CINCINNATI — Elder High School football coach Doug Ramsey won his 200th career game during a Division I, Region 4 first-round playoff game Friday as the host Panthers defeated Colerain 55-48 in triple overtime.

Ramsey entered the Ohio High School Athletic Association records for the most coaching wins in Ohio.

Ramsey has a record of 200-93 since becoming the Elder head coach in 1997. He led the Panthers to back-to-back Division I state titles in 2002 and 2003 and two other state finals (2019, 2008).

He was presented the game ball by longtime assistant coach Craig James on the rain-soaked field Friday night.

"I told (the team), 'Could you guys have made it a little easier,'" Ramsey said. "What a way to get to 200 right? You know a game like that playing against a really good team...we just kept fighting."

Elder senior Drew Ramsey, Doug's son, scored four touchdowns and surpassed 100 receptions this season.

"It means everything," Drew Ramsey said of the milestone. "I'm glad I was here when he could do it. My brother [Peyton] is coaching. The whole family is around so it's really special."

Senior wide receiver Andrew Harp had three touchdown receptions including one in the fourth quarter, another in overtime and his third in the second overtime for the Panthers (6-5), who advance to play at St. Xavier (9-2) in a Division I, Region 4 quarterfinal Nov. 5.

Colerain (5-6) was led by sophomore quarterback Zae Jennings who rushed for five touchdowns including a 92-yarder, a 76-yarder and a 56-yard score.

He is the first Colerain player to score five touchdowns in a game since September 2018.

"Zae had a hell of a night and so did a lot of our kids," Colerain coach Shawn Cutright said. "They gave it their all and left it on the field. What more can a coach ask from their players. We will wake up tomorrow and be better men with the effort and attitude we have in the game tonight."

Former Colerain quarterback Deante Smith-Moore - then a senior - rushed for five touchdowns against visiting Princeton Sept. 7, 2018, according to the GMC website.

Colerain led 20-6 with 8:32 left in the second quarter but the Panthers rallied to tie the game at 20 at halftime. A dramatic second half saw the game tied at 34 at the end of regulation. Elder's defense stopped Colerain on fourth down in the third overtime to seal the victory.

"I tell these guys once we get to the playoffs it's one and done," Doug Ramsey said. "You don't think about anything else."

Ramsey discussed with WCPO this past summer about the significance of coaching Elder football while the program has had a strong connection to his family. He has coached three sons in the program including Tanner, Peyton and current senior Drew.

Peyton Ramsey was coaching from the press box for the Panthers on Friday night.

"I remember being a part of the 150th [win]," Peyton Ramsey said. "I remember coming around as a kid. We're talking this week it probably feels like a lot more than 200 — at least it feels like it. This place is special. It means a lot to our family and to do it in this kind of fashion is something special."

New York Giants tight end Kyle Rudolph, a 2008 Elder graduate, said Ramsey has impacted countless lives.

"As I'm sure Doug will say, it's a true testament to all the great players who've played for him and all the coaches who've coached with him, but it all starts at the top with Elder Football," Rudolph said. "The consistency he's shown for almost three decades is second to none."

Rudolph remembers going to an Elder football camp as a kid and idolizing all the players at the time.

The U.S. Army All-American football player was also a basketball standout and said he enjoyed playing both sports. Ramsey was always supportive of Rudolph being a multi-sport athlete.

"Now as a former player who's closing in on 15 years since my last season there, being able to watch the countless lives he's continued to impact as the head football coach, it's amazing," Rudolph said.

Dallas Cowboys long snapper Jake McQuaide, a 2006 Elder graduate, said Ramsey is all about the game of football and the student-athletes.

"Coach Ramsey has done an incredible job leading the program at Elder," McQuaide told WCPO. "The Elder fan base loves its Panthers. There are two sides to that coin though. As the head coach, you have tons of support to lean on, but you also have thousands of people critiquing your every move. Coach Ramsey has done a great job maximizing the former and minimizing the latter. He makes sure to keep it about the kids."

Elder athletic director Kevin Espelage said Ramsey's impact is remarkable in 25 years as a head coach. Ramsey was an assistant for several years prior to that.

"Like most good coaches, Doug will probably defer a lot of the credit to his players, past and present, and coaches and parents," Espelage said. "But Doug Ramsey is a great coach and even better father, husband and a tremendous teacher. Yes, the credit for 200 wins should be dispersed to all involved but Doug Ramsey is the 'face of the franchise' so to speak. His impact goes beyond just the 200 wins, four state title game appearances and two state titles."

Kevin Welch

Former Elder athletic director Dave Dabbelt hired Ramsey as the head coach in 1997. Dabbelt, who was the Elder athletic director from 1990 to 2017, said Ramsey's legacy goes beyond the success on the field.

"To me the key thing is he's always cared about all the kids," Dabbelt said. "It's not just the starters, it's not just the studs — it's all of them. It creates to me a great team atmosphere, a good feeling within the community. I think that's the piece that's gone well."

CINCINNATI — When Elder senior Drew Ramsey walks into The Pit Friday night, he will likely have a much different feeling than the 2020 season opener.

Thousands of fans will likely await the opening kickoff against visiting Covington Catholic at 7 p.m. in the 24th annual Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown.

There is simply no replicating the anticipatory energy for players and coaches when a stadium has thousands of fans.

"My sophomore year (in 2019) it was just crazy because it was always so loud," said Ramsey, a Greater Catholic League South division football tri-athlete of the year in 2020.

"Every game was packed. Then last year there was just no one there. It was silent. You could literally hear what the coaches were saying on the sideline. It was so much different. We weren't used to it. When you know you're going to have 10,000 or 8,000 fans there it changes the game so much. It gives so much more momentum."

Mike Dyer/WCPO

Ohio high school football games likely will return to a more traditional game-day atmosphere this week without COVID-19 restrictions and protocols.

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Ohio lifted most statewide COVID-19 pandemic health orders in June and Ohio High School Athletic Association member high schools aren't subject to the state mandates and limited attendance procedures set forth by the Ohio governor's office in 2020.

Local and county health departments, school districts and private schools set their own guidance this fall for interscholastic and extracurricular activities.

Last season, high school sports venues could have no more than 1,500 fans or 15% of their seating capacity starting in August 2020.

The spectators last season were primarily parents, families or loved ones of the student-athletes. The euphoria around the stadium wasn't the same.

"I think last year was so different that you just hope that student sections can get back to being the way they were and fans in stands and packed crowds," said Tom Gamble, organizer of the Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown. "We just hope that's the way it is because I think that's what makes high school football not only in this area but anywhere."

Mason High School is having a 60th anniversary celebration of its football program Friday night in its home game against Gahanna Lincoln. More than 50 alumni are scheduled to join the celebration in the pregame and halftime festivities.

WCPO

Mason coach Brian Castner said the return of a larger fan capacity at Dwire Field is "long overdue."

"I met with my captains last night," Castner said. "Just to talk through a 15-minute captains' meeting, see them smiling and just chomping at the bit -- can't wait to get to Friday. You can't mimic that. You can't make that up."

Despite the easing of restrictions, school administrators are using cautious optimism to start the school year as the pandemic continues.

"On one hand there is a lot that I'm excited about," said Lakota West athletic director Scott Kaufman, who is president of the OHSAA board of directors. "We're going into this season with no fan restrictions, which certainly is a dramatic change from last year. But, in the same respects it's a little bit disheartening and frustrating that we're dealing with restrictions (in schools) that quite frankly are probably more self-induced than they are necessary.

"When you look at numbers of hospitalizations being where they are and the percentage of those being unvaccinated people -- without getting into a political battle -- we're all being handcuffed because of people choosing not to get a vaccination. If we want to get back to normal especially in the schools, we have to get people vaccinated."

Lakota West opens the football season at St. Xavier Friday night in a highly-anticipated rematch of the 2020 Division I regional final that St. X won en route to a state title.

St. Xavier High School

St. X athletic director Brian Reinhart anticipates a sold-out RDI Stadium at Ballaban Field, which has a capacity of about 7,500 fans.

Reinhart said Monday there are no pandemic-related attendance regulations for those entering the game, but the school plans to make announcements and reminders to encourage the use of hand sanitizer, hand-washing procedures or wearing masks when necessary.

"You know last year I just can't say enough good about our families and our entire community was so supportive because they knew how important athletics was," Reinhart said. "I think we have a whole new level of respect for our coaches, our athletic trainers, our training staff -- just the amount of time and energy they put into supporting and enabling our young people to be able to play."