CINCINNATI, Ohio – It was expected that Friday night’s Ohio Division I, Region 4 semifinal contest between the state’s top-ranked team in Elder, and perennial Cincinnati power Princeton, would be a battle.
A battle would be an understatement. A war would be the more appropriate term.
In an all-time classic at The Pit Friday evening, Elder kept its undefeated season alive for at least one more week, as the Panthers clawed back from a 23-point deficit in the second half to overcome the Princeton Vikings 32-30. It was a game that each team dominated for a half, and a final two minutes which were an absolute blitzkrieg of action including a little bit of everything.
Top-seeded Elder, of course, came into the regional semifinal fresh off a 27-7 victory over Fairfield last week, looking every bit of the top-ranked team in Ohio Division I, while fourth-seeded Princeton had to score 13 points in the fourth quarter last week to overcome fifth-seed Winton Woods 23-22.
But for the first half of Friday night’s game, it looked as if Princeton was the top seed in the region, and Elder was the squad who squeaked into the regional semifinal. The Panthers took the opening kickoff and couldn’t do anything with it, and the Vikings promptly took over at Elder’s 5-yard-line after an excellent punt return, and back Andrew Wells rumbled into the endzone on the very next play to give Princeton an early 7-0 lead.
Princeton and Elder played the craziest game you’ll ever see. The final 90 seconds saw…
• A blocked FG for a TD
• A TD
• A failed 2pt conversion
• An onside kick
• A game-winning FGPanthers moving on to the regional final.@WLWT | @ehsports @estep_2027 @Adam_Re07 pic.twitter.com/2xlOyhz0dp
— Jaron May (@jaron_may) November 15, 2025
After forcing another Elder punt, the Vikings again drove down the field, this time resulting in a 34-yard field goal from Nate Messer, and it was 10-0 at the end of the first quarter in favor of Princeton.
The Panthers, meanwhile, couldn’t get anything going offensively – Elder would punt six times on the night – and Princeton was able to extend the lead to 17-0 in the second quarter, after a Z’i Satterwhite 11-yard touchdown run. A missed field goal by Panther kicker Adam Re, at the end of the half, epitomized the Elder offensive struggles.
The second half started just as bad for Elder, as Princeton would take the second half kickoff to the house, a 73-yard return by Antonio Thomas, and despite a missed extra point, it was 23-0 Princeton in the third quarter, and Elder was on the ropes.
That is, until Panther quarterback Kaden Estep decided to take things into his own hands. Estep ripped off a 44-yard touchdown run with 7:53 left in the third quarter, and with the two-point conversion, Elder was finally on the board and the gap was closed to 23-8.
Estep would strike again with 41 seconds left in the third quarter, scampering this time for an 11-yard touchdown run, and with the extra point, it was suddenly a one-score game at 23-15 going into the fourth quarter. Indeed, the momentum had completely shifted, as Elder appeared to be wearing down the Princeton defense, and the Panther D was suddenly forcing the Vikings to punt – Princeton would also punt six times in the game.
It seemed inevitable that Elder would tie the game, and that’s exactly what happened with 6:31 left in the fourth quarter, as Estep would rumble 9 yards for his third rushing touchdown of the game. With back Tommy Becker scoring on the two-point conversion, the game was knotted at 23 apiece.
That’s how it would stay until 1:16 left in regulation, as Elder drove deep into Princeton territory and looked to take the lead on an Adam Re field goal. That wouldn’t happen, though, as the Viking special teams would block the field goal, recover it and take it the other way for a touchdown, giving Princeton a 30-23 lead and apparently putting the nail in the coffin.
Estep would say otherwise, as one play into the very next Elder possession, he hit wideout Jackson Ruth on a 75-yard touchdown. Initially, Elder planned to kick the extra point, but called timeout and then chose to attempt the two-point conversion. Becker was stuffed by the Princeton defense short of the goal line, and with a minute left in the game, it was 30-29 Princeton, and for all intents and purposes it appeared that the Panther’s luck had run out.
Until it hadn’t, as on the ensuing onside kick, Elder recovered at the Princeton 36-yard-line. Then, with under a minute left, Estep deftly led the Panthers down to the Viking 5-yard-line. Draining the clock down to 12 seconds, Elder’s Re then attempted a 22-yard field goal and, this time, it was straight through the uprights to give the Panthers an improbable 32-30 lead. Elder would recover the ensuing squib kick, and take a knee to capture the victory, resulting in the Panther student body rushing the field afterward.
Estep finished the night 24 of 47 through the air for 315 yards and one touchdown, and rushed for 113 yards and three touchdowns. Jackson Ruth caught 12 passes for 180 yards and score to help aid the improbable comeback.
Elder moves to 12-0 on the season and advances to the Ohio Division I, Region 4 title game next week against GCL South rival St. Xavier, while Princeton finishes their season at 9-3.
BOX SCORE
Elder 0-0-15-17-32
Princeton 10-7-6-7 –30
SCORING PLAYS
P: Andrew Wells 5-yard run (Nate Messer kick)
P: Messer 34 field goal
P: Z’i Satterwhite 11-yard run (Messer kick)
P: Antonio Thomas 73-yard return (kick failed)
E: Kaden Estep 44-yard run (Tommy Becker run)
E: Estep 11-yard run (Adam Re kick)E: Kaden Estep 9-yard run (Becker run)
P: Andrew Wells 30-yard return (Messer kick)
E: Jackson Ruth 75-yard pass from Estep (Becker run failed)
E: Re 22 field goal
RECORDS: Elder 12-0; Princeton 9-3
UP NEXT: Princeton season complete; #1 Elder vs. #3 St. Xavier (9-2), OHSAA Division I, Region 4 championship
Get the complete scores from all of this week’s action on the Underground Sports Shop Scoreboard at TriStateFootball.com/scores.
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