Leopards Shutout New Philadelphia 24-0, First Week 1 Win Since 2016 – Varsity Football
Louisville 24, New Philadelphia 0
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The Louisville Leopards Varsity Football Team opened the 2025 season in dominant fashion Friday night, shutting out the host New Philadelphia Quakers 24-0 at Woody Hayes Quaker Stadium. The victory marked Louisville’s first Week 1 win since 2016.
Game Stats | Scoring Summary | Team Stats | Individual Stats
Stoffer Accounts for 199 Yards and 2 Touchdowns
Quarterback Gabe Stoffer accounted for 199 yards of offense and two touchdowns to lead the Leopards. He carried the ball 20 times for 63 yards and a score on the ground, and was nearly flawless through the air, completing 10 of 11 passes for 136 yards. Stoffer capped his night with a 23-yard touchdown strike to top target Quin Burick late in the fourth quarter.
Burick led all receivers with five catches for 72 yards. Running back Owen DiMarzio added balance on the ground with 55 rushing yards on 13 carries.
Leopard Defense Thwarts Early Quaker Threats
New Philadelphia moved the ball across midfield on their opening possession, but punted soon after. On their second possession, Louisville linebacker Owen Wilson crept up to the line of scrimmage, side-stepped the tight end, busted through a chip from the runningback, and surged into the backfield to sack the quarterback for an 11-yard loss.
The loss set up a 3rd-and-20 for the Quakers and they would convert it. Quarterback Parker Rieger dropped in a perfectly placed pass over the outstretched arms of two Leopard defenders that was hauled in by CJ Carlisle for a 45-yard reception down to the Louisville 34.
New Philadelphia kept marching into the red zone before Louisville blitzed again on 3rd-and-4. Wilson again rocketed into the backfield for a sack as the first quarter ended. The Quakers went for broke on 4th-and-13, but the pass to the end zone was batted down at the goal line by Leopard defensive back Colton Norris. Earlier in the drive, Norris had a pick six called back for a penalty so it was a measure of redemption, ending the Quakers’ threat.
New Philadelphia threatened again on their next possession when runningback Kolston Fox found a seam on a run to the right down the sideline for a 53 yard gain setting up goal to go at the 10 yard line. But the Louisville defense slammed the door again. Linebacker Colton Dougherty dropped Fox for a two yard loss, Norris broke up another pass to the end zone, and Wilson pressured the quarterback on 3rd-and-goal forcing an errant pass out of bounds.
The Quakers settled for a 27 yard field goal attempt that was blocked at the line by Trevor Burick and deflected out of bounds at the one yard line.
LHS Slow Start Turns Into Long March
After producing just 12 yards of offense and no first downs on their first two possessions, the Leopards flipped the script in the second quarter. Taking over from their own 1-yard line, Stoffer and the Louisville offense engineered a 15-play, 99-yard march that chewed up 7:18 of game clock.
Stoffer found Wilson over the middle for a 20-yard gain on the first play of the drive. He then hit Burick for a gain of 13 to dig out of a 2nd-and-14 and then attacked the line for 6 yards to convert a 3rd-and-1. Stoffer went back to Burick for a 9-yard completion before rifling a pass to Luke Seaman for a 25-yard completion to the New Philadelphia 30.
The Leopards had a 4th-and-3 Stoffer to Burick conversion wiped out by a penalty. But Stoffer went back to the well again targeting Burick for a 10-yard completion on 4th-and-8 to put Louisville in the redzone.
Tight End Jake Baker and Wilson paved a hole for DiMarzio to sweep through for a 12-yard gain to the left setting up goal-to-go on the next play. Louisville netted 5 yards on the next three plays to move the ball within inches of the goal line.
Stoffer went under center and ran a “tush push” behind Trevor Burick, Zander McCrobie, and Aden Norris to gain the necessary yardage surpassing the goal line. After a delay, the referees finally signaled touchdown and the Leopards were on the board first. Placekicker Parker Daum added the extra point to put Louisville in front 7-0 with 1:37 left before halftime.
Daum Adds to Louisville Lead in Third
Both teams gained 9 yards and punted on 4th-and-1 on their first possessions of the second half. The Leopards took over on their own 31 yard line and marched 66 yards on 9 plays eating up nearly half a quarter of game time.
Stoffer ran up the middle for a gain of 12 yards to move the chains and then found Burick down the right sideline for a gain of 17 to the Quaker 36. Runs by Stoffer and DiMarzio resulted in two more first downs to put Louisville in the red zone again.
The Leopards were flagged for holding on 2 of the next 3 snaps dropping them back into a 3rd-and-20. Stoffer rolled right on the ensuing play and used his legs to win back 17 yards putting Louisville back into field goal range.
Daum booted through a 34-yard field goal to put the Leopards up 10-0. Louisville not only took a two score advantage, but shortened the game with another long sustained drive leaving only 1:54 remaining in the third quarter.
Seaman Pick Six Puts Leopards Ahead 17-0
The Leopard defense forced a three-and-out on the next possession and the Louisville offense continued to move the ball with a balanced offense.
The Leopards journeyed down to the 7 yard line before facing a 4th-and-2. A high snap doomed any chance of conversion and Quaker linebacker Caleb Crowthers scooped up the ball and returned it 21 yards to the New Philadelphia 46 giving the Quakers life.
But the Louisville defense denied New Philadelphia again. Wilson wreaked havoc in the backfield again dropping Rieger for a two yard loss setting up 3rd-and-12. Rieger then went long to Carlisle who broke free down the left side of the field. The ball hit Carlisle in the chest and bounced to the turf bringing up 4th-and-12.
The Leopards sent seven after Rieger on the next play. The trio of Isaiah Bragg, Burick, and Wilson penetrated through and closed in on Rieger forcing a quick throw to the left sideline. The ball floated in the air, hit off the Quaker receiver defended tightly by Seaman. The ball floated toward the turf, but Seaman tapped it back up and secured it one-handed with his right hand. After gaining control, Seaman broke a tackle, side-stepped two defenders, and took the ball to the house for a 55 yard interception return touchdown.
Daum booted home the extra point to put Louisville ahead 17-0 with 4:50 left in the contest.
Bragg Sets Up Burick Touchdown
On New Philadelphia’s next series, Bragg stepped in front of a 4th-and-4 pass and intercepted it to give the ball back to the Leopards with great field position on the Quaker 39.
Louisville ran the ball the next five plays keyed by Wilson’s 17 yard run to the New Philadelphia 25 yard line.
On 4th-and-8 the Leopards went to the air: Stoffer hit Burick on a back-shoulder fade for a 23-yard touchdown to seal off a perfect night. Daum converted his third extra point of the evening to make it 24-0 with 1:08 remaining.
Louisville Records 1st Opener Shutout Since 2009
The Quakers ran two plays before the clock ran out and the Leopards celebrated their first week 1 victory in nine years. Louisville’s last opening night victory came in a 21-17 victory at Canfield back in 2016 after Brody Hahn hooked up with Tyler Adams on a 4th-and-10 touchdown in the final minutes.
The shutout is the Leopards’ first since Head Coach Chris Kappas notched his first victory 22-0 at Zanesville back in 2023.
Louisville last shutout an opponent on opening night back in 2009. The Leopards blanked Ravenna 28-0 on the road to open up that DII AP Poll State Title campaign.
Leopards Out-Gain Quakers 274-187
Louisville out-gained New Philadelphia 274-187 in total yardage, which included a 138-82 edge on the ground. The Leopards also held an 11-8 advantage on first downs.
New Philadelphia was led by Fox, who rushed 3 times for 53 yards, and Carlisle, who caught 4 passes for 68 yards. Reiger went 13-of-23 passing for 105 yards.
Louisville Earns 1st Win Over New Philadelphia Since 2004
The victory is the Leopards’ first over the Quakers since knocking them off 18-7 in the playoffs in 2004. New Philadelphia had won the previous two meetings in 2023 and 2024.
Louisville is now 2-4 against New Philadelphia all-time, but holds a 2-2 record when playing at Woody Hayes Quaker Stadium.
<<< Previous 2024 | New Philadelphia All-Time Series
UP NEXT: The Leopards will next travel to take on the Alliance Aviators on Friday, August 29. Game time is set for 7:00 PM from Mount Union’s Kehres Stadium.
Cover Photo By: Rick Everhart Photography
Louisville Opponents Week 1 Scores
Thursday, August 21
Perry 41, at Canton Central Catholic 14
Friday, August 22
Alliance 25, at Padua Franciscan 3
at Marlington 19, Warrensville Heights 8
at North Canton Hoover 30, Akron Buchtel 0
at Canfield 26, West Branch 21
Indian Valley 28, at Green 21
at Cincinnati La Salle 42, Cincinnati Colerain 0
at Orrville 56, Wooster 23
Norton at Northwest, CANCELLED
24-0 Scorigami?
No Scorigami, a Louisville Football game has ended in a 24-0 result seven times previously with the Leopards holding a 4-3 record in those games. Louisville most recently lost at Massillon 24-0 in 2019 and most recently won 24-0 at Canton South 24-0 in 1995.
- 10/5/1962 – Louisville 24, North Canton Hoover 0
- 9/20/1974 – Louisville 24, Jackson 0
- 9/27/1985 – GlenOak 24, Louisville 0
- 11/1/1991 – Louisville 24, Minerva 0
- 10/6/1995 – Louisville 24, Canton South 0
- 11/12/2004 – Lake 24, Louisville 0
- 10/25/2019 – Massillon 24, Louisville 0
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New Philadelphia at Louisville Football Game Statistics
Scoring Summary
LEOPARDS 24, QUAKERS 0
Team 1-2-3-4–TOTAL
Louisville 0-7-3-14–24
New Philadelphia 0-0-0-0–00
1st Quarter
NO SCORING
2nd Quarter
LOUISVILLE – Gabe Stoffer 1 Yard Run (Parker Daum Kick) | LHS 7, NPHS 0, 1:37
15 Plays, 99 Yards, 7:18
3rd Quarter
LOUISVILLE – Parker Daum 34 Yard Field Goal | LHS 10, NPHS 0, 1:54
9 Plays, 66 Yards, 5:35
4th Quarter
LOUISVILLE – Luke Seaman 55 Yard Interception Return (Parker Daum Kick) | LHS 17, NPHS 0, 4:50
LOUISVILLE – Quin Burick 23 Yard Pass from Gabe Stoffer (Parker Daum Kick) | LHS 24, NPHS 0, 1:09
6 Plays, 39 Yards, 2:52
Records: Louisville 1-0, New Philadelphia 0-1
Team Stats
First Downs
Louisville: 11
New Philadelphia: 8
Total Offense
Louisville: 49 Plays, 274 Yards, 1 Touchdown (5.6 Average)
New Philadelphia: 43 Plays, 187 Yards (4.3 Average)
Rushing
Louisville: 38 Carries, 138 Yards, 1 Touchdown (3.6 Average)
New Philadelphia: 20 Carries, 82 Yards (4.1 Average)
Passing
Louisville: 10 of 11 for 136 Yards
New Philadelphia: 13 of 23 for 105 Yards, 2 Interceptions
Fumbles/Lost
Louisville: 1/1
New Philadelphia: 1/0
Penalties/Yards
Louisville: 7 for 45 Yards
New Philadelphia: 4 for 17 Yards
3rd Down Conversions
Louisville: 3 of 10 (30%)
New Philadelphia: 4 of 11 (36%)
4th Down Conversions
Louisville: 1 of 2 (50%)
New Philadelphia: 1 of 3 (33%)
Punt Yards
Louisville: 3 Punts, 115 Yards (38.3 Average)
New Philadelphia: 4 Punts, 138 Yards (34.5 Average)
Kick Return Yards
Louisville: 1 Return, 6 Yards
New Philadelphia: 3 Returns, 34 Yards (11.3 Average)
Punt Return Yards
Louisville: None
New Philadelphia: None
Field Goal Attempts
Louisville: 1 for 1 (34 Yards)
New Philadelphia: 0 for 1 (Blocked)
Individual Stats
Rushing
Louisville
Gabe Stoffer 20 Carries, 63 Yards, Touchdown
Owen DiMarzio 13 Carries, 55 Yards
Owen Wilson 3 Carries, 18 Yards
Luke Seaman 2 Carries, 2 Yards
New Philadelphia
Kolston Fox 3 Carries, 53 Yards
Myles Tyson 9 Carries, 24 Yards
Koth Dominic 2 Carries, 16 Yards
CJ Carlisle 1 Carry, 1 Yard
Parker Rieger 5 Carries, -12 Yards
Passing
Louisville
Gabe Stoffer 10 of 11 for 136 Yards, 1 Touchdown
New Philadelphia
Parker Rieger 13 of 23 for 105 Yards, 2 Interceptions
Receiving
Louisville
Quin Burick 5 Catches, 72 Yards, 1 Touchdown
Luke Seaman 1 Catch, 25 Yards
Owen Wilson 1 Catch, 20 Yards
Gabe Regimbal 1 Catch, 12 Yards
Owen DiMarzio 2 Catches, 7 Yards
New Philadelphia
CJ Carlisle 4 Catches, 68 Yards
Carter Watson 4 Catches, 31 Yards
TR Harriman 3 Catches, 2 Yards
Vincent Migoni 1 Catch, 6 Yards
Kick Returns
Louisville
Anderson Kandel 1 Return, 6 Yards
New Philadelphia
CJ Carlisle 2 Returns, 28 Yards, 19 Long (14.0 Average)
TR Harriman 1 Return, 6 Yards
Punt Returns
Louisville
None
New Philadelphia
None
Punts
Louisville
2 Punts, 82 Yards, 43 Long (41.0 Average)
New Philadelphia
Noah Colletti 4 Punts, 158 Yards, 57 Long (34.5 Average)
