Leopards Smash Spartans 34-7, Rack Up 478 Yards – Varsity Football
Louisville 34, Boardman 7
<<< At Dover | Football Schedule | Next At Hoover >>>
The Louisville Leopards Varsity Football Team turned in a complete performance during a 34-7 road victory over the host Boardman Spartans Friday night at Spartan Stadium.
Louisville scored on its opening possession, built a 24-0 halftime advantage, and extended its lead to 27-0 before Boardman finally broke through midway through the fourth quarter. The Leopards piled up 478 yards of total offense, including 318 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, while their defense held the Spartans scoreless for the game’s first 41 minutes and 25 seconds.
Junior quarterback Cody Zahler rushed for two touchdowns and completed 10 of 16 passes for 160 yards. Junior wide receiver Drake Wilson led the Louisville passing attack with seven catches for 109 yards, while juniors Lucas Neff and Caden Kortis both eclipsed 100 yards on the ground.
Junior placekicker Parker Daum supplied one of the night’s biggest highlights when he connected on a school-record 44-yard field goal during the third quarter.
The Leopards did not punt and finished with 25 first downs. Defensively, Louisville forced Boardman to punt seven times, limited the Spartans to 14 passing yards, and ended the Spartans’ final threat with an interception.
With the victory, Louisville improves to 3-1 on the season. Boardman falls to 0-4.
Game Stats | Scoring Summary | Team Stats | Individual Stats
YSN Game Broadcast
Live Stream Courtesy of YSN Live
Zahler Caps Opening March With 14-Yard Touchdown
Louisville established control immediately with a six-play, 65-yard touchdown drive on its opening possession.
Kortis carried on the first three plays and gained 21 yards to move the ball across midfield. Neff followed with a 9-yard run before Zahler connected with Drake Wilson for a 21-yard completion to the Boardman 14.
Zahler kept the ball on the next play rolling to his left and raced 14 yards to the end zone, a few yards inside the left pylon. Daum added the extra point to give the Leopards a 7-0 lead with 9:35 remaining in the first quarter.
Louisville threatened to add to its advantage on its next possession. Kortis netted 14 yards on two runs to move the sticks. Senior Colton running back Dougherty then strung together runs of 19 and 5 before Zahler found Caison Grimm for 17 yards, moving the Leopards inside the Boardman 10. Louisville fumbled on the next play and senior linebacker Ryan Mitchell fell on it for the Spartans at the 1-yard line.
The Leopard defense answered by forcing another Boardman punt, and Louisville began to pull away during the second quarter.
Leopards Pour in 17 Second-Quarter Points
Louisville doubled its lead with an eight-play, 61-yard drive early in the second quarter. Zahler completed a 16-yard pass to Grimm and later found Wilson for 20 yards to move the Leopards into the red zone. Kortis finished the march with a 1-yard touchdown run, and Daum’s kick made it 14-0 with 9:39 left in the half.
The Leopards struck again after another Boardman punt. Neff carried four times for 26 yards on a seven-play, 70-yard drive, while Wilson supplied the biggest gain with a 36-yard reception. Zahler capped the possession by running to his left and spinning off a tackle into the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown run. Daum’s successful point after extended the Louisville lead to 21-0 at the 4:32 mark of the first half.
Wilson also returned a punt 15 yards to give Louisville favorable field position on its next possession. His 26-yard reception on the next play moved the ball inside the Boardman 10, but the Leopards came away empty when a 24-yard field-goal attempt was no good.
Louisville’s defense quickly forced another punt, giving the offense one final opportunity with 43 seconds remaining before halftime. Zahler completed passes of 11 yards to Wilson and 18 yards to Ryan Rush before scrambling for another 14 yards. Daum finished the drive by drilling a 29-yard field goal as time expired, sending the Leopards into the locker room with a commanding 24-0 advantage.
Daum Makes School Record 44-Yard field Goal
Daum made school history with 4:35 remaining in the third quarter.
Louisville began the possession at its own 17 and used nine offensive plays plus a pair of Boardman penalties to move into scoring range. Kortis carried five times for 33 yards during the drive.
When the drive stalled at the Spartan 26, Daum came on and split the uprights from 44 yards away to increase Louisville’s lead to 27-0.
The 44-yarder surpassed the previous school record of 43 yards, which Jaron Lohmeyer originally set against Northwest in Louisville’s 23-15 victory on September 25, 2009. Ryker Youngen had matched Lohmeyer’s mark with a 43-yard field goal for the Louisville junior varsity team against Dover the previous Saturday before Daum moved the record one yard farther.
Daum finished the night with 10 points. He made both of his final field-goal attempts and converted all four extra-point kicks.
Neff and Kortis Lead 318-Yard Rushing Attack
Louisville produced its first 300-yard rushing performance of the season, finishing with 318 yards and four touchdowns on 48 carries. The Leopards averaged 6.6 yards per attempt and produced two 100-yard rushers. This is the most rushing yards in a game for Louisville since they rushed for 345 yards in a thrilling 35-34 home victory over Marlington on September 15, 2017.
Neff led Louisville with 111 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Kortis followed with 107 yards and a score on 18 attempts. Dougherty added 58 yards on seven carries, while Zahler ran 10 times for 42 yards and two touchdowns.
Neff and Kortis are the first pair of 100-yard rushers in a game since Dan Kennedy and Creed Patterson both surpassed the century mark in a 34-20 comeback victory at Central Catholic on September 25, 2020.
Zahler also completed 10 of 16 passes for 160 yards without throwing an interception. His 202 combined yards helped Louisville finish with 478 yards on 64 offensive plays, an average of 7.5 yards per snap. This is the most offensive yards the Leopards have had in a game since racking up 489 yards in a 49-34 road victory at Green on September 13-14, 2019.
Wilson was Zahler’s top target, hauling in seven passes for 109 yards. Grimm caught two passes for 33 yards, and Rush added an 18-yard reception.
The Leopards moved the chains 21 times and converted four of their seven third-down attempts. Their only possessions that did not end with points were two lost fumbles, one missed field goal, and the final series after the outcome had been decided.
Louisville Defense Keeps Boardman Off the Board Through Three Quarters
Louisville’s defense protected the early lead by repeatedly getting off the field. Boardman converted only 2 of 10 third-down attempts and punted seven times, including five times during the first half.
The Leopards held quarterback Logan Miller to 2-of-8 passing for 14 yards, recorded a 9-yard sack via Xavier Berdella, and did not surrender a passing first down. Aidan Moore and Coben Scarsella made Boardman’s only receptions, each gaining 7 yards.
Boardman generated most of its offense on the ground, rushing for 245 yards on 29 carries. However, the Spartans were unable to turn those yards into points until midway through the fourth quarter.
Louisville’s defense also came up with the game’s only interception. On Boardman’s final possession, the Spartans drove inside the Leopard 15 before Maddux Edgein intercepted Miller at the Louisville 12 and returned the ball 25 yards. Zahler then took two kneel-downs to finish the victory.
Butto Breaks Shutout Before Neff Answers
Louisville was on the verge of adding to its 27-0 lead during the fourth quarter after driving from its own 20 to the Boardman 2. However, junior linebacker Logan Perry recovered a fumble near the goal line and momentum flipped the Spartans way.
Ryan Mitchell opened the ensuing possession with a 12-yard run before senior running back Frank Butto broke free for an 85-yard touchdown. Oswaldo Salinas added the extra point to cut Louisville’s lead to 27-7 with 6:35 remaining.
The Leopards answered immediately after Kortis recovered an onside kick. Louisville covered 53 yards in four plays, and Neff punctuated the response with a 32-yard touchdown run. Daum’s extra point restored the 27-point margin at 34-7 with 4:29 left.
Butto led Boardman with 135 yards and a touchdown on eight carries. Zezo Hadidan added 58 yards on three attempts, while Miller rushed for 24 yards and Isaiah Payne finished with 23.
Boardman accumulated 259 yards of offense overall, but Louisville’s size up front dominated the contest creating a decisive difference. The Leopards ran 27 more offensive plays than the Spartans and out-gained them by 219 yards.
Louisville Earns First Road Win at Boardman Since 1948
Friday’s contest was the first varsity football meeting between Louisville and Boardman since 1979 and the 25th matchup in the all-time series.
The victory was Louisville’s first over the Spartans since a 17-0 home win in 1977 and its first road win over Boardman since October 16, 1948. Remarkably, the Leopards also won that 1948 road meeting by an identical 34-7 score. It came just five days after the Cleveland Indians defeated the Boston Braves to win their last World Series.
This was Louisville’s first trip to Boardman since the 1992 playoffs when they defeated Youngstown Chaney 27-6 to claim their first Regional Championship. The Leopards last played the Spartans in Boardman in 1978, falling 13-0.
Friday’s 27-point victory matched the 1948 game as Louisville’s largest margin of victory against Boardman. The Leopards improve to 11-12-2 all-time against the Spartans, including 3-8-2 on the road. Boardman still holds a narrow 303-295 scoring edge across the series.
<<< Previous 1979 | Boardman All-Time Series
UP NEXT: The Leopards will next travel to take on the North Canton Hoover Vikings on Friday, September 18. Game time is set for 7:00 PM from Memorial Stadium.
Cover Photo By Rick Everhart Photography
Leopard Opponent Schedule and Scoreboard – Week 4
New Philadelphia 35, @Ashland 10
Ursuline 25, @Youngstown 9
Dover 43, @Lexington 7
Green 24, @North Canton Hoover 20
Lake 15, @Perry 9
Poland 24, @Canfield 21
Canton McKinley 48, @GlenOak 14
Linsly (WV) 32, St. Clairsville 29
34-7 Louisville Football Scorigami?
No, Louisville has played in three other 34-7 games and won all three. Their last 34-7 victory prior to Friday was a 34-7 home win over Howland on October 4, 2019. The Leopards also defeated Poland at home 34-7 on October 11, 1957. Louisville’s first 34-7 victory came in their last road victory over the Spartans on October 16, 1948.
View Louisville Football Scorigami Chart
Donate to Leopard Nation
Louisville at Boardman Football Game Statistics
Scoring Summary
LEOPARDS 34, SPARTANS 7
Team 1-2-3-4–TOTAL
Louisville 7-17-3-7–34
Boardman 0-0-0-7–7
1st Quarter
LOUISVILLE – Cody Zahler 14-Yard Run (Parker Daum Kick) | LHS 7, BHS 0, 9:35
6 Plays, 65 Yards, 2:25
2nd Quarter
LOUISVILLE – Caden Kortis 1-Yard Run (Parker Daum Kick) | LHS 14, BHS 0, 9:39
8 Plays, 61 Yards, 3:44
LOUISVILLE – Cody Zahler 8-Yard Run (Parker Daum Kick) | LHS 21, BHS 0, 4:32
7 Plays, 70 Yards, 3:30
LOUISVILLE – Parker Daum 29-Yard Field Goal | LHS 24, BHS 0, 0:00
6 Plays, 45 Yards, 0:43
3rd Quarter
LOUISVILLE – Parker Daum 44-Yard Field Goal | LHS 27, BHS 0, 4:35
9 Plays, 57 Yards, 3:52
4th Quarter
BOARDMAN – Frank Butto 85-Yard Run (Oswaldo Salinas Kick) | LHS 27, BHS 7, 6:35
2 Plays, 97 Yards, 0:44
LOUISVILLE – Lucas Neff 32-Yard Run (Parker Daum Kick) | LHS 34, BHS 7, 4:29
4 Plays, 53 Yards, 2:04
Records: Louisville 3-1, Boardman 0-4
Team Stats
First Downs
Louisville: 25 (15 Rushing, 8 Passing, 2 Penalty)
Boardman: 8 (8 Rushing)
Total Offense
Louisville: 64 Plays, 478 Yards, 4 Touchdowns (7.5 Yards Per Play)
Boardman: 37 Plays, 259 Yards, 1 Touchdown (7.0 Yards Per Play)
Rushing
Louisville: 48 Carries, 318 Yards, 4 Touchdowns (6.6 Average)
Boardman: 29 Carries, 245 Yards, 1 Touchdown (8.4 Average)
Passing
Louisville: 10 of 16 for 160 Yards
Boardman: 2 of 8 for 14 Yards, 1 Interception
Fumbles/Lost
Louisville: 2/2
Boardman: 0/0
Penalties/Yards
Louisville: 1 for 5 Yards
Boardman: 7 for 65 Yards
3rd Down Conversions
Louisville: 4 for 7 (57%)
Boardman: 2 for 10 (20%)
4th Down Conversions
Louisville: None
Boardman: 1 for 2 (50%)
Punt Yards
Louisville: None
Boardman: 7 Punts, 237 Yards (33.9 Average)
Kick Return Yards
Louisville: 1 Return, 0 Yards
Boardman: 5 Returns, 63 Yards (12.6 Average)
Punt Return Yards
Louisville: 2 Returns, 20 Yards (10.0 Average)
Boardman: None
Field Goal Attempts
Louisville: 2 of 3 (Missed 24; Made 29, 44)
Boardman: None
Sacks Against
Louisville: None
Boardman: 1 for 9 Yards
Individual Stats
Rushing
Louisville
Lucas Neff 13 Carries, 111 Yards, 1 Touchdown
Caden Kortis 18 Carries, 107 Yards, 1 Touchdown
Colton Dougherty 7 Carries, 58 Yards
Cody Zahler 10 Carries, 42 Yards, 2 Touchdowns
Boardman
Frank Butto 8 Carries, 135 Yards, 1 Touchdown
Zezo Hadidan 3 Carries, 58 Yards
Logan Miller 6 Carries, 24 Yards
Isaiah Payne 4 Carries, 23 Yards
Ryan Mitchell 5 Carries, 5 Yards
Jordan Hodge 1 Carry, 1 Yard
Aidan Moore 2 Carries, -1 Yard
Passing
Louisville
Cody Zahler 10 of 16 for 160 Yards
Boardman
Logan Miller 2 of 8 for 14 Yards, 1 Interception, Sacked 1 Time for 9 Yards
Receiving
Louisville
Drake Wilson 7 Catches, 109 Yards
Caison Grimm 2 Catches, 33 Yards
Ryan Rush 1 Catch, 18 Yards
Boardman
Aidan Moore 1 Catch, 7 Yards
Coben Scarsella 1 Catch, 7 Yards
Kick Returns
Louisville
Caden Kortis 1 Return, 0 Yards
Boardman
Isaiah Payne 3 Returns, 37 Yards, 25 Long (12.3 Average)
Jordan Hodge 1 Return, 14 Yards
J-Anthony Daniels 1 Return, 12 Yards
Punt Returns
Louisville
Drake Wilson 2 Returns, 20 Yards, 15 Long (10.0 Average)
Boardman
None
Punts
Louisville
None
Boardman
Ryan Mitchell 7 Punts, 237 Yards, 38 Long (33.9 Average)
Kicking
Louisville
Parker Daum 2 of 3 Field Goals, 44 Long; 4 of 4 Extra Points
Boardman
Oswaldo Salinas 1 of 1 Extra Points
