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Home » Football News

Journal Spotlights Justin Elder and the Cougar Running Game

Elder carrying the load for Cougars

It took junior a while to get involved in Edgewood's offense, but once he did, he took off for 318 yards

By Skip Weaver

Staff Writer

Friday, September 19, 2008

TRENTON - When Justin Elder stepped onto the football field at Eaton High School three weeks ago, it was the first time since eighth grade he had played a down of offense.

Elder entered the game midway through the second quarter and promptly caught a screen pass for 15 yards and a first down. By the game's end, Elder had entered his name into the Edgewood history books by rushing for a school-record 318 yards on 20 carries in a single game.

That was something even his older brother Jon - the Cougars' all-time leading rusher - never accomplished.

"I was amazed, because it didn't feel like it," Elder said.

But the junior almost didn't get into the game. He had suffered a concussion - his second - two weeks earlier in a scrimmage and had to sit out the regular-season opener. He was a game-time decision at Eaton, so he stayed close to head coach Steve Channell in case his number was called.

"It was a spontaneous decision to put him in," Channell said. "He was healthy and he wanted to play. I could tell early on it was going to be a long night offensively, so I felt the time was right to put him in.

"It became clear quickly that he was going to be a factor, and in the end, it obviously paid off," he added.

Edgewood won that offensive slugfest 51-45, with Elder punching the ball into the end zone three times.

"Jon always told me there was nothing like hearing the fans scream your name when you ran for a touchdown," said Elder, who also excels on the baseball field. "I found out what he meant that night."

Since that explosive beginning, Elder has rushed for 163 more yards and is one of the top rushers in Butler County with 45 carries for 481 yards and eight touchdowns.

"It's not overly surprising, because he has good athletic skills," Channell said. "He has good vision and has good straight-ahead speed that few others have."

Channell said it was tough to compare Elder, who is 6-foot-1 and 160 pounds, to any other runner he's had during his 19 season as coach at Edgewood.

"Traditionally, our backs have been smaller, quicker type guys," Channell added. "And he's not as big as (fullback Josh) Glancy was, so it's hard to compare him to anyone. He's just not of that mold. He's a rare back in our system."

*from Middletown Journal*

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