Thursday, September 14, 2000
Elder QB looking for improvement
Scholl expects varied defense from Highlands
By Dave Schutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
![[img]](/editions/2000/09/14/scholl150.jpg)
Elder QB Matt Scholl
(Brandi Stafford photo)
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If history repeats itself, Elder quarterback Matt Scholl will come through in a big way Saturday for the Panthers against Highlands at Paul Brown Stadium (7:30 p.m.).
“A lot of people judge quarterbacks by their first or second games,” Elder football coach Doug Ramsey said.
“Adam Ryan struggled the first two games. So did Matt Glacken. But both had breakout performances in the third. That's very possible with Matt.”
A senior but a first-year starter at Elder, Scholl will be one of the key offensive players for the Panthers against Highlands, ranked No.12 in the USA Today Super 25 poll.
Panthers fans have come to expect big things from their quarterbacks since former coach Tom Grippa, now at Fairfield, turned Elder into a passing machine 12 years ago.
Matt Keller, Collin Carey, Glacken, Ryan and T.J. Hilvert all have thrown for 2,000-plus yards for Elder during 10-game seasons.
During Elder's first game this season, a 14-7 loss to Colerain, Scholl, a 6-foot-3, 180-pounder, completed 12 of 24 passes. Last week against Western Hills, he was 9-of-14.
“I told him after the Colerain game that he played well,” Ramsey said. “Against Western Hills, he took care of the ball. Two of the incomplete passes were on extra-point attempts.”
Scholl didn't predict a breakout performance for himself Saturday, but he pointed to consistency and improvement.
“I can obviously do much better than I did in the first game,” Scholl said. “Colerain applied a lot of pressure. On a play here and a play there, I should have done some things differently.”
Ramsey refused to blame Scholl for the loss to Colerain.
“As a quarterback, you expect certain players to be blocked,” Ramsey said. “When that player isn't blocked, you run for your life. That's what happened against Colerain the second half.”
Tailback Kyle Koester, who has rushed for more than 300 yards in two games with a patched-up offensive line and a substitute fullback, relieves Scholl of a lot of pressure, forcing opponents to concentrate on stopping the run.
Elder's offense will be back at full strength this week; fullback Kurt Baker (6-foot, 215 pounds) and linemen Paul Rapien (6-5, 245) and Ben Hubert (6-4, 275 pounds) are healthy and ready to play.
Highlands coach Dale Mueller, who attended Elder's game against Western Hills, was impressed with Scholl and Koester.
“He (Scholl) throws well and has a nice touch on the ball,” Mueller said. “He was hitting guys over the middle, and Elder is going to be pleased with him this season.”
Scholl said he expects Highlands to change defenses throughout the game, much like last year.
“I expect them to blitz and move around a lot on defense,” Scholl said. “It's hard to tell where they'll be. They do this to confuse you. I haven't played against a defense like this.”
In Elder's second game, Scholl improved at picking receivers. Instead of immedi ately looking for the primary receiver, he often disguised it by looking the other way.
“When I drop back, I look at certain progressions,” Scholl said. “If the primary receiver is open, I'll throw to him, but I also look for the other receivers.”
As for playing in Paul Brown Stadium, Scholl wasn't sure if the surroundings and big crowd will have an effect on his performance.
“I'll probably have a few butterflies in the beginning,” Scholl said. “But once the game gets started, it should be like any other game.”
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