Weber, Jeff |
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Weidner, Rick |
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Weisker, Brian |
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Wilhelm, Greg |
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Wills, Steve |
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Yetter, Jim |
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