Cincinnati, OH - Under the golden lights of The Pit, Elder High School's football team accomplished something that has felt a long time coming.
On Friday night, before a sellout crowd of 10,169 fans squeezed into Elder's historic stadium, the Panthers dethroned the Moeller Crusaders 24-16 to capture their first outright GCL South championship since 2008. It was a night of emotional swings, gutty defense, and a second-half stand that reflected everything that has become the identity of this year's undefeated 7-0 Elder squad.
Junior quarterback Kaden Estep etched his name deeper into Elder lore with another mature, clutch performance, throwing for nearly 300 yards and three touchdowns while balancing the poise of a veteran with a touch of youthful swagger. Senior wide receiver Jackson Ruth, who has been Estep's go-to target all season, turned in one of the most courageous performances of his career, hauling in nine receptions for 139 yards and two touchdowns despite leaving the field briefly with a shoulder injury before returning to close out the game.
The victory was not only about numbers or highlights. It was about finally exorcising the Crusader-shaped shadow that had loomed over Elder Football for several years. Moeller had dominated the GCL South since 2021, at times routing Elder by lopsided margins. But on this October night, the Panthers' discipline, defensive grit, and unwavering belief reshaped the script.
A perfect stage
From the moment the gates opened nearly two hours before kickoff, it was apparent this would not be an ordinary Friday night in Price Hill. The smell of grill smoke drifted over rows of purple-clad fans. The setting sun flooded The Pit with that autumn "golden hour" glow, bathing the crowd in violet edges and anticipation.
By kickoff, every bleacher was filled, standing space vanished, and only the echo of the marching band could be heard above the roar.
What an atmosphere it was-reminiscent of the fabled Elder-Colerain ESPN broadcast of 2009. The call for fans to pack The Pit was answered, and they came in full force.
Temperatures hung around 79 degrees-an unusually warm October evening-adding an extra bit of electricity to what was already the biggest regular-season matchup in Ohio high school football.
Early adversity
The Crusaders, ranked near the top of the state polls, opened like the heavyweight they are. Senior quarterback Matt Ponatoski guided Moeller on a 13-play, 82-yard drive, eventually finding star tight end Cooper McCutcheon for a six-yard touchdown. Moeller led 7-0 midway through the first quarter, chewing up six minutes and threatening to seize control.
Elder's first drive went nowhere, and as the Crusader offense lined up again near midfield, old memories began to stir-the kind of first quarters Elder teams had suffered recently against Moeller. But defensive coordinator Gary Gaston's unit did not flinch.
Senior linebacker Derek Uran, bound for Virginia next fall, began wreaking havoc in the trenches. Fellow seniors Alex Dugan and Henry Fortkamp crashed the pocket, forcing hurried throws. The Panthers stiffened, forcing punts and earning their footing.
Late in the first quarter, Estep found his rhythm. Elder marched 80 yards in just over three minutes, capped by an 18-yard strike to Ruth on third-and-long. Place-kicker Adam Re's extra point evened the score at 7-7, and the roar that followed felt different-not temporary, but defiant.
Turning the tide
Momentum fully swung in the second quarter. Elder's defense pinned Moeller deep following a booming Estep punt, and miscommunication along the Crusader offensive line opened a lane for Fortkamp. The senior lineman slanted through, wrapping up the Moeller ball carrier in the end zone for a safety.
Two points for Elder, a 9-7 lead, and The Pit was deafening.
As the Crusaders tried to regroup, Estep and the offense engineered perhaps their most balanced drive of the season. Senior Tommy Becker ground out tough yards behind a stable offensive line anchored by seniors Tyrell Scott and Caleb Broxterman. Then came another flash of purple brilliance: on second-and-goal from the seven, Estep zipped a strike to Ruth running a crisp post toward the right pylon. Touchdown number two for Ruth, and Elder led 15-7 after the missed extra point.
Moeller, though, needed only 15 seconds to remind everyone why they are never out of a game. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Poniatowski unloaded a perfect deep ball down the left sideline to Reggie Watson for a 58-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion failed-Uran blowing up the backfield-leaving the halftime score at Elder 15, Moeller 13.
At the break, Elder fans could finally exhale but not relax. They'd seen enough of the Crusaders' explosiveness to know the fight was far from over.
A defensive masterpiece
The third quarter began with Elder receiving the ball, and under the gleam of stadium lights, Coach Doug Ramsey leaned on what he trusts most-his defense and his discipline. Estep opened with a 38-yard scramble that ignited the sideline, but the Moeller secondary held firm, forcing a punt that Fortkamp downed inside the five.
Moments later, chaos erupted again from Elder's defensive front. On first down from the four-yard line, Fortkamp blew through the right guard, launching another tackle in the end zone for Elder's second safety of the night. In decades of Elder football, few fans could recall a game where the Panthers scored two safeties. The 17-13 advantage was symbolic-defense defining destiny.
Any residual frustration from earlier series disappeared when, seconds later, Becker fumbled, giving Moeller a glimmer of life. Yet Elder's resiliency surfaced again. Linebacker Andrew Paff pounced on a Moeller fumble the very next play, restoring both possession and confidence.
That sequence seemed to define Elder's night: a mistake followed by an immediate response. The Panthers never dwelled on setbacks, instead turning each one into fuel for their momentum.
By late third quarter, Estep had regained complete control. He showed flashes of improvisational magic, firing across his body to Chase Walpole for a 17-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 24-13. When Ruth exited briefly afterward clutching his shoulder, the crowd held its collective breath. Moments later, he returned to the huddle, earning a wave of admiration from the purple-clad faithful.
The final stand
In the fourth quarter, with Moeller within striking distance after a 30-yard field goal trimmed the margin to 24-16, the Panthers' defense faced its defining test. Poniatowski, standing tall in the pocket, pushed the Crusaders across midfield as the clock dipped under two minutes.
Then the wall of purple helmets closed in.
Junior linebacker Brody Turner chased Poniatowski down for a loss of nearly 15 yards. On the next snap, facing fourth and 36 from his own 35, the Moeller quarterback dropped back one last time-only for Jayden Hutchinson and Alex Dugan to bury him under a wave of celebration.
When Estep kneeled the ball moments later, more than 10,000 voices exploded. Confetti wasn't necessary. The blinking scoreboard-24-16-said enough.
As the final horn echoed through Price Hill, players leapt into the stands, seniors embracing classmates, families forming a sea of tears and high-fives. Doug Ramsey, entering his 27th season, hugged Estep near midfield-a snapshot of faith rewarded.
Stats and stars
- Kaden Estep: 21-for-29 passing, 286 yards, 3 TDs
- Jackson Ruth: 9 receptions, 139 yards, 2 TDs
- Chase Walpole: 5 receptions, 60 yards, 1 TD
- Tommy Becker: 80 yards rushing on 15 carries
- Defense: 5 sacks, 2 safeties, 1 forced fumble, 1 recovery
It was a complete team effort, but the entire Elder front seven-Fortkamp, Uran, Dugan, Hutchinson, Turner, and company-earned the Cooper Electric Star of the Game for generating unrelenting pressure that held a top-ranked Moeller offense to only 13 offensive points.
Significance beyond one night
The historic win solidified Elder's first outright GCL South championship in 17 years. More than that, it proved that hard-nosed, disciplined football can still outduel flash and speed. The Panthers limited penalties in the second half and answered each time momentum threatened to swing toward Moeller.
For Coach Doug Ramsey and his program, the evening carried a sense of completion. It marked the first time Elder had beaten Moeller at The Pit since 2021, and it was the culmination of years of building a roster capable of meeting the Crusaders head-on.
For veterans like senior linebacker Derek Uran, the moment underscored the investment of four years of preparation and belief. The title represented not just a victory, but the payoff for a class that had been working toward this goal since their freshman season.
Next up: Highlands, then the road ahead
Elder's relentless October continues next week when they host Highlands (KY), fresh off its own dramatic 31-28 win over Covington Catholic. The matchup reunites two programs steeped in tradition and will once again spotlight some of the region's best prep talent. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday, October 10, at The Pit.
After Highlands, the Panthers travel to Indianapolis to face perennial powerhouse Bishop Chatard before concluding the regular season at home against De La Salle (MI) on October 24.
With a 7-0 start-their best since the 2001 season-Elder has already made program history. Now discussion around Price Hill has shifted from "Can we win conference?" to "Can we contend for state?"
If Friday night was any indication, the answer lies in the proving ground of The Pit, where toughness, tradition, and heart remain the enduring formula.
Final Score
Elder Panthers 24, Moeller Crusaders 16
(Elder improves to 7-0, clinching the 2025 GCL South title; Moeller falls to 5-2.)
Next Game: Highlands (KY) at Elder, Friday Oct 10, 7:00 p.m. at The Pit.
In a season filled with promise, the Panthers just took their biggest step yet-one forged in the echoing roar of a packed Pit and the unyielding will of a team that simply refuses to lose.
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