CINCINNATI, Ohio – The first-ever meeting between Elder and East Central belonged decisively to the Panthers.
No. 2 Elder scored 28 unanswered points to close the game and rolled past No. 12 East Central, 42-7, Friday night at The Pit, handing the Trojans their first loss of the season.
East Central entered the matchup 2-0 having surrendered just six points through its first two games, but Elder quickly found success against a defense that had been dominant to start the year.
Senior quarterback Kaden Estep commanded the Panthers’ offense from the start. He opened the scoring with a touchdown pass off a play-action rollout and later added a touchdown on the ground, using a pair of spins to escape defenders and find the end zone.
Estep finished an efficient 13-of-15 passing for 137 yards and a touchdown while adding 112 yards and a score on 12 carries. His 249 yards of total offense helped Elder pile up 365 yards on the night.
The Panthers were particularly effective on the ground, rushing for 228 yards while averaging 9.1 yards per carry. Andrew Tallen rushed eight times for 77 yards and two touchdowns, while Jake Bier added a touchdown run in the second quarter.
East Central briefly cut the deficit to 14-7 in the second quarter on a Ryan Minges touchdown run, but that would be the Trojans’ only scoring of the night.
Elder’s defense took over from there.
PHOTOS: East Central at Elder
The Panthers forced East Central to lean more heavily on senior quarterback Ben Bond and intercepted him three times. Pete Fortkamp, Tannar Carmen and Brayden Tepe each came away with an interception, with Fortkamp’s pick ending the first quarter and stopping an East Central possession.
Tepe also led Elder with 12 tackles, helping the Panthers hold an East Central offense that entered the night built around a powerful rushing attack to just seven points.
Elder played clean football offensively as well, finishing the night without a turnover while turning East Central’s mistakes into opportunities.
The result sends Elder to 3-0 with three impressive victories to begin the season, including consecutive wins over No. 15 Covington Catholic and No. 12 East Central.
Next comes the start of GCL South play when No. 11 La Salle visits The Pit.
“It’ll be a good start to the GCL,” Elder head coach Doug Ramsey said.
East Central falls to 2-1 and returns home next week to face Franklin County.
SCORING BY QUARTERS
EC: 0-7-0-0-7
E: 7-14-7-14-42
SCORING PLAYS
E – Chase Walpole 21-yard pass from Kaden Estep (Tyler Homan kick)
E – Jake Bier 9-yard run (Tyler Homan kick)
EC – Ryan Minges 1-yard run (Blake Sterwerf kick)
E – Andrew Tallen 6-yard run (Tyler Homan kick)
E – Kaden Estep 20-yard run (Tyler Homan kick)
E – Andrew Tallen 6-yard run (Tyler Homan kick)
E – Kam Bedel 12-yard run (Tyler Homan kick)
Records: Elder 3-0; East Central 2-1
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