CINCINNATI, Ohio– It was expected to be a back and forth battle Friday night at the Pit at Elder High School, as the #1 ranked Panthers hosted #5 Highlands in a matchup of Top 5 teams.
The Panthers took the suspense out of the game early, however, in cruising to a 40-16 victory over the Bluebirds in Price Hill.
Highlands took an early 3-0 lead in the first quarter on a 35-yard field goal by Malaka Anderson, and it was the last lead they would see all night, as Elder would reel off 20 unanswered points – two touchdown runs by back Tommy Becker and an 83-yard pick-six by defensive back Mason Chumbley to take a 20-3 halftime lead.
The second half was more of the Tommy Becker show, as the GCL’s second leading rusher ran for his third score of the night, extending Elder’s lead to 27-3. The Bluebirds finally dented the endzone as Highlands Tayden Lorenzen found the endzone for the 15th time this season (13 rushing, two receiving) to make it a 27-9 game.
Elder would tack on two more fourth-quarter touchdowns – Becker with a fourth score, to go with his 102 yards on the ground, and an 11-yard touchdown gallop by Andrew Tallon to make it 40-9. The Bluebirds would get in the endzone one more time with 10 seconds left in the game to make the final 40-16.
The Panther defense had its successes during the game as well, accruing two interceptions and two sacks on the night, to aid in the victory.
Elder, the Greater Catholic League champions, moves to 8-0 for the first time since 1991, while Highlands falls to 6-2.
In a top-five matchup, the number one team proved why its number one.
Elder flexes its muscles over Highlands to remain undefeated.@WLWT | @ehsports @estep_2027 @taydenlorenzen2 pic.twitter.com/W4t9D6d2Mg
— Jaron May (@jaron_may) October 11, 2025
SCORING BY QUARTERS
Highlands: 3-0-6-7-16
Elder: 7-13-7-13-40
SCORING PLAYS
H: Malakai Anderson 35-yard kick
E: Tommy Becker 1-yard run (Adam Re kick)
E: Becker 38-yard run (kick failed)
E: Mason Chumbley 83-yard interception (Tyler Hohman kick)
E: Becker 1-yard run (Homan kick)
H: Tayden Lorenzen 9-yard run. (conversion failed)
E: Becker 2-yard run (kick failed)
E: Andrew Tallen 11-yard run (Homan kick)
H: Joh Feldbruegge 30-yard pass from Rio Litmer (Anderson kick)
RECORDS: Highlands 6-2; Elder 8-0
UP NEXT: Highlands at Mason County; Elder at Bishop Chatard (IN)
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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