Elder Panther Football - 1998

REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 7-3

 
Game #
Date
Opponent
Site
Score
W/L
Record
1
9/4/98
Fairfield
UC
22-13
W
1-0
2
9/11/98
Boone County
A
49-14
W
2-0
3
9/18/98
Western Hills
A
42-8
W
3-0
4
9/25/98
Withrow
H
43-6
W
4-0
5
10/2/98
St. Xavier
H
26-21
L
4-1
6
10/9/98
Moeller
Galbreath
20-14
L
4-2
7
10/16/98
Louisville Trinity
A
46-14
W
5-2
8
10/23/98
La Salle
H
46-27
W
6-2
9
10/31/98
Cleveland St. Ignatius
H
21-20 (OT)
L
6-3
10
11/6/98
Oak Hills
H
34-7
W
7-3

Head Coach : Doug Ramsey (Career Record: 15-5)

Captains: Matt Glacken, Kyle McKenna, Bill Noll, Mark Theobald

 

Final GCL Standings
Overall
League

1. St. Xavier
8-1
3-0

2. Moeller
7-3
2-1

3. ELDER
7-3
1-2

4. La Salle
3-7
0-3

Season Highlights: As Coach Doug Ramsey entered his second season as Head Coach of the Panthers, the big question was whether or not quarterback Matt Glacken could recover from his season-ending shoulder injury to direct the Panthers' offense. All fears were proved groundless, however, when Glacken shook off some early-game jitters to lead the team to a 22-13 win over the Fairfield Indians at Nippert Stadium. The Indians were led by former Elder Head Coach Tom Grippa. Junior running back Michael Dattilo led the offense, with 35 carries for 150 yards and 1 TD. But the defense carried the day, as the Panthers intercepted 5 Fairfield passes (2 by Andrew Dwyer) and junior Pat Brunner returned one pick 85 yards for a touchdown. Wide receiver Will Schroer also contributed a TD, and junior kicker Tom DeFranco added four points on a 35-yard field goal and 1 PAT.

For Game 2, the Panthers traveled to Boone County, Kentucky to face the 0-2 Rebels. Michael Dattilo again led the ground attack, with 13 carries for 104 yards and 2 TDs. Matt Glacken was near perfect through the air, completing 13 of 14 passes for 215 yards. Junior Joel Wainscott was on the receiving end of 6 of Glacken's passes, gaining 101 yards and scoring 2 TDs. The Panthers accumulated 438 total yards on their way to a 49-14 win. The defense held the Rebels to 329 yards, recovering four Boone County fumbles. Will Schroer added another TD reception and a 2-point conversion, sophomore running back Kyle Koester scored his first career TD, and Nick Brown picked up a TD when he recovered an Elder fumble in the end zone. Tom DeFranco hit on 5 of 7 PAT attempts.

The Elder scoring machine then journeyed up Glenway Avenue, to battle the Western Hills Mustangs. Kyle Koester, with 19 carries for 163 yards, and Bill Tiemeier, with 12 carries for 119 yards, led the ground game, which picked up a total of 314 of the team's 441 total yards. Koester scored three times, and Tiemeier once, while Will Schroer scored on an 8-yard Glacken aerial and a 2-point conversion. Linebacker Pat Brunner picked up his second score of the season, returning a Mustang fumble 5 yards for a TD. Tom DeFranco added 4 PATs to complete the 42-8 Panther victory, bringing the team's record to 3-0.

The Panthers hosted the Withrow Tigers for Game 4, and picked up a one-sided 43-6 victory, on a surprisingly low 237 total yards. Kyle Koester ran 11 times for 100 yards, and Joel Wainscott picked up 55 yards on 3 receptions to lead the air attack. Wainscott and Koester each scored twice, Schroer and Tiemeier added single TDs, and Tom DeFranco added 5 PATs. The Panthers also scored a safety, as the Tigers' center snapped the ball out of the end zone. Entering GCL play, the Panthers were 4-0.

The St. Xavier Bombers visited The Pit for Game 5, carrying a 3-1 record after having lost their season opener to Middletown, 27-23. The Panther defense held the Bombers to 239 yards total offense and 2 TDs, while Matt Glacken completed 19 of 24 passes for 225 yards and 2 TDs. Kyle Koester added 1 TD rushing, carrying the ball 21 times for 98 yards. But the St. Xavier kicker, senior Kevin Kerr, accounted for 14 points on 4 field goals (of 50, 42, 32, and 20 yards) and 2 PATs to give the Bombers the victory, 26-21. (Kerr was named MVP in the GCL and the Cincinnati Post's Division I Offensive Player of the Year at the end of the season. He kicked 20 field goals and scored 109 total points on the season.)

Having lost to upstate powers Warren Harding, 42-20, and Toledo St. Francis, 28-6, earlier in the season, Moeller hosted the Panthers at Galbreath Field sporting a 3-2 record in a must-win game for both teams. Elder took the lead early, 6-0 on a Matt Glacken 1-yard TD run. Moeller responded with a score in the second quarter and the teams entered the half with the Crusaders in the lead, 7-6. Moeller scored again in the third quarter, to go up 14-6, but the Panthers tied the score on a 3-yard TD run by Kyle Koester and a 1-point conversion pass from Glacken to Will Schroer. Field goals were again the culprit against the Panthers, as Michael Murphy kicked field goals of 24 and 36 yards, giving the Crusaders a 20-14 lead with 7:14 left in the game. Glacken drove the Panthers down the field for their final scoring attempt, but Elder was stopped on Moeller's 5-yard line, when a 4th-and-1 pass play into the end zone was knocked away.

After two tough losses to GCL rivals St. Xavier and Moeller, the Panthers rebounded over first-time opponent Louisville Trinity, trouncing the Shamrocks, 46-14. Matt Glacken passed for 255 yards, completing 18 of 25 and passing for 4 TDs. Will Schroer had 8 receptions for 113 yards and 3 TDs; Brian Currin added the fourth TD on a 28-yard reception. Michael Dattilo carried 14 times for 119 yards and 1 score; Kyle Koester and Bill Tiemeier added single TDs, with Tiemeier running 58 yards to paydirt.

The 5-2 Panthers next hosted the 3-4 La Salle Lancers; both teams were winless in the GCL so the battle lines were drawn with the winner finishing third in the league. The teams fought to a 14-14 tie after the first quarter, but the Panthers scored three unanswered TDs in the second period to pull away. The final score was 46-27, Elder. Schroer and Koester each contributed 2 TDs, with Wainscott, Glacken, and Currin adding single TDs. Matt Glacken passed for 265 yards and 4 TDs, completing 20 of 31.

The Panthers' faint playoff hopes rested on Game 9, against another first-time opponent, the Cleveland St. Ignatius Wildcats, who brought a 7-1 record and a No. 1 state ranking to the Pit. The Panthers led 14-7 at the half, on the strength of a 1-yard TD run by Kyle Koester, a 4-yard Glacken-to-Schroer TD pass, and a Glacken-to-Wainscott 2-point conversion pass. The Wildcats sent the game into overtime late in the 4th quarter, and scored first in overtime, adding a PAT to lead, 21-14. Elder scored on a 4th-down-and-2 TD pass to Will Schroer in their possession in OT, but the attempt to win the game on a 2-point conversion failed. Given three tries to convert due to pass interference penalties against St. Ignatius, the Panthers tried a run and were stopped at the goal line. Final score: St. Ignatius 21, Elder 20.

The traditional neighborhood rivalry between Oak Hills and Elder ended the season for both teams, held this year at The Pit. The Highlanders kept it close in the first quarter, scoring first and allowing Elder only 1 TD, on a 25-yard TD pass from Glacken to Brian Currin. But the Panther defense stiffened, and shutout the Scots the rest of the way, while the Panther offense added 3 single TDs by Wainscott, Schroer, and Koester. Dan Bachman returned a Highlander pass 18 yards for a score, and Tom DeFranco added 4 PATs, to give the Panthers a 34-7 victory. The team's 337 total points for the season eclipsed the former record of 334, held by the 1977 team.

The 1998 Panthers finished 7th in the Harbin rankings, behind St. Xavier, Colerain, Centerville, Winton Woods, Moeller, and Sycamore. St. Xavier won the regional title, defeating Winton Woods, 35-14, and Colerain, 42-14. The Bombers defeated Upper Arlington in the state semi-finals, 42-21, but were defeated in the state title game for the second time in as many appearances, 21-10, by Canton McKinley.

Senior wide receiver Will Schroer led the Panthers in scoring for the season, with 80 points on 12 TDs and 4 conversions. Sophomore Kyle Koester was a close second with 78 points on 13 TDs. Quarterback Matt Glacken passed for 1860 yards, completing 145 out of 209 passes, setting a new school record for completion percentage with 69.4%. Matt also led the city in TD passes with 23. Kyle Koester led the rushing attack with 149 carries for 862 yards; Will Schroer led the receivers with 63 receptions for 840 yards.

On the defensive side of the ball, junior Pat Brunner picked up the most tackles with 66, followed by Jim Collins with 61, and Mark Theobald and Ken Rushford with 49. Bill Noll had the most Tackles for Loss (9), followed by Scott Boeing (8) and Jim Collins and Pat McAtee (7). Andrew Dwyer led the team in interceptions with 3, while three players recovered 2 opponents' fumbles each: Pat Brunner, Kyle McKenna, and Andrew Dwyer.

 

HONORS
OHIO ALL-STATE ALL-STAR TEAM
Special Mention
Will Schroer
SWOFCA ALL-DISTRICT ALL-STAR TEAM
First Team Offense
Will Schroer
Second Team Defense
Jim Collins
Special Mention
Matt Glacken, Aaron Head, Andy Christopfel
CINCINNATI ENQUIRER ALL-CITY ALL-STAR TEAM
First Team Offense
Will Schroer
Honorable Mention
Matt Glacken, Jim Collins
CINCINNATI POST ALL-METRO ALL-STAR TEAM
First Team Offense
Will Schroer
Second Team Offense
Matt Glacken, Aaron Head
Second Team Defense
Jim Collins
Honorable Mention
Andy Christopfel, Kyle Koester, Joel Wainscott, Mark Theobald, Scott Boeing, Bill Noll
G.C.L. SOUTH ALL-STAR TEAM
First Team Offense
Matt Glacken, Will Schroer, Aaron Head, Andy Christopfel, Joel Wainscott, Kyle Koester
Second Team Offense
Nick Brown
First Team Defense
Jim Collins, Mark Theobald
Second Team Defense
Ken Rushford, Bill Noll, Scott Boeing, Nick Frank, Pat Brunner
Back of the Year
Matt Glacken
Receiver of the Year
Will Schroer
Co-Player of the Year
Kyle Koester
Academic All-Star
Brian Currin
TEAM AWARDS
Most Valuable Player
Matt Glacken, Will Schroer
Best Offensive Lineman
Aaron Head
Best Defensive Lineman
Jim Collins
Best Offensive Back
Kyle Koester
Best Defensive Back
Mark Theobald
Best Linebacker
Pat Brunner
Best Receiver
Will Schroer
Most Improved Player
Brian Currin
Mr. Panther
Bill Tiemeier
Mr. Z. I. P.
Jim Collins

 

Team Roster

Number

Name
Position
Class
41

Bachman, Dan
C
Jr.
90

Boeing, Scott
DE
Sr.
79

Braun, Adam
OL
Jr.
85

Braun, Chris
WR
Jr.
89

Brown, Aaron
WR
Jr.
56

Brown, Nick
OL
Sr.
44

Brunner, Pat
LB
Jr.
50

Burt, Dan
LB
Jr.
67

Byrd, Justin
OL
Jr.
11

Carey, Collin
QB
Jr.
3

Cassaro, Lou
WR
Jr.
54

Chastang, Mike
DE
Jr.
30

Christman, Pete
WR
Jr.
70

Christopfel, Andy
OL
Jr.
51

Collins, Jim
DE
Sr.
1

Conroy, Dan
C
Jr.
33

Currin, Brian
WR/C
Sr.
27

Dattilo, Michael
C/RB
Jr.
14

DeFranco, Tom
K
Jr.
7

Donnellon, Joe
WR
Sr.
76

Doogan, Joe
OL
Jr.
28

Dwyer, Andrew
S
Jr.
19

Fessel, Steve
WR
Sr.
10

Finke, Brandon
C
Jr.
21

Frank, Nick
C
Sr.
53

Gerdes, Kevin
OL
Jr.
12

Glacken, Matt
QB
Sr.
75

Graman, Jake
OL
Sr.
93

Grawe, Bryan
DT
Sr.
18

Gutzwiller, Bryan
S/QB
Sr.
36

Gutzwiller, Kevin
LB
Jr.
71

Head, Aaron
OL
Sr.
26

Heisel, Brandon
S
Sr.
81

Hofmeyer, Matt
TE
Jr.
24

Jennings, Jeff
S
Sr.
64

Kesse, Keith
OL
Sr.
31

Koester, Kyle
RB
Soph.
99

Kumpf, Dave
DE
Jr.
9

Lambers, Ken
LB
Sr.
25

Lammers, Jeff
S
Jr.
20

Lasita, Brian
FB
Sr.
39

Lasita, Jeff
FB/LB
Jr.
97

Ledonne, Bob
DL
Sr.
77

Mattingly, Jon
OL
Jr.
8

McAtee, Pat
LB/FB
Jr.
82

McClarnon, Anthony
TE/DE
Sr.
4

McKenna, Kyle
LB
Sr.
91

McKeon, Andy
DE
Sr.
15

Mezger, Brett
WR
Jr.
40

Miele, Drew
WR
Sr.
72

Noll, Bill
DL
Sr.
62

Otten, John
OL
Sr.
32

Papania, Nick
RB
Sr.
13

Ramstetter, Mike
LB
Sr.
73

Rapien, Paul
OL
Soph.
23

Rosenthal, Brian
C
Jr.
29

Rueve, Phil
WR
Jr.
46

Rushford, Ken
LB
Sr.
69

Schnieders, Tom
OL
Jr.
16

Scholl, Matt
QB
Soph.
88

Schroer, Dan
WR
Soph.
2

Schroer, Will
WR
Sr.
42

Seiler, Mike
FB/LB
Jr.
78

Sutphin, Scott
OL
Jr.
35

Theobald, Mark
C
Sr.
38

Tiemeier, Bill
RB
Jr.
22

Turner, Chris
S
Sr.
61

Van Hook, Rick
DL
Jr.
6

Vanderpool, Ryan
S
Jr.
45

Volker, P. J.
LB
Soph.
5

Wainscott, Joel
TE
Jr.
57

Walter, Joe
DE
Jr.
63

Weisker, Ken
OL
Jr.
43

Wilcher, Nick
K
Jr.

No. of Players
74
 

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