Elder Panther Football - 1996

Front Row (l-r): Tri-Captains Jason Ott, Marty Priore, Adam Ryan. Second Row: Jeff Aull, John Rieder, Ryan McKenna, Pat Eagan, Todd Richardson, Mike Graber, Dave Reid, Brian Bachman, Nick Goettke, Dave Catanzaro, Casey Miller. Third Row: Mark Sellet, Brandon Sowers, Matt Hambleton, Nick McDonald, John Schroer, Dale Krauser, Joe Bianco, Matt Manion, Greg Brauntz, Mike Mullen, Andrew Brodbeck. Fourth Row: Mark Becker, Jack Noppert, Mike Radel, Shaun Hambrick, Dan DeFranco, Kevin Burger, Jay Stephens, Tony Herman, Marc Christopfel, Nik Buckmeier. Fifth Row: Adam Bender, Jeff McNamee, Kurt Feilhauer, Bill Welch, Jim Doogan, Joe Morano, Nick Nicastro, Rob Schroeder, Dan Lubrecht, Mike Morehead, Dave Jostworth. Sixth Row: Josh Becker, Mike Dellecave, Tim Mielke, Nick Schutte, Sean Brogan, Mark Schulter, Hank Hofmeyer, Brian Minges, Steve Bain, Chris Riggs, Manager John McKiernan. Seventh Row: Managers Dan Sullivan and Tom Woosley, Mark Oliver, Josh Cain, Matt Theobald, Joe Grahl, Dan Stricker, Mike Herr, Nick Roos, Tim Maley, Ed Soloria. Eighth Row: Coaches Ken Lanzillotta, Doug Ramsey, Ennis Jim, Tom Grippa, Pat Nienaber, Ray Heidorn, Lou Grippa, Pat Good.

 

REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 9-1

Game #
Date
Opponent
Site
Score
W/L
Record
1
8/30/96
Middletown
A
43-13
W
1-0
2
9/6/96
Toledo St. John's
A
16-14
L
1-1
3
9/13/96
Western Hills
A
34-7
W
2-1
4
9/20/96
Withrow
H
43-20
W
3-1
5
9/27/96
Moeller
A
32-30
W
4-1
6
10/4/96
St. Xavier
H
28-7
W
5-1
7
10/11/96
La Salle
H
28-7
W
6-1
8
10/18/96
Purcell-Marian
H
42-21
W
7-1
9
10/25/96
Lakewood St. Edward
H
23-7
W
8-1
10
11/1/96
Oak Hills
H
34-14
W
9-1
 

Playoffs

 
1
11/8/96
Anderson
UC
24-6
W
10-1
2
11/16/96
Moeller
UC
27-21
W
11-1
3
11/23/96
Lima Senior
UD
21-14
L
11-2

Head Coach : Tom Grippa (Career Record: 84-23)

Captains: Jason Ott, Adam Ryan, Marty Priore

 

Final GCL-S Standings
Overall
League

1. ELDER
11-2
3-0

2. Moeller
8-2
2-1

3. La Salle
5-5
1-2

4. St. Xavier
2-7
0-3
 

Season Highlights: Adam Ryan, who had played defensive back as a junior, returned as the Panthers' quarterback, and was named a Tri-Captain along with linebacker Jason Ott and offensive lineman Marty Priore. The Panthers began the 1996 season with a desire to avenge their premature exit from the playoffs the season before.

For the fourth consecutive season, the schedule began with Middletown, this year at the Middies' home field. Adam Ryan led the Panthers to a dominating 43-13 win, passing for 219 yards and 3 TDs. Pat Eagan had 2 TD receptions; Joe Morano had the third. Ryan and Nick Papania added touchdowns rushing. Mark Becker contributed a TD on a 16-yard fumble return. Dan DeFranco continued as kicker and kicked 5 PATs, while Brian Bachman added a conversion. The Middies were held to 154 total yards, while the Panthers picked up 333. Brandon Sowers reinjured his knee in the first quarter and was forced out of the game.

For Game 2, the Panthers traveled to Toledo for their first-ever meeting with St. John's. Elder held the lead after the first quarter, 7-3, following a 6-yard Ryan-to-Eagan TD pass, and 14-10 at the end of the third quarter, on an 11-yard Ryan-to-Dan Stricker TD pass, but couldn't hold on, as the Titans scored late in the game and intercepted a Panther pass on the team's final drive. Brian Bachman and Mike Morehead had interceptions in the 16-14 defeat.

The Panthers continued their mastery over the Mustangs, 34-7. Adam Ryan was 17-for-20 for 205 yards and 3 touchdowns. Pat Eagan had 2 TD receptions and a conversion, and Joe Morano had 1 TD reception. Nick Papania and Mark Sellet tallied on the ground, and Dan DeFranco added 2 PATs. The defense limited the Mustangs to 4 yards passing, and had 2 fumble recoveries and 2 interceptions on the night.

Adam Ryan kicked the passing game into high gear against Withrow, throwing for 321 yards and 5 touchdowns in the 43-20 win. Pat Eagan had 9 receptions for 136 yards and 2 TDs, while Dan Stricker had 7 receptions for 149 yards and 2 TDs. Todd Richardson scored his first TD on a 16-yard pass. Mark Sellet added a 2-yard rushing TD, and Greg Brauntz (filling in admirably for the injured DeFranco) kicked 4 PATs and a 24-yard field goal. The defense had another strong game, behind two fumble recoveries by Mark Becker and Mike Morehead, and an interception by Dale Krauser.

Game 5 against Moeller (4-0) at Galbreath Field began in a torrential downpour. Following two TDs by both teams, the game was halted when lightning was seen with under 5 minutes left in the first half. Elder's scores came on a 1-yard Ryan run and a 10-yard Ryan-to-Eagan pass, followed by a PAT by the returning Dan DeFranco. Brandon Sowers also returned from his earlier injury to lead the ground attack. The game was eventually postponed and resumed the following evening. Shortly after resuming the game, Moeller took a 16-13 half-time lead on a 34-yard field goal. Following the intermission, the Panthers surged back in front, 19-16, on a 30-yard TD pass to Dan Stricker. Moeller then retook the lead, 23-19, on a 69-yard TD run and a successful PAT. Elder then scored twice more before the end of the third quarter, on a 13-yard pass to Stricker, followed by a DeFranco PAT, and a 1-yard run by Sowers, to lead 32-23. With under two minutes left, Moeller responded with another touchdown and PAT to close the gap to 32-30. The Crusaders successfully recovered the onside kick and began a drive to take the lead, but a Jason Ott interception ended the drive, and the Panthers sealed the victory. Leading ground gainer in the marathon was Brandon Sowers, with 32 carries for 165 yards; leading receiver was Dan Stricker, with 8 catches for 147 yards.

In Game 6, the Panthers hosted the Bombers of St. Xavier. Elder controlled the game from the outset, and took the contest, 28-7. The Panther defense kept the Bombers off the board until the fourth quarter, aided by three Bomber fumbles (two of which were recovered by Mark Becker and the third by Nick Nicastro) and one interception (by Mike Morehead). Sowers and Ryan scored rushing TDs, and Eagan and Stricker added TD receptions from Ryan. DeFranco's 4 PATs finished the scoring. Pat Eagan had 9 receptions for 128 yards to lead the receivers.

The Panthers picked up another 28-7 victory the following week over the La Salle Lancers. Ryan passed for 249 yards, 134 to Pat Eagan on 8 receptions, and 112 to Dan Stricker on 5 receptions. Three of Stricker's receptions led to TDs, one of Eagan's led to six points, and each score was followed by DeFranco's successful PAT. Jason Ott recovered a fumble and Mike Morehead intercepted another pass to aid the cause. The win gave the Panthers a 3-0 record in the GCL and the league title. (Games with GCL-North teams were no longer counted in the league standings.)

Purcell-Marian then visited the Pit, and the Panthers doubled up on the Cavaliers, 42-21. The offense went wild, picking up 423 total yards, 271 passing and 157 rushing. Ryan again passed for 5 touchdowns: two to Eagan, and one each to Stricker, Sowers, and Nick Roos. Sowers added a TD rushing, and Eagan's conversion along with DeFranco's 4 PATs totaled to 42 points. Ryan McKenna contributed an interception, followed by a 16-yard return.

The 7-1 Panthers then hosted the Lakewood St. Edward Eagles, who were 8-0 and ranked #2 in the state. The game was broadcast on statewide cable TV as the battle of the North vs. South Ohio Football. Elder scored first, on a 10-yard pass from Ryan, and DeFranco added the PAT. St. Ed's responded to tie the score. Before half-time, the Panthers scored again on a 7-yard TD pass from Ryan to Stricker, making the half-time score, 13-7, Elder. Elder's defense, along with Stricker's outstanding punting, kept the Eagles out of the end zone, and DeFranco's 30-yard field goal and another TD pass from Ryan to Eagan with a DeFranco PAT combined to give Elder the victory, 23-7. Ryan's three TD passes in the game gave him 30 on the season and broke the old school record of 29, set by Steve Keller in 1988. Eagan picked up 143 yards receiving in the game.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Panthers scored 3 TDs in the second and 2 more in the third to top the Oak Hills Highlanders, 34-14. Ryan added to his record total with 4 more TD passes, one each to Morano, Eagan, Sowers, and Roos. Sowers added a rushing score, and DeFranco added four PATs. Ed Soloria and Mike Morehead picked off Highlander passes, as the Panthers' regular season record ended at 9-1 and they looked ahead to the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

Elder was voted City Champions, and ranked sixth in the state at the end of the season. The Panthers were placed first in the Region 4 Harbins, followed by Moeller, Sycamore and Anderson. The Panthers faced the Anderson Redskins in the regional semi-final at UC's Nippert Stadium. A perfect bounce of a Redskin fumble was picked up by Matt Hambleton and he rumbled 73 yards for the only touchdown in the first half. Following DeFranco's PAT, the Panthers held the lead 7-0, a lead which grew to 10-0 in the third quarter on DeFranco's 26-yard field goal. The Redskins scored two plays later, on an 82-yard TD run. The Panthers responded with two fourth quarter scores, on TD passes to Stricker and Sowers, and the Purple and White won only the second playoff game in the school's history, 24-6.

Moeller defeated Sycamore, 31-7, in the other regional semi-final, so the Panthers and Crusaders met again in the regional final, back at Nippert Stadium. Before about 18,000 people, the passing-centered Panther offense turned to the rushing game, and Brandon Sowers was ready, picking up 212 yards and 3 touchdowns on 33 carries. Elder led at the half, 12-6, on two Sowers TDs, and 20-6 at the end of three quarters, following a Ryan TD pass to Stricker, and a Ryan conversion run. Sowers scored his third TD early in the fourth and, with the score 27-6 and under 7 minutes left, it looked like the game was over. But Moeller was not finished. The Crusaders scored 15 points in the last 5 minutes, and were driving for the tying touchdown when a Crusader fumble on the 3-yard line, on what looked like a sure touchdown, was recovered by Nick Nicastro and Ryan McKenna and the Panthers held on for the win, 27-21. Elder was regional champs for the first time, and headed for Dayton and their first state semi-final game.

The 11-1 Lima Senior Spartans would be the Panthers' opponents in the game. The Spartans launched a blitzing defense which sacked Adam Ryan six times. He completed only 16 of 41 pass attempts for 191 yards and two TDs. Held scoreless in the first half, the Panthers trailed 11-0 in the third quarter when Ryan hit Dan Stricker with a 6-yard scoring pass, followed by a conversion pass to Eagan. The Panthers were in the game, now down, 11-8. Lima kicked a 41-yard field goal to increase their lead to 14-8. With 3:41 remaining in the game, the Panthers tied the game on a 31-yard TD pass from Ryan to Sowers and a missed extra point. Seconds later, however, the Spartans scored on a 72-yard pass. The PAT made the score Lima 21, Elder 14. Elder began driving to attempt to score again, but the Spartans' defense held. (Lima went on to win the state championship game over Cleveland St. Ignatius, 38-30.)

Pat Eagan was the team's scoring leader during the regular season with 100 points on 16 touchdowns and two conversions. Adam Ryan passed for 2249 yards (just shy of Steve Keller's school record of 2254) and 34 TDs (which set a new school record). Brandon Sowers was the leading rusher, with 152 carries for 657 yards and 4 TDs. Pat Eagan was the leading receiver, with 70 receptions (a new school record) for 1006 yards (just under John Miller's 1022 yards in 1992). Dan Stricker added 45 receptions for 824 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The team scored 321 points on the season, nearly reaching the school record of 334 set in 1977. The defense limited the opposition to 142 points. Jason Ott led the defense with 137 tackles, 10 sacks, and 2 fumble recoveries. Nick Nicastro had 103 tackles, 15 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery. Mark Becker had 91 tackles, 1 sack, 4 fumble recoveries and 1 interception, and Dale Krauser had 90 tackles, 5 sacks, and 1 interception. Mike Morehead led the team with 7 interceptions, which tied the school record for a season.

Jason Ott and Adam Ryan shared the team Most Valuable Player award. First-team All-GCL honors went to Marty Priore, Pat Eagan, Dan Stricker, Brandon Sowers, and Adam Ryan on offense, and Nick Nicastro, Todd Richardson, Jason Ott, and Mike Morehead on defense. Nick Schutte was named a GCL Academic All-Star, Nicastro was named GCL Defensive Lineman of the Year, Stricker was named GCL Punter of the Year, Adam Ryan was named GCL Player of the Year, and Coach Tom Grippa was named GCL Coach of the Year.

The Cincinnati Enquirer named Priore, Eagan, Stricker, and Nicastro as first-team All-Stars. The Post gave first-team honors to Ryan, Priore, Eagan, and Stricker on offense, and Ott and Morehead on defense. Both papers named Ryan as Offensive Player of the Year, Ott as Defensive Player of the Year, and Coach Grippa as Coach of the Year.

All-District and All-Ohio honors went to Eagan and Ryan on offense and Ott on defense; again, Ryan and Ott were named Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively, in both the southwest district and the state of Ohio. Ott was also named to the Parade Magazine All-American High School Team. (Jason Ott went on to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes; Adam Ryan for Wilmington College. Marty Priore, as a 6-foot-1, 284-pound junior guard for Furman University, was named first-team All-American in NCAA Division I-AA in 2000.)

 

Team Roster

Number

Name
Position
Class
40

Aull, Jeff
WR
Jr.
22

Bachman, Brian
DB
Sr.
87

Bain, Steve
WR
Jr.
41

Becker, Josh
WR
Jr.
35

Becker, Mark
LB
Sr.
30

Bender, Adam
DB
Jr.
28

Bianco, Joe
DB
Sr.
23

Brauntz, Greg
DB
Jr.
19

Brodbeck, Andrew
DB
Jr.
59

Brogan, Sean
OL
Sr.
70

Buckmeier, Nik
DL
Jr.
10

Burger, Kevin
DB
Jr.
74

Cain, Josh
OL
Jr.
78

Catanzaro, Dave
OL
Sr.
79

Christopfel, Marc
OL
Jr.
5

DeFranco, Dan
PK
Jr.
38

Dellecave, Mike
DB
Sr.
64

Doogan, Jim
OL
Sr.
1

Eagan, Pat
WR
Sr.
71

Feilhauer, Kurt
OL
Sr.
18

Glacken, Matt
QB
Soph.
77

Goettke, Nick
OL
Sr.
51

Graber, Mike
OL
Sr.
96

Grahl, Joe
DL
Jr.
24

Hambleton, Matt
DB
Jr.
98

Hambrick, Shawn
DL
Jr.
94

Hammonds, James
LB
Jr.
73

Harper, Dave
OL
Soph.
45

Herman, Tony
FB
Jr.
99

Herr, Mike
DE
Sr.
81

Hofmeyer, Hank
OL
Sr.
95

Jostworth, Dave
LB
Jr.
20

Kramer, Ryan
RB
Jr.
44

Krauser, Dale
DB
Jr.
60

Lubrecht, Dan
OL
Jr.
54

Maley, Tim
OL
Jr.
3

Manion, Matt
DB
Jr.
91

McDonald, Nick
DL
Jr.
13

McKenna, Ryan
WR
Sr.
37

McNamee, Jeff
WR
Sr.
48

Mielke, Tim
FB/LB
Jr.
42

Miller, Casey
FB
Sr.
53

Minges, Brian
OL
Jr.
4

Morano, Joe
WR
Sr.
2

Morehead, Mike
DB
Jr.
9

Mullen, Mike
WR
Jr.
29

Nicastro, Nick
DB
Sr.
72

Noll, Bill
DL
Soph.
26

Noppert, Jack
DB
Jr.
75

Oliver, Mark
OL
Jr.
33

Ott, Jason
LB
Sr.
32

Papania, Nick
RB
Soph.
55

Priore, Marty
OL
Sr.
43

Radel, Mike
FB
Jr.
84

Rauen, Nick
TE
Soph.
36

Reid, David
DB
Sr.
85

Richardson, Todd
DE
Sr.
25

Rieder, John
DB
Jr.
88

Roos, Nick
TE
Jr.
46

Rushford, Ken
LB
Soph.
12

Ryan, Adam
QB
Sr.
63

Schroeder, Rob
OL
Jr.
15

Schroer, John
DB
Sr.
6

Schroer, Will
WR
Soph.
57

Schulter, Mark
OL
Sr.
97

Schutte, Nick
DL
Sr.
47

Sellet, Mark
RB
Jr.
14

Soloria, Ed
QB
Jr.
21

Sowers, Brandon
RB
Sr.
62

Stephens, Jay
OL
Sr.
80

Stricker, Dan
WR
Jr.
82

Theobald, Matt
WR
Sr.
31

Welch, Bill
WR
Sr.

No. of Players
73
 

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