DIVISION I STATE FINAL Elder set for Harding battle

By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
Cincinnati Elder had success against Warren Harding last season when the Raiders had Maurice Clarett, but Elder coach Doug Ramsey hints that Harding could be a handful this time.
"They may be more dangerous [than they were with Clarett] because, when you look, they have nice receivers and the quarterbacks can run the ball," Ramsey said. "Now you have to focus on a number of things. They've thrown the ball more in the playoffs than they did in the regular season. It's scary that ball is touching so many players' hands."
Elder knocked off Harding, 24-14, in Cincinnati in the regular season in 2001, but Harding and Clarett beat the Panthers, 24-19, at Mollenkopf Stadium in 2000.
"Even though we're miles apart, this has turned into a nice rivalry," Ramsey said. "It's neat how it's worked out and we're playing them again this year."
This is Elder's first team to reach the state finals.
Panthers top performer
Leading the Panthers (13-1) is first-year starter quarterback Rob Florian, a junior who has completed 120 of 222 passes for 2,078 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Florian has been intercepted eight times. He has also crossed the goalline on foot seven times and has rushed for 919 yards on 166 attempts.
Running back Bradley Glatthaar, also a junior, has 32 touchdowns under his belt. Glatthaar's 2ardage is 930 on 322 carries.
Top receivers are Bill Poland with 57 catches for 1,333 yards and 13 TDs and junior Kurt Gindling with 37 receptions for 566 yards and four six-pointers.
The top tackler is senior tackle Tony Garvitti (6-1, 225) with 110 stops and 25 sacks while, senior linebacker/end Tony Arszman and linebacker Chris Chambers, both seniors, have 90 and 78 tackles, respectively.
Ramsey got the feeling that Elder's 2002 squad was capable of going deep in the playoffs after it beat Cleveland St. Ignatius, 45-35. The following week, Elder knocked off Cincinnati St. Xavier, which had beaten the Panthers six straight times.
"At that point, if we continued to play good football, we knew we had the chance to be in this game."
Concerned about team speed
Of concern to Ramsey is Harding's team speed.
"They have exceptional speed on defense. They really fly around and are physical and contain other teams' offenses."
Again, a Clarett-less Harding team with dual quarterbacks Mike Phillips and Mike Kokal may be harder to defend.
"Their offense seems more wide open this year than it did last year," Ramsey said. "We played them the last two years with Maurice Clarett, and this year it seems like they're throwing the ball a little more. One guy throws the ball really well and then they bring in the other quarterback and he runs the ball really well. It's a difficult thing to prepare for."
Elder's defense took its lumps at the beginning of the season, then came of age against Ignatius.
"We were playing six and seven juniors and had eight starters gone from last year's defense," Ramsey said. "That week up in Cleveland, we gave up 35 points, but nine times Ignatius went three plays out and a punt. Since then we've started to play much better. We've given up some points, but we've played against some great offensive teams."
Offense led semifinal win
Elder's offense was in sync during the Panthers' 34-31 win over Findlay last week.
"We knew going in that our offensive line would be our strength," Ramsey said. "They've done a good job all year in pass protection and opening holes for Bradley. At the end of the game I feel we wore Findlay down.
Findlay didn't have the quickness that Ramsey expects to see this Saturday at Fawcett Stadium in Canton.
"Harding has better team speed," he said. "Flat-out speed."
Ramsey feels confident with Florian under center.
"I wasn't even sure he would be our quarterback," he said. "We had a senior competing with him. Rob really understands the game. He gets us into the right plays and just makes good decisions [eight interceptions]. He's a guy who gave us another dimension this year with his ability to run the ball."
Because of their success against the Raiders once last season, Elder's players aren't devoid of confidence in themselves.
"The kids in the game remember how good Harding was last year," he said. "It's given them some confidence to come back on them. It helps when you have played somebody and have had success against them."
bassetti@vindy.com