8. Elder (Cincinnati) 41, Independence (Charlotte, N.C.) 34 in 2007
If there was one team that looked capable of threatening De La Salle's 151-game win streak, it was the Independence Patriots. Heading into the 2007 season, Independence had won 108 straight games and seven straight North Carolina 4A state titles. Along the way, quarterback Chris Leak had set numerous national career passing records and the Patriots beat teams by an average of 35 points per game.
But in 2007, the Patriots were scheduled to take part in the third-annual Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge with a matchup against a tough Elder team. The Panthers had played De La Salle the year before in the Herbstreit event and had lost 56-38 to the Spartans. Elder looked to be on its way to another big loss in 2007, trailing 27-14 to Independence at halftime.
[MaxPreps Story]However, Elder outscored Independence 20-7 in the second half to force overtime. Eric Linneman intercepted a Patriot pass and returned it to the 1-yard line where Nick Gramke dove in for the score. After forcing an Independence punt, Elder drove 90 yards on 11 plays to score on a 10-yard pass from John Groene to future Notre Dame standout Kyle Rudolph and tie the game at 27-27.
Independence converted a pair of fourth-down plays on its ensuing drive and regained the lead on a 2-yard run by
Rodney Chisholm. Elder responded with a 70-yard drive highlighted by a 36-yard fourth down catch by Rudolph. Gramke scored on a 1-yard run with 1:31 remaining to force overtime.
In the extra period, Groene threw 14 yards to Josh Jones for the go-ahead touchdown. Independence was unable to answer as Keith Hamburg intercepted
Anthony Carruthers to end the game.
The teams combined for a ridiculous number of yards of offense with Grone completing 17 of 25 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns. Gramke added 130 yards on 27 carries and three scores. Carruthers, a sophomore, completed 25 of 37 passes for 346 yards and two touchdowns.
The loss ended Independence's 109-game win streak (the Patriots defeated Olympic to start the 2007 season). The Patriots (13-3) went on to lose two more games that season, including a 28-17 loss to New Bern in the Class 4A state championship game. Elder finished the year 7-4, losing to St. Xavier in the first round of the Ohio Division I playoffs.
