CINCINNATI – A focused and determined Elder squad scored 21 unanswered points in the first 15 minutes and never looked back in routing GCL South rival Moeller, 42-14, Friday night at The Pit.
The Panthers (4-3) ended a three-game losing streak, their longest since 2011. Moeller (3-4) lost its third straight and fourth in the last five outings.
Elder junior quarterback Michael Bittner racked up 300 yards of total offense (219 passing, 81 rushing) and accounted for five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing). Bittner set personal bests in passing yards and touchdown tosses. He came onto the contest with just one touchdown pass in a Panthers uniform.
Junior Kyle Trischler had a career-best 163 yards receiving and 12 receptions (tied a career high). It was Trischler’s eighth straight game with at least six receptions and the fourth time in his last five starts with more than 100 receiving yards.
Down by three scores, Moeller found some life scoring twice to pull within seven with 1:09 left before halftime. But Bittner guided a last-minute drive before intermission. That led to the Panthers closing out the game with another run of 21 unanswered points.
Elder had not had a runner gain more than 37 yards the previous three weeks. They had three Friday with Jack Mazza (115), Luke Massminster (53) and Bittner (81) accounting for all 249 of the team’s rushing yards.
Moeller 0-14-0-0-14
Elder 14-14-7-7-42
E: Bittner 4 run (Harmeyer kick)
E: Trischler 39 pass from Bittner (Harmeyer kick)
E: Bittner 4 run (Harmeyer kick)
M: Watkins 2 run (Thibodeaux kick)
M: Bates 4 pass from McKenzie(Thibodeaux kick)
E: Perry 19 pass from Bittner (Harmeyer kick)
E: Mazza 3 pass from Bittner (Harmeyer kick)
E: Mazza 3 run (Harmeyer kick)
RECORDS: Moeller (3-4, 0-3); Elder (4-3, 1-1)
UP NEXT: Moeller at St. Ignatius (6-0); Elder at Winton Woods (7-0)
