Colerain vs. Elder: A Retrospective Look

Chris Himonidis
WeAreColerain.com

We are just about 48 hours from an historical kickoff at Elder High School as the Cardinals will face off against Elder for the first time in history at Elder's fabled "Pit".

Take a few moments and look back on the rivalry of these two teams:

First Meeting Ever - 1995 Playoffs - Entering the game 10-0 and as City Champs, the Cardinals faced off against the 4th seeded Elder Panthers for the first time in school history. Colerain dominated Elder on the ground holding the Panthers to -2 yards rushing for the entire game and intercepted Elder QB John Lammers 3 times. Colerain would go on to win the contest 14-7 against a tough Elder squad and advance on to play in the State Semi-finals. The game is later forfeited by Colerain due to OHSAA sanctions for use of an ineligible player. Game is officially on the books as a 1-0 loss.

#1 Goes Down - 2000-Week 1 - Colerain faces off against Kyle Koester and the #1 ranked Elder Panthers with new QB Sean Jones behind center. Behind the stellar LB play of James Battle, Colerain shocks the city and wins, 14-7.
QB Jones stars on Showdown stage

The Rematch - 2000 Regional Finals - Colerain vs. Elder once again this season for the right to advance to the State Semi's. Colerain's defense came to play as the offense scored early and often and effectively made Elder's running game behind all-city star Kyle Koester moot. The Cardinal defense harassed Elder QB Matt Scholl all day and recorded 8 sacks and beat the Panthers 44-13.
Cardinals roll into state semifinals

The Big One - 2001 Regional Semi-Finals - In front of a state and playoff record crowd of 45,000+ at brand new Paul Brown stadium, the Cardinals and Panthers entered this much hyped contest as two teams ranked in the USA Today's Top 25 in the nation. The Panthers were looking to end their 3 game losing streak against Colerain and advance to the regional finals where GCL rival St. Xavier was waiting. The Cards were undefeated coming in at 11-0 on the backs of QB Sean Jones and the offense. It was a back and forth battle all night but the defense for Colerain struggled containing QB Keith Bolger and unknown SO RB Bradley Glatthar. The Cardinals pulled within a score at 28-21 early in the fourth but a missed FG and a TD drive by Elder put the game away as the Panthers ended the Cardinals season, 35-21.
Early score key to Panthers' victory

The Rematch, Part II - 2002 Regional Final - A new era of Colerain football arrived in 2002 with new QB Erick Fitzpatrick and a very young nucleus of players getting their feet wet. However, the expectations remained and the Cards found themselves once again in the playoffs facing off against Elder. The Panthers, led by standouts QB Rob Florian, RB Bradley Glatthar, WR Bill Poland and a superb offensive line were looking to return to the State Final 4 for the first time since 1996. Colerain, still upset after their season ending loss the prior year at the hands of the Panthers were looking to make their third trip to the State Final 4 under Coombs. The Panthers took a commanding 21-7 lead going into the 4th quarter but the Cardinals would not quit as they orchestrated 2 TD drives to tie the score at 21. Elder got the ball back with just under two minutes to play and put together a TD scoring drive to go up 28-21. That would be the final as Elder ended Colerain's season for the second year in a row and would go on and win their first title in school history.
Elder drives to state semis

THE Game - 2003 Regional Final - For the second straight year, the Elder Panthers were keeping the Cardinals from thier trip to the State Final 4. This year, the Panthers were defending state champions and were craving the repeat. Colerain entered the game 12-0 and City Champs. JR RB Mister Simpson and SR QB Erick Fitzpatrick led an offensive attack that dominated Elder's defense piling up 370 yards of offense to Elder's 198. Statistically, Colerain won every conceivable matchup sans one...the final score. 24-23, Elder. It was, and remains, in this author's opinion the single most difficult loss in Colerain playoff history.
Elder 24, Colerain 23
In defeat, men of Colerain deliver
Too many mistakes end up costing the Cardinals

Payback Game - 2004 Week 1 - The hype surrounding the 2004 team was at an all-time high as they entered their week 1 matchup against the 2-time defending state champion Elder Panthers. Emotions were still high on the Cardinal sidelines as the Panthers took the field. Knowing that this game would not end Colerain's season like it had the prior 3 meetings made no difference as the program and the community wanted this one bad. The Cardinals would not disappoint as revenge was extracted (partially) and the Cardinals soundly defeated Elder 21-3. The defense was stiffling as they sacked Elder QB Craig Carey 6 times. Elder was held to 60 total yards of offense which included -21 rushing yards...for the game. The 2004 Cards had arrived!
Game pits No. 1 against No. 2
Colerain grinds down Elder

Demons Exorcised - 2004 Regional Quarter Final - If the Cardinals were going to complete their dream season and win their first state championship in school history, it was going to have to go through...you guessed it...Elder. This time, the Panthers visited Colerain for the first time ever as the #6 seed in the playoffs. Tension was high as Elder faithful had proclaimed all week that the pressure was clearly on the Colerain Cardinals. The game proved very tight through the first two and half quarters as the Cardinals led 10-3 at halftime. However, Colerain blew things open with a 21-0 third quarter and would finally exorcise their personal demons...the Elder Panthers...38-3. Colerain would, of course, go on to win their first and only football state title in school history.
Cards break through vs. nemesis Panthers
Colerain exorcises a demon

Long-Awaited Showdown - 2008 Regional Final - Third verse, same as the first. For the third time in this decade, the Cardinals and Panthers met for the Regional final and the right to advance to the state's Final 4. The region was wide open in 2008 but as the season wore on, it became pretty clear that Colerain and Elder would meet on the field for the first time in 4 years. The game was an instant classic as it matched Elder's high-powered offense against Colerain's stout defense. The Cards jumped on top first 7-0 but the Panthers immediately answered with two TD passes from Mark Miller to Tim O'Conner. The Cards offense stalled on ensuing drives and had to settle for two field goals to make it 14-13 Elder heading into the 4th quarter. Elder kicked a FG to go up 17-13 but the Cardinals staged a tremendous run to score their 2nd TD of the day to go up 20-17 on the back of backup FB Dom Carter who had replaced injured starter SO Trayion Durham in the 4th quarter. The Panthers drove one final time and Colerain's defense couldn't hold as K Tony Miliano booted a 25-yard FG to send the game to OT, the first in the history of these two schools. The Cards offense seemed a bit out of sync as their first possession in OT ended in a lost fumble. The Panthers all-world K Tony Miliano had his FG attempt to win the game blocked by the Cards. On to 2OT where Elder got the ball first and scored on their first play from scrimmage, a TD pass from QB Mark Miller to WR Josh Jones. The XP was good and the Panthers were up 27-20. Colerain had their shot as well but in similar fashion to the first OT, lost a fumble which Elder recovered and that was the ball game as Elder would go on and finish runner-up to State Champion St. Ignatius.

So what will this Sunday hold? Who knows, but chances are it will be special as history will be made as the first time either of these teams will face off against the other during the regular season on one of the schools' home fields. Add in LIVE ESPN covergae and it is truly a special moment for both schools.

Colerain, Elder have played some classics

Will YOU be there to witness history and cheer on our boys? WeAreColerain.com will be and we hope you will as well.

Go Cards!
WE ARE...COLERAIN!!!