Louisville Trails Massillon 16-0 Before Weather Rolls In – 8th Grade Football
Massillon 16, Louisville 0
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The Louisville Leopards 8th Grade Football Team hosted the Massillon Tigers Wednesday evening at Louisville Leopards Stadium. Massillon returned two interceptions for touchdowns to build a 16-0 lead before lightning suspended play with 1:12 remaining in the second quarter.
The game was eventually canceled due to the continued threat of severe weather. Because the second quarter was not completed, the contest will not count as an official game. Louisville remains 3-0, while Massillon remains 1-1.
Gretch and Patient Record Takeways on Special Teams
Dawson Gretch and Jude Patient each recovered a loose ball on special teams for the Leopards.
Gretch helped create the first opportunity with a 54-yard punt that pinned Massillon at its own 10. A false start moved the Tigers back five yards before the Louisville defense held them to eight yards on three plays.
On 4th-and-7, Gretch broke through the protection, blocked the Massillon punt and recovered the football at the Tiger 6. Louisville was unable to capitalize on the prime field position, however, as Massillon intercepted a bubble screen pass on 3rd-and-goal from the 13 and returned it for the game’s first touchdown.
The Leopards later faced 3rd-and-25 and attempted a deep pass downfield. The pass fell incomplete, forcing Louisville to punt.
The Massillon returner muffed the kick, and Patient alertly recovered the loose football at the Louisville 37. The takeaway returned possession to the Leopards, but the ensuing drive also ended with an interception return for a touchdown on 3rd-and-11.
Long and Parsons Record Pick Sixes to Lead Massillon
Both Massillon touchdowns came on interception returns.
With the game still scoreless, Louisville faced 3rd-and-goal from the Massillon 13. Jayden Long intercepted a bubble screen pass to the right and raced 84 yards the other way for a touchdown with 2:34 remaining in the first quarter. Jaxon Smith powered up the middle for the conversion run to give the Tigers an 8-0 lead.
Dax Parson doubled the Massillon advantage during the second quarter. Parson stepped in front of a pass and returned the interception 38 yards for a touchdown with 7:16 remaining. Antoine Williams ran untouched into the end zone on the conversion attempt to put the Tigers ahead 16-0.
Since both touchdowns came from the Massillon defense and the Tigers muffed away another potential possession, their offense took the field only once before the game was stopped. That possession began at the Massillon 10 and ended with Gretch’s blocked punt after the Tigers gained eight yards on three offensive plays.
Lightning entered the area later in the second quarter, forcing officials to suspend the game with Massillon leading 16-0 and 1:12 remaining. The contest was ultimately cancelled.
UP NEXT: The 8th Grade Leopards will next travel to take on the Austintown Fitch Falcons on Wednesday, September 16. Game time is set for 6:50 PM from Greenwood Chevrolet Falcon Stadium.
Cover Photo By: Caryn Hartley Photography
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Massillon at Louisville 8th Grade Football Scoring Summary
TIGERS 16, LEOPARDS 0
Team 1-2-3-4–TOTAL
Massillon 8-8-X-X—16
Louisville 0-0-X-X–0
1st Quarter
MASSILLON – Jayden Long 84-Yard Interception Return (Jaxon Smith Run) | LHS 0, MMS 8, 2:34
2nd Quarter
MASSILLON – Dax Parson 38-Yard Interception Return (Antoine Williams Run) | LHS 0, MMS 16, 7:16
Records: Louisville 3-0, Massillon 1-1
Note: Game suspended with 1:12 left in the second quarter due to weather and was cancelled. Due to two quarters not being completed it will not be counted as an official game.
