Louisville Leopards at Canton South Wildcats 2005 Football Highlights
Louisville 27, Canton South 21
The Louisville Leopards scored three touchdowns in the final 6:42 to tie the host Canton South Wildcats 21-21. Louisville would win in overtime 27-21 in the largest Leopards comeback of all-time back on September 30, 2005.
The Louisville Leopards were buried. Wildcat Quarterback Ronnie May had just found Aaron Forte for a 30 yard touchdown strike to put them ahead 21-0 with 9:20 remaining. May was having a superb night as he finished 14 of 26 for 202 yards passing and also ran for a touchdown.
Devoe Torrence had had a strong night carrying the ball 13 times for 52 yards and a 5 yard touchdown in the second quarter. In the receiving game Cory Bourquin finished with 6 catches for 92 yards and Antwon Ervin had 6 grabs for 81 yards and also scored on the two-point conversion that put South in control 21-0.
The undefeated Louisville season was on life support. Winston Churchill once said, “The United States is like a giant boiler. Once the fire is lighted under it, there is no limit to the power it can generate.”
He might as well have been talking about the Leopards and their aerial attack led by Quarterback Drew Kuhn who finished 21 of 36 for 328 yards and 4 touchdowns. On the receiving end of nearly all of those passes was the Senior combination of Kyle Smith and Bill Poyser. Smith finished with 8 catches for 203 yards and Poyser had 7 catches for 107 yards.
On the following possession after going down 21-0, Louisville started inside their own 20 when they were called for a penalty on the kick return. After moving the ball to the 38, a holding penalty erased a 17 yard gain and moved the Leopards back inside their own 25. Two plays later Louisville had flipped the field and was on the Wildcats 32. But yet another penalty wiped away what would have been a 24 yard touchdown pass a few plays later.
Still, the Leopards overcame all adversity and Poyser’s 22 yard touchdown grab with under seven minutes remaining inched the Leopards back to within 21-7. Louisville proceeded to attempt an onside kick after that, but South recovered. The Wildcats went three-and-out and punted.
Kuhn had a big return to midfield called back due to a penalty and Louisville started in the shadow of their own endzone. Six plays and about 90 yards later Kuhn hit Smith for a 15 yard touchdown pass with 4:01 remaining. It was now a one possession affair.
The Leopards kicked the ball deep on the ensuing kickoff. The Wildcats managed one first down, but were backed up by a penalty and eventually punted. Louisville responded with an 8 play, 59 yard scoring drive that ended in another Kuhn to Poyser connection with 32 seconds remaining. On 4th-and-10, Kuhn rolled out of the pocket to the left and Poyser broke right before catching the game-tying touchdown in the middle of the endzone.
Despite Colin McLinden converting on 2 of 2 extra points earlier, Head Coach Paul Farrah sent out Kuhn to kick through the game-tying extra point. It was as true as it could be. Louisville 21, Canton South 21, End of Regulation.
The Wildcats got the ball first in overtime and on 3rd-and-10 Kuhn intercepted May’s pass at the 7 yard line. The Leopards took possession after that and started their drive with a sack and an incompletion. On 3rd-and-12 Kuhn completed a cross-field pass to Poyser for a 14 yard gain to move the chains.
Canton South stuffed the Louisville running game on first and second down setting up a 3rd-and-Goal from the 7. That’s when Kuhn connected with Poyser in the endzone for the third time sending the visiting side of Clyde Brechbuhler Stadium into pandemonium.
NOTE: This is the last time I know of that the Louisville Student Section stormed the field or court in any sport. As a Junior at LHS I was part of the guilty that night and I believe you can see me on the 25 yard line in the video above after the “Leopards Win” title disappears. This is my favorite Louisville game of all-time.
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Scoring Summary
Team 1-2-3-4-OT–TOTAL
Louisville 0-0-0-21-6–27
Canton South 0-7-6-8-0–21
1st Quarter
None
2nd Quarter
Canton South – Devoe Torrence 5 Yard Run (Clapper Kick), 0-7
3rd Quarter
Canton South – Ronnie May 4 Yard Run (Kick Failed), 0-13
4th Quarter
Canton South – Aaron Forte 30 Yard Pass from Ronnie May (Antwon Ervin Pass from Ronnie May), 0-21
Louisville – Bill Poyser 22 Yard Pass from Drew Kuhn (Colin McLinden Kick), 7-21
Louisville – Kyle Smith 15 Yard Pass from Drew Kuhn (Colin McLinden Kick), 14-21
Louisville – Bill Poyser 10 Yard Pass from Drew Kuhn (Drew Kuhn Kick), 21-21
Overtime
Louisville – Bill Poyser 7 Yard Pass from Drew Kuhn (No PAT Attempted), 27-21
Stats
Rushing: Louisville 29-56, Canton South 30-68
Passing: Louisville 21-37-328-2, Canton South 14-26-202-1
First Downs: Louisville 20, Canton South 12
Fumbles-Lost: Louisville 2-2, Canton South 0-0
Records: Louisville 6-0, 3-0; Canton South 2-4, 0-3
