On a clear late‑August Friday night at The Pit, Elder High School kicked off the 2026 Blitz 5 Tour with a decisive 35‑3 win over Middletown. The game marked a strong start for the Panthers, who posted a 1‑0 record and will travel to Covington Catholic next Friday.
Key performances
Quarterback Kaden Estep was the engine of the offense, completing 11 of 18 passes for 195 yards and four passing touchdowns. He also rushed 12 times for 147 yards and added a rushing touchdown, giving him a total of five touchdowns in the contest.
Senior transfer Andrew Lyman, arriving from Kings High School, made an immediate impact. Lyman caught seven passes for 145 yards, scoring all four of Elder’s receiving touchdowns. His connection with Estep produced scores of 2, 11, 45 and 61 yards.
Game flow
After a scoreless first quarter, Elder broke the deadlock when Estep found Lyman for a two‑yard touchdown, completing a 17‑play, 87‑yard drive. Middletown answered with a 27‑yard field goal by Carson Haggins, but Elder struck again before halftime with an 11‑yard pass to Lyman, taking a 14‑3 lead into the break.
The Panthers exploded after the intermission. Early in the third quarter, Estep ran 67 yards for a touchdown. He then linked with Lyman for two long scores—45 and 61 yards—on consecutive possessions, extending the lead to 35‑3. Elder’s defense limited Middletown to just three points, a field goal in the first quarter.
Statistical dominance
Elder outgained Middletown 377‑164 total yards and dominated the ground game 182‑2. Defensive standouts included Pete Fortkamp, who recorded 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks, and Brayden Tepe, who added eight tackles and two sacks.
The victory not only gave Elder a perfect start to the season but also showcased the chemistry between Estep and Lyman, a duo that could define the Panthers’ offensive identity for the year.
Looking ahead
Following the win, Elder will travel to face Covington Catholic next Friday, while Middletown prepares for a matchup against Princeton. Both teams will look to build on the lessons learned from this opening contest of the Blitz 5 Tour.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
