Some would call this game an upset, and by the reaction of the standing-room-only crowd and rowdy student section that blitzed the field after the game, it was clearly a big win.  But La Salle head coach Tom Grippa was keeping things in perspective afterwards.

“We beat them two years ago and lost to them last year in overtime so I knew we could play with them.  I’ll bet if you asked (Elder coach) Doug Ramsey he’d say he knew that La Salle would be a tough game…we just made a few more plays than them.”

One of those plays was the game-clincher with 4:40 left in the game with La Salle clinging to a 21-19 lead.  On third-and-4, Lancers’ quarterback Brendan Jones scrambled from the pocket and connected with Posey, who cut back across the field for a 48-yard touchdown reception.

Any thought of an Elder comeback was thwarted on their next possession by an interception by senior defensive back Andrew Collins with 3:01 left on the clock.  The Panthers had driven to the 50-yard line but hopes vanished on a fourth-and-10 play.

La Salle totaled 339 yards of total offense with 173 coming on the ground thanks in large part to Owens.  Jones was 12-of-17 passing for 166 yards.  The Lancers defense recorded six sacks on the night led by Chandler Burden with 2.

Elder was effective moving the ball but had trouble converting in the red zone.  The Panthers had 280 yards of total offense.  Quarterback John Groene completed 17-of-29 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns before leaving midway through the fourth quarter with an injury.  Joe Hetzer filled in and was 4-of-9 for 35 yards.  Senior wide receiver Nick Olthaus caught eight passes for 71 yards and senior tight end Kyle Rudolph added five catches for 59 yards and two touchdowns.  Nicholas Gramke led the rushing attack with 68 yards on 19 carries.

Elder could only manage a pair of field goals of 26 and 37 yards by Anthony Miliano in the first half while Owens’ first touchdown run of the night of 21 yards gave La Salle a 7-6 halftime lead in a tight, defensive-oriented first half.

It was all about the offense in an explosive third quarter.  La Salle scored on their first two possessions on runs of 14 and 2 by Owens to push their lead to 21-6 at the 6:51 mark.  With momentum changing rapidly, Elder hung in and struck back fast with two touchdowns on their next two possessions within a one minute span.  The first came on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Groene to Rudolph.  Posey fumbled the ensuing kick-off which was recovered by Elder’s Ricky Otis at the Lancer 24-yard line.  Three plays later Groene-Rudolph connected again on a 12-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 21-19.  A 2-point PAT pass attempt failed.

Elder had a chance at the lead early in the fourth quarter but Miliano just missed left on a 37-yard field goal attempt.

The Lancers are 1-point away from being undefeated on the season, and by beating Elder will certainly start getting more recognition if they keep up their winning ways.

“They (Elder) are a really good football team and we’re proud that we beat a really good football team,” said Grippa.  “I think we’re pretty good…the problem is that you people (reporters) don’t think so but we are.  La Salle hasn’t beaten Elder very often in football so any time we beat them it’s a great game.”