Football is back.
The season kicked off tonight at 7 p.m. with a blockbuster non-conference matchup between Withrow of the Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference and Elder of the Greater Catholic League South.
The game, which is took place at Withrow Stadium, featured two teams trying to establish an identity early on in 2024. Withrow tore up the CMAC in 2023, going 5-0 in-conference and finishing with a 244-13 point differential in those games. But the Tigers lost their starting quarterback and running back , plus one of the top recruits in the country, Chris Henry Jr. Elder finished second in the GCLS for the fifth time in six seasons in 2024, but the Panthers also look to replace their starting quarterback and multiple other top contributors.
It's an exciting way to start an exciting part of the year. Here is a recap of the first game of Greater Cincinnati's 2024 high school football season.
How to watch Southwest Ohio football games this season
Elder went to Withrow's home field and handled the Tigers in the season's first game. Elder's next game is at home on Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. against West Catholic (Mich.). Withrow's next contest is Aug. 30 at Alter at 7 p.m.
The defenses took control of the game for the back half of the third quarter and into the fourth. With five minutes left in the game, the score was still Elder 21, Withrow 6. Shortly after that, on a fourth-and-15 play, Kaden Estep found Christopher Paff for the duo's second score of the game to extend the Elder lead.
With the Panthers lined up just feet from the goal line, Maddox Arnold, a Toledo football commit, lowered his head and found pay dirt to give Elder a two-score lead with the third quarter winding down.
The Elder defense held Withrow to a three-and-out after the interception and forced the Tigers to punt. Elder took over on the Withrow 49-yard line.
Withrow grabbed an interception on the first possession of the half, taking the ball over on its own 42-yard line.
The second half started with Withrow kicking to Elder. Elder starts the second half on its own 25-yard line.
Withrow got down to the Elder five-yard line as the second half waned, but the Panther defense held strong to cruise into halftime with an eight-point lead.
Withrow and Elder have punted on consecutive drives. Withrow will take over at its own 20-yard line with about six minutes left in the second quarter.
Kaden Estep completed a 21-yard pass to Christopher Paff for Elder's second touchdown of the game. Elder pinned the extra point to take an eight-point lead.
After the teams traded punts, Panther star Maddox Arnold punctuated a strong drive from Elder by punching it in from the two-yard line to give Elder the lead.
Withrow turned the Panthers over on downs on the next possession and took over at its own eight-yard line. Shortly after, Withrow's Quinton Simmons, a Tennessee Volunteers commit, took a 92-yard run to the house. Elder blocked the extra point.
Elder forced a three-and-out to start the game, taking over on the Withrow 32-yard line with 11:09 left in the first.
At 7 p.m. came the kick between Elder and Withrow, and high school football season in Greater Cincinnati is off.
You can find the full Week 1 football schedule around Greater Cincinnati here .
The Enquirer predicted the finish of each of Greater Cincinnati's football conferences for 2024. Withrow was predicted to finish second in the CMAC Red Division, and Elder was picked to finish third in the GCLS.
One of the best parts about football is its fierce, unwavering rivalries. You can read about the best and most bitter rivalries in Cincinnati, along with some we at The Enquirer wish would return, here .
Coaches Confidential is a new Cincinnati Enquirer series for the 2024-2025 fall season that allows football coaches to answer weekly questions anonymously. This week , coaches spoke on their favorite Greater Cincinnati stadiums to play in. One coach mentioned Withrow’s stadium, with its wrap-around concrete stands, and multiple mentioned “The Pit” at Elder.
Multiple players in tonight's game are ranked among the area’s best by Enquirer on various lists:
Withrow RB Jayel Harris: Best overall players in Cincinnati (No. 23), top ten running back in Greater Cincinnati, top 25 football players from the class of 2025 in Cincinnati (No. 25)
Withrow WR Quintin Simmons: Best overall players in Cincinnati (No. 3), top ten receiver in Greater Cincinnati, top 25 football players from the class of 2025 in Cincinnati (No. 2)
Withrow EDGE Erik Gayle: top 25 football players from the class of 2025 in Cincinnati (No. 15)
Elder LB Maddox Arnold: runner up for best linebacker , voted by Enquirer readers, top ten linebacker in Greater Cincinnati, top 25 football players from the class of 2025 in Cincinnati (No. 17)
In the Enquirer’s preseason football coverage, Elder was ranked No. 8 among area Division I teams. Withrow took the No. 3 spot for teams in Division II . Withrow also landed at No. 23 overall in the state in the USA Today Network Preseason Ohio Super 25 Poll .
Aug. 22 at Withrow at 7 p.m.
Aug. 30 West Catholic (Mich.) at 7 p.m.
Sept. 6 Springboro at 7 p.m.
Sept. 14 at St. Edward at 2 p.m.
Sept. 20 St. Xavier (Ky.) at 7 p.m.
Sept. 27 St. Xavier at 7 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Moeller at 7 p.m.
Oct. 11 Riverdale Baptist (Md.) at 7 p.m.
Oct. 18 Bishop Chatard (Ind.) at 7 p.m.
Oct. 25 La Salle at 7 p.m.
Aug. 22 - Elder at 7 p.m
Aug. 30 at Alter at 7 p.m.
Sept. 6 at Northmont at 7 p.m.
Sept. 13 at St. Xavier at 7 p.m.
Sept. 20 La Salle at 7 p.m.
Sept. 28 at Taft at 1 p.m.
Oct. 5 at Woodward at 3 p.m.
Oct. 11 at Aiken at 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 18 Hughes at 7 p.m.
Oct. 25 Western Hills at 7 p.m.
Audio from the game is streaming on Elder’s website here. You can also catch it over the air waves at AM 740 Cincinnati or AM 910 West Chester.
The Cincinnati football landscape was shaken this year by player transfers. The most notable transfer in play for today’s game between Withrow and Elder is that of Chris Henry Jr., the No. 2 recruit in the class of 2026. He transferred from Withrow to California power Mater Dei before this season.
Just behind that though is a player joining the Tigers this season, Jayel Harris. Harris finished the year with an MVC-best 2,109 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns for Purcell Marian last season. Carlyun Neal.
Here is a list of some of the high-impact transfers to watch around Cincinnati this season.
The Elder Panthers play in the Greater Catholic League South.
The Withrow Tigers play in the Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference .
Elder has rivalries with St. Xavier, Moeller and La Salle. Elder used to play Western Hills every year, but the two haven’t faced off since 2009.
Withrow’s main rival is Taft. The two teams meet this year on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 1 p.m. at Willard Stargel Stadium .
Watch OHSAA football games on NFHS Network
The NFHS Network is a production of the National Federation of State High School Associations and PlayOn! Sports that gives schools the ability to stream and broadcast sporting events, even without a full broadcasting staff.
In Ohio, schools such as Anderson, Blanchester, Clermont Northeastern, Colerain, Fairfield, Hamilton, Indian Hill, Lakota East, Lakota West, Lockland, Monroe, Northwest, Oak Hills, Waynesville and Western Brown have listed home football broadcasts onto the broadcast schedule.
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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Elder Panthers defeat Withrow Tigers 28-6 in season's first game
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