Preview: #13 La Salle at #12 Elder

The 2024 Blitz 5 Game of the Week tour is coming to an end, but not before one last stop at The Pit. Elder will host La Salle in a GCL South rivalry game. The battle has big time playoff implications with the winner putting itself in a great position to host the first two rounds of the postseason depending on how the the teams around them in the computer ratings fare. With all that is on the line, this is going to be an emotional battle to say the least.

LA SALLE LANCERS (7-2, 0-2) at ELDER PANTHERS (5-4, 0-2)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m., October 25th, 2024
Elder Stadium – “The Pit”
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PLAYERS TO WATCH: As quarterback Patrick McLaughlin goes, so goes the La Salle offense. The senior leads the GCL South in rushing yards. Classmate Isaac Goldschmidt is a perfect complement to McLaughlin in the backfield. The Lancers’ defense is a senior-laden bunch led by Brady O’Connor, Zach Gates, Fergus Kreider, Colin Daniels, Walter Berry and Landon Bates. The unit has played a ton of snaps together and is loaded with proven commodities.

Junior Derek Uran has exploded onto the scene in 2024. He leads the Panthers with 7.5 sacks and 10.0 tackles for losses. The junior also has 60 tackles, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and a pick-six. Senior Joey DiTullio has five of the team’s 14 takeaways (three INTs, two FRs) with two pick sixes. Joey Thamann is a focal point of the Elder offense. The senior has amassed 912 yards from scrimmage – 560 yards rushing and 352 yards on 41 receptions with eight touchdowns (six rush, two rec).

TEAM TRENDS: La Salle has held eight of its nine opponents to 19 points or fewer. The Lancers are 2-0 in games decided by seven points or less. It has been sink on swim for the La Salle offense over the last six games. They have scored 28 points or more three times and seven points or fewer three times (including being shut out twice), in that span.

Putting points on the board hasn’t been easy for Elder. They have only scored more than 17 points once in its last six tilts. The Panthers are 2-3 in games decided by seven points or less.

HEAD COACHES:
La Salle: Pat McLaughlin (56-37 at Loveland, eighth year; 75-39 overall, 11th year)

Elder: Doug Ramsey (222-105 at Elder, 29th year; 222-105 overall)
 

PLAYOFF HISTORY:
La Salle (13 appearances, 28-9) – 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 (Regional Champion), 2019 (State Champion), 2017, 2016 (State Champion), 2015 (State Champion), 2014 (State Champion), 2010, 2004, 2002, 1985

Elder (25 appearances, 44-23 overall) – 2023, 2022, 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: The Lancers’ defense has been stellar all season long, expect more of the same on Friday night. Offensively, getting productivity out of the receivers is a must to prevent Elder from stuffing the box. The Lancers ability to stretch the field through the air will take the pressure off of McLaughlin and the run game.

ELDER’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Being the aggressor on offense won’t be easy but if the Panthers can build a double-digit lead it will put La Salle in the uncomfortable position of having to play catch up. Neutralizing McLaughlin as a runner and forcing some other Lancers to beat them will make the task at hand much easier. If that happens the Panthers’ pass defense should thrive and have more opportunities to create turnovers. 

Prediction: Elder 17, La Salle 10

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