In a dramatic regional semifinal at The Pit on Friday night, Elder High School held off a late surge by St. Xavier to win 27-23 and move on to the Division I, Region 4 final. The Panthers, the second seed at 10-2, improved to 21-0 all‑time in home playoff games.
Key plays and scoring summary
Senior quarterback Kaden Estep accounted for all four Elder touchdowns. He opened the scoring on the second offensive snap with a 46‑yard run. After a botched extra‑point attempt left Elder ahead 7‑6, Estep connected with tight end Jake Bier for a 4‑yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. Later, a two‑point conversion tied the game at 14‑14.
Early in the third quarter Estep broke free again for a 45‑yard touchdown run, giving Elder a 21‑14 lead. St. Xavier responded with a 5‑yard run by Aidan Newdigate and a successful extra point to make it 21‑21. A safety on a high punt snap gave St. Xavier a brief 23‑21 lead, but Elder recovered a fumble and held the ball on downs to retain the edge.
With 4:06 left, St. Xavier missed a 29‑yard field goal. Elder then drove 65 yards, highlighted by an 11‑yard pass to Drew Wauligman and a 48‑yard run by Estep to the St. Xavier 6‑yard line. Estep capped the drive with a 1‑yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 27‑23. The two‑point conversion failed, leaving Elder up by four points.
Statistical highlights
Estep finished with 227 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns on 15 carries, plus 145 passing yards and one passing touchdown on 20 of 28 attempts. Elder averaged 7.1 yards per play and forced two turnovers. St. Xavier ran 69 plays to Elder’s 50, gaining 384 total yards to Elder’s 354. Xavier’s Graham rushed for 114 yards on 24 carries and added 70 receiving yards.
The Panthers’ defense held strong in the final seconds, stopping St. Xavier’s last drive at the 1‑yard line after a series of sacks, including one by linebacker Pete Fortkamp.
Looking ahead
Elder now prepares for the Division I, Region 4 final against Princeton at Paycor Stadium. The victory adds to Elder’s unbeaten home playoff record and underscores the leadership of Estep and the resilience of the Panthers’ defense.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
