Leopards Storm Past Tornadoes 38-22 in Season Opener – 8th Grade Football
Louisville 38, Dover 22
8th Grade Football Schedule | Next At Hoover >>>
The Louisville Leopards 8th Grade Football Team erupted for 24 points in the second quarter and defeated the visiting Dover Tornadoes 38-22 Wednesday evening at Louisville Leopards Stadium.
Louisville amassed 397 yards of total offense, including 309 yards rushing, while scoring five offensive touchdowns. The Leopard defense held Dover scoreless in the first half and recorded two interceptions that helped produce a pair of long touchdown runs.
Game Recap | Scoring Summary | Louisville Stats
Dente Amasses 302 Yards, Scores Four Touchdowns
Gavin Dente delivered a spectacular season-opening performance, turning nine offensive touches into 302 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns.
Dente rushed seven times for 226 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 32.3 yards per carry. He also caught two passes for 76 yards and another score.
After a scoreless opening quarter, Liam Beltz connected with Dente for a 45-yard touchdown pass with 7:35 remaining in the second quarter. The duo connected again on the conversion pass to give Louisville an 8-0 lead.
Dente struck again less than three minutes later, breaking free for a 41-yard touchdown run on a sweep to the right. Easton Beard powered across the goal line for the conversion to increase the Leopard advantage to 16-0 with 4:42 left in the half.
Following an interception late in the second quarter, Dente raced 71 yards for his third touchdown of the period on third-and-2. Beltz added the conversion run with 17 seconds remaining to send Louisville into halftime ahead 24-0.
Dente’s final touchdown followed another Louisville interception during the fourth quarter. He ripped off a 50-yard run on the first play of the possession and scored from 33 yards out on the next snap. Beard added the conversion run to give the Leopards a 38-16 advantage with 3:56 remaining.
Dente also recorded a 31-yard reception down the right sideline on a 2nd-and-13. That eventually led to a Easton Beard 3-yard touchdown run with 14 seconds left in the third quarter.
Patient Leads First-Half Shutout
Jude Patient led a Louisville defense that kept Dover off the scoreboard throughout the opening half and generated two interceptions during the game.
Patient registered two sacks during one Dover series in the second quarter, helping the Leopards bring the possession to an end.
Dover later drove into the Louisville red zone, but Jarrod Wooten deflected a pass that Patient intercepted to end the threat. Louisville immediately capitalized with Dente’s 71-yard touchdown run just before halftime. Patient remained active after the break and added a pass breakup in the backfield during the second half.
Greggory Tice III produced Louisville’s second takeaway when he intercepted a pass inside the Leopard 20 during the fourth quarter. The turnover prevented Dover from potentially drawing within one possession and set up Louisville’s decisive two-play, 83-yard touchdown drive that made it 38-16.
Louisville Nets 397 Yards of Offense, 309 on the Ground
Beltz completed 3 of 4 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown. His completions covered 45, 31 and 12 yards. He also ran in a two-point conversion following Dente’s 71-yard touchdown.
The Leopards finished with 309 rushing yards on 26 carries, averaging 11.9 yards per attempt. Beard carried four times for 25 yards and scored on a 3-yard run late in the third quarter. He also converted two two-point attempts on the ground. Colby Burrows also added 29 yards on five carries.
Dover Scores Three Times After Halftime
After being shut out in the opening half, Dover broke through with 5:02 remaining in the third quarter. Aiden Walker connected with Kenny Ramirez for a 16-yard touchdown pass before finding Vaughn Weber for the conversion, cutting Louisville’s lead to 24-8.
Walker and Ramirez connected again for a 15-yard touchdown with 7:11 remaining in the fourth quarter. Walker then found Coen Connare for the conversion to bring the Tornadoes within 30-16.
After Louisville restored its three-score advantage, Walker completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Weber with 2:42 remaining. The conversion run failed, producing the final 38-22 margin.
UP NEXT: The Louisville Leopards 8th Grade Football Team will next travel to take on the North Canton Hoover Vikings on Wednesday, August 26. Game time is set for 6:00 PM from Memorial Stadium.
Donate to Leopard Nation
Dover at Louisville 8th Grade Football Scoring Summary
LEOPARDS 38, TORNADOES 22
Team 1-2-3-4–TOTAL
Dover 0-0-8-14–22
Louisville 0-24-6-8–38
1st Quarter
NO SCORING
2nd Quarter
LOUISVILLE – Gavin Dente 45-Yard Pass from Liam Beltz (Gavin Dente Pass from Beltz) | LMS 8, DMS 0, 7:35
LOUISVILLE – Gavin Dente 41-Yard Run (Easton Beard Run) | LMS 16, DMS 0, 4:42
LOUISVILLE – Gavin Dente 71-Yard Run (Liam Beltz Run) | LMS 24, DMS 0, 0:17
3rd Quarter
DOVER – Kenny Ramirez 16-Yard Pass from Aiden Walker (Vaughn Weber Pass from Aiden Walker) | LMS 24, DMS 8, 5:02
LOUISVILLE – Easton Beard 3-Yard Run (Pass Failed) | LMS 30, DMS 8, 0:14
4th Quarter
DOVER – Kenny Ramirez 15-Yard Pass from Aiden Walker (Coen Connare Pass from Aiden Walker) | LMS 30, DMS 16, 7:11
LOUISVILLE – Gavin Dente 33-Yard Run (Easton Beard Run) | LMS 38, DMS 16, 3:56
DOVER – Vaughn Weber 12-Yard Pass from Aiden Walker (Run Failed)| LHS 38, DMS 22, 2:42
Records: Louisville 1-0, Dover 0-1
Louisville Stats
Team Stats
Total Offense
Louisville: 32 Plays, 397 Yards, 5 Touchdowns (12.4 Yards Per Play)
Rushing
Louisville: 26 Carries, 309 Yards, 4 Touchdowns (11.9 Average)
Passing
Louisville: 3 of 6 for 88 Yards, 1 Touchdown
Punt Yards
Louisville: 2 Punts, 51 Yards (25.5 Average)
Individual Stats
Rushing
Louisville
Gavin Dente 7 Carries, 226 Yards, 3 Touchdowns
Colby Burrows 5 Carries, 29 Yards
Easton Beard 4 Carries, 25 Yards, Touchdown
#3 1 Carry, 14 Yards
Bryson McKee 4 Carries, 6 Yards
#1 1 Carry, 5 Yards
Jarrod Wooten 2 Carries, 3 Yards
Liam Beltz 1 Carry, 1 Yard
Nathan Dazey 1 Carry, 0 Yards
Passing
Louisville
Liam Beltz 3 of 4 for 88 Yards, Touchdown
Gavin Dente 0 of 1
Bryson McKee 0 of 1
Receiving
Louisville
Gavin Dente 2 Catches, 76 Yards, Touchdown
#5 1 Catch, 12 Yards
Punts
Louisville
Dawson Gretch 2 Punts, 51 Yards, 36 Long (25.5 Average)
If you see any errors or know who the names of the numbered players in these stats please email us at louisvilleleopards.org@gmail.com
