Preview: La Salle at Elder
- Updated: October 19, 2022
Elder senior QB Ben Schoster (photo courtesy of ScoutingOhio.com)
There is no better way to end a season than in “The Pit.” The Blitz 5 Game of the Week heads to the west side to watch Elder host GCL South rival in the 2022 regular season finale.
It is a huge night for La Salle and its playoff implications. If the Lancers win, they are in the postseason. In all likelihood, a loss ends the year for the boys on North Bend Road.
Elder is on the opposite end of that spectrum. The Panthers have already clinched a home game for Round 1. Getting out of this affair healthy is a top priority as the home team is playing with house money on Friday night.
#23 LA SALLE LANCERS (2-7, 0-2) at #11 ELDER PANTHERS (7-2, 1-1)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m., October 21, 2022
The Pit, Bartlett Field
Follow on Twitter: @TSFootball
PLAYERS TO WATCH: In two GCL South games this season La Salle sophomore quarterback Patrick McLaughlin is 21-29 for 221 yards and two touchdown passes with zero interceptions. Electrifying junior Koy Beasley is just starting to tap into his abilities to take over a game and could be the difference in this tilt. His offers include Boston College, West Virginia, Rutgers, Minnesota, Pitt, Toledo, Miami (OH) and Central Michigan. Seniors Tahj Landrum, Zander Bernecker, Timiko Jackson, Jaylen Grant need to come up big if they want their careers to continue.
The Elder offense is paced by quarterback Ben Schoster. The senior has amassed 1,657 yards of total offense (1,242 pass, 415 rush) and accounted for 17 touchdowns (10 pass, seven rush). Classmates Luke Flowers leads the Panthers in rushing and Justin Re leads the team in receiving. Flowers has 556 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. Re has 35 receptions for 515 yards and five touchdowns. Defensively, seniors Ben Volkerding, Liam Hulen and Samari Freeman have been menaces to opposing offensive lines. The trio has combined for 15.5 sacks (Hulen – 6.5) and 23 tackles for losses (Hulen – 8.0).
TEAM TRENDS: La Salle has lost seven games in a row (those teams are a combined 42-18). The Lancers have an average margin of defeat of 16.4 points per game in those affairs.
Elder is 5-1 in games decided by 11 points or less. The Panthers have faced teams that are a combined 57-22 (.721 winning %). Seven of those squads have winning records (the other is St. X). Four of those teams are six games above .500 or better.
HEAD COACHES:
La Salle: Pat McLaughlin (45-26 at La Salle, sixth year; 64-38 overall, ninth year)
Elder: Doug Ramsey (207-96 at Elder, 27th year; 207-96 overall, 27th year)
PLAYOFF HISTORY:
La Salle (11 appearances, 28-7) – 2021, 2020 (Regional Champion), 2019 (State Champion), 2017, 2016 (State Champion), 2015 (State Champion), 2014 (State Champion), 2010, 2004, 2002, 1985
Elder (23 appearances, 41-21 overall) – 2021, 2020, 2019 (State Runner-up), 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2009 (Regional Champion), 2008 (State Runner-up), 2007, 2004, 2003 (State Champion), 2002 (State Champion), 2001, 2000, 1999, 1996 (Regional Champion), 1995, 1991, 1989, 1988
LA SALLE’S KEYS TO VICTORY: It will be hard not to press and do too much on an individual basis in a game that has the Lancers season on the line. This needs to be a focused team effort, in all phases of the game for 48 minutes. This battle is as much about heart as it is “X’s and O’s” for La Salle.
ELDER’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Absorb the initial punch of emotion and intensity that La Salle is going to bring from the opening kickoff. Get on the scoreboard first and put the pressure on the Lancers to match those points. Get ahead and unleash the beasts on defense. Make life difficult for the sophomore.
Prediction: Elder 31, La Salle 14
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