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La Salle Wins Thriller Against ElderIf you weren’t there you missed one electrifying contest. It was a cold and rainy evening on Buddy LaRosa Field where the Lancers [8-2] made one last desperate defensive stand to keep the Panthers [6-4] out of the end zone and win the battle 13-7.La Salle, ranked #6 in the AP division II state ratings, and playing their last game of the regular season, celebrated a rain soaked Senior Night victory. On their first possession Elder went 3 and out. When the Panthers attempted a punt, the snap was low, causing the Elder punter’s knee to touch the ground as he caught the ball, downing the ball.La Salle took over possession on the Panther 21-yard line. La Salle couldn’t come up with a 1st down and had to settle for a 33-yard field goal by Jake Seibert. With 8:43 to go in the quarter, the Lancers led 3-0.After Elder went 3 and out again, La Salle took possession on their 44-yard line. Subsequent to advancing the ball as far as the Elder 31, La Salle was called for holding and attempted a quarterback punt, which was blocked. Elder, starting at their 38, advanced to the Lancers’ 25 before a peculiar set of circumstances occurred. On 3rd and 4 Elder quarterback Mike Bittner fumbled the ball; it was loose on the ground and squirted free a few times before a flag was thrown. La Salle was called for unsportsmanlike conduct. The fumble was waved off and the ball advanced to the La Salle 12. Jake Massa ended up going off tackle for 2 yards and the score. Less than a minute into the second quarter Elder led 7-3.In an error filled game La Salle got a break with 2:58 to go in the half, but couldn’t capitalize on it. The Elder punter dropped the snap and was tackled on his 13-yard line. On La Salle’s second play Griffin Merritt was intercepted in the end zone, squandering another scoring opportunity.After Elder advanced the ball to their 42 Bittner was intercepted by Dan Hinton, giving the Lancers one last scoring chance before the half. With 11 seconds left on the Elder 14-yard line Cam Porter bolted off tackle, was hit on the 1-yard line and fell into the end zone for the score. With 4 seconds to go in the half La Salle led 10-7.The half was a defensive struggle with the Lancers totaling 102 yards to the Panthers 93. La Salle was led by Cam Porter’s 45 yards on 9 carries. Griffin Merritt was 5-10 passing for 60 yards and 1 interception. Josh Whyle led all receivers with 3 catches for 49 yards. Elder’s Mike Bittner was 7-11 for 76 yards and 1 interception. Jack Massa had 38 yards on 9 carries. Garret Bledsoe led all tacklers with 6 1/2. On La Salle’s 2nd possession of the 2nd half they mounted a drive, starting at their 21. On the 13th play of the drive Jake Seibert kicked 36-yard field goal extending the Lancers’ lead to 13-7. Elder threatened again on their next possession. Seven plays into their drive the Panthers were looking at 3rd and 3 on the Lancers’ 15-yard line. They were called for holding, forcing them to pass from their 25. The Lancers’ Shane McNally intercepted the ball, putting out the fire. After La Salle was forced to punt, the Panthers were right back at it again. They pushed the ball down to the Lancers’ 29-yard line before Jarred Uran broke up a 4th and 6 pass. La Salle had dodged another bullet. On offense La Salle was becoming more conservative, content to rely on their defense.Once more Elder got the ball on their 20 with 4:43 to go in the game. Seven plays later the Panthers found themselves at La Salle’s 20-yard line menacing again with 2:23 to go in the game. Three plays later they had it 1st and goal at the 9 ?-yard line. The next play Jake Massa raced into the end zone but Elder was called for holding, making it 1st and goal from the 20-yard line. On 3rd and 15, with 37 seconds left, La Salle was called for a personal foul, roughing the passer, giving Elder a 1st down on the La Salle 7-yard line. Quarterback Mike Bittner was injured on the play, turning over the quarterback duties to Danny Nieman, who had started at quarterback the 1st part of the year. Elder was called for delay of game, moving the ball back to the Lancers’ 12. La Salle was called for a facemask penalty on the next play moving the ball to the 9. Nieman proceeded to throw 3 straight incomplete passes setting up 4th and goal with 9 seconds to go. It all came down to the final play. Danny Nieman threw into the end zone and La Salle’s Luke Thiemann picked off the pass, ending the drive and the ball game. The wild ride was over with the Lancers winning 13-7.For the evening La Salle had 204 yards to Elder’s 242. Elder’s Jack Massa had 103 yards on 26 carries, while La Salle’s Cam Porter had 85 yards on 17 carries. Merritt was 8-16 for 80 yards. Bittner was 11-19 for 124 yards. Garret Bledsoe led all tacklers with 10 tackles. Lancers’ NotesPlayoffsLa Salle’s victory over Elder sewed up the #1 seed for the Lancers in Division II, Region 8. The Lancers will play Harrison [8-2] Friday night.Elder did not make the playoffs. They came into the La Salle game seated 6th. [The top 8 teams in the region qualify for the playoffs.] They were edged out by Fairfield by .02. One of the teams that passed them was Moeller, a team Elder defeated 42-14 earlier in the season.Tournament BracketsCheck this website: LeadersCameron Porter finished the regular season as the top rusher in the GCL with 689 yards. Jarred Uran led all tacklers with 95 tackles, the most in the GCL since 2012.Craig Wills led everyone in interceptions with 3.Starting To PeakLa Salle has a 3-game winning streak heading into the playoffs. Over that time frame the Lancers have averaged 24 points a game while giving up 8.7. ................
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