Elder Panthers wide receiver Jake Bier (5) celebrates a touchdown in the first half of a high school football game between the Elder Panthers and St. Xavier Bombers at The Pit, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Cincinnati.

On Friday night, Elder visited Archbishop Moeller in another chapter of the Greater Cincinnati League-South championship football rivalry in Cincinnati. The game was an absolute thriller, as the Crusaders escaped with the 35-28 victory over the Panthers.

Sophomore running back Juice Glover-Brown led the way for Moeller with three touchdown runs, including the game-winner with 51 seconds left in regulation.

After a scoreless first quarter, both teams combined for 34 points in the second quarter as the Crusaders led 21-13 at halftime. Sophomore quarterback Hunter McLaughlin threw two TD passes in the frame.

Meanwhile, Elder didn't back down as senior quarterback and Miami (OH) commit Kaden Estep threw three touchdown passes, including two to senior Chase Walpole.

Down 28-20 in the fourth quarter, Estep led the Panthers down the field to set up a short touchdown run by Andrew Tallen, with a successful two-point conversion tying it up at 28-28 with 2:49 left in regulation.

After Moeller scored the go-ahead touchdown, Elder was able to drive into plus-territory late. Estep attempted a Hail Mary to try to tie the game up again, but his pass fell short of the end zone with no time left.

In the end, the Crusaders won the GCL-South title and both teams are now 5-2.

On 1st and 10, Estep gets sacked as Elder takes a timeout with 13 seconds left. With four seconds left, Elder attempts a Hail Mary to try to tie it up, but it's incomplete. The game is over, as Moeller wins the GCL-South.

Elder begins at their own 20. A facemask call moves Elder to the Moeller 41 with 18 seconds left.

TOUCHDOWN! On 2nd and 2 from the Elder 26, Glover-Brown takes the handoff, makes a defender miss, and scores on a 26-yard scamper. Moeller leads 35-28 with 51 seconds left in regulation.

Moeller keeps moving the chains as McLaughlin throws darts to keep the drive alive.

Watson gets a decent return as Moeller begins at their own their own 37. On 3rd and 5, McLaughlin connects with Watson, who makes a diving catch at midfield for the first down.

TOUCHDOWN! On 3rd and goal from the 1, Andrew Tallen takes it in from one yard out. Estep then connects with Jason Forte for the two-point conversion. Game now tied at 28-28 with 2:49 left in regulation.

Elder moves closer into the red zone.

On 2nd and 9, Estep gets sacked for a big loss back into Elder territory. They eventually go for it on 4th and 12, as Estep gets hit as he throws, but Lyman makes the catch at the 35 to pick up the first down.

After a holding call made it 1st and 20 from their own 23, Estep throws a swing pass to Jake Bier, who races past defenders down the sideline up to the Moeller 45.

Elder takes over at their own 20.

On 4th and 1 from the Elder 19, Glover-Brown takes the handoff but gets tackled behind the line of scrimmage, resulting in a turnover on downs.

Moeller begins at their own 20. On 1st and 10 from the 31, a botched snap goes directly to Bailey, who races down the left sideline past midfield to the 43. The quarter ends.

TOUCHDOWN! On 2nd and 5, Estep connects with Walpole for a 53-yard score. Elder cuts it to 28-20 with 3:45 left in the third.

Elder begins at their own 41.

Moeller starts at their own 18. They go nowhere and have to punt.

On 3rd and 10, Estep gets sacked for a big loss, resulting in a punt.

Elder begins at their own 27. On the first play, Estep connects with Lyman over the middle for a 15-yard gain.

TOUCHDOWN! On 1st and 10 from the 15, Glover-Brown takes the handoff, breaks some tackles, and scampers into the end zone for the score. Moeller leads 28-13 with 8:24 left in the third quarter.

On 3rd and 10 from the Elder 43, McLaughlin bobbles the snap but holds on to the ball, then he keeps it himself for a huge scramble up to the 15 for a first down.

Moeller begins at their own 46. On the very first play, Glover-Brown breaks a couple tackles and races 60 yards down the field. But a holding call negates the run.

Elder receives the opening kickoff to begin the second half. They begin at their own 6, due to a penalty. They go nowhere and have to punt.

On 2nd and goal from the 7, McLaughlin throws a short pass to Glover-Brown for a score. However, an offensive penalty negates the score and moves Moeller back 15 yards. They just run out the clock to end the half.

On 3rd and 3, McLaughlin connects with Watson inside the 10, as they spike the ball with 10 seconds left in the half.

Moeller begins at their own 35, as McLaughlin finds a wide open David Boehm near midfield, as he races to around the Elder 35.

TOUCHDOWN! On 1st and 10 from the 24, Estep connects with Chase Walpole for the score. But with the blocked extra point, Elder trails 21-13 with 1:00 left in the half.

Elder begins from their own 20. On 2nd and 16, Estep fires deep for Lyman, who makes a remarakble catch near the sideline at the Moeller 25.

TOUCHDOWN! On 1st and goal from the 3, McLaughlin connects wtih Davis, who mosses a defender for the ball. Moeller leads 21-7 with 2:26 left in the half.

On 3rd and 8, McLaughlin connects with Davis, who makes a sliding catch across midfield for a first down. Glover-Brown then breaks away with another big scamper to move the chains.

Moeller's next possession begins at their own 20. On the very first play, Glover-Brown picks up 13 yards and a first down on a huge run.

TOUCHDOWN! On 2nd and 1, Estep throws a pop pass to tight end Jason Forte, who races all the way for a 71-yard score. Elder cuts it to 14-7 with 5:45 left in the half.

Elder begins at their own 20.

TOUCHDOWN! On 1st and goal from the 8, Glover-Brown takes the handoff and scampers up the middle for the eight-yard score. Moeller leads 14-0 with 6:07 left in the half.

On 1st and 20, Bailey breaks free for a huge scamper but is shy of the first down. He eventually gets it on 3rd and 3.

On 2nd and 8, McLaughlin fires a deep pass to Jayden Davis for a huge gain to around the Elder 29.

TURNOVER! On 1st and 10 from their own 49, Estep's pass over the middle is intercepted by Marino Middleton, as Moeller takes over at their own 40.

Elder begins at their own 20. They are able to move the chains to around midfield.

TOUCHDOWN! On 3rd and 5 from the 6, McLaughlin connects with Dean Schnitzler in the end zone for a six-yard score. Despite a taunting penalty, the TD stands and Moeller leads 7-0 with 11:44 left in the first half.

Moeller goes for it on 4th and 15, as quarterback Hunter McLaughlin connects with Reggie Watson for a first down at the 11. The quarter ends.

Moeller begins at their own 35. On 1st and 10 from their own 45, Juice Glover-Brown breaks a tackle and breaks free for a huge scamper to the Elder 23.

However, Elder isn't able to move the ball and goes three-and-out. Punt.

Elder starts at their own 20. On the first play, quarterback Kaden Estep connects with a wide open Andrew Lyman over the middle, as he picks up a first down at the 39.

On 4th and 3 from the 10, Moeller attempts a 27-yard field goal, but it's no good.

On 1st and 10 from their own 42, Moeller running back Phil Bailey breaks away with a huge run and goes out of bounds around the Elder 30.

Moeller begins at their own 20. They move the chains to around midfield with a few first-down conversions.

Elder wins the coin toss but defers to the second half. Archbishop Moeller will receive the opening kickoff.

15 minutes until kickoff.

30 minutes until kickoff.

45 minutes until kickoff.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

Who: Elder vs. Archbishop MoellerWhen: Friday, October 2 - 7:00 p.m. ETWhere: Grein Field at Roettger Stadium in Cincinnati, OH

Elder (5-1) started the 2026 season undefeated until they lost a close one to St. Xavier last Friday. The Panthers went 12-1 in 2025, but fell to the same team in the playoffs.

Elder's offense is led by senior quarterback Kaden Estep, a 3-star recruit who has commited to Miami (OH). The defense also features junior linebacker Pete Fortkamp, who already has DI offers from schools such as Miami (OH) and Marshall.

Doug Ramsey is currently in his 30th season as the Panthers' head coach. Nearly 25 years ago, Ramsey led Elder to back-to-back Ohio state championships in 2002 and 2003.

Meanwhile, Archbishop Moeller (4-2) started the season 1-2, but quickly rebounded with three consecutive wins, beating Christ Presbyterian Academy (TN), St. Xavier, and La Salle. The Fighting Crusaders went 8-4 in the 2025 season.

Archbishop Moeller features two 4-star offensive linemen on its roster, including senior Kal-El Johnson (Georgia Tech commit) and junior Jace Montgomery. The Crusaders also have a few 3-star recruits, including senior offensive linemen Patrick O'Brien (Purdue commit) and Alex Bolar (Toledo commit), and junior defensive lineman Julian Dwyer.

Bert Bethiany is currently in his fourth season as Archbishop Moeller's head coach. In his second year in 2024, Bethiany led the Crusaders to a 14-2 record, another GCL-South Championship, a regional championship, and a trip to the Division I state title game.