Leopards Go Out With Last Second Win at Linsly – Varsity Football
Louisville 20, Linsly 14
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The Louisville Leopards Varsity Football Team defeated the host Linsly Cadets 20-14 Saturday Afternoon at Lockhart Alumini Stadium / Fawcett Field on the campus of Linsly School in Wheeling, West Virginia. With the victory, Louisville finishes the 2021 season with a final record of 2-8.
Adelman Leads Leopards to Victory
Senior runningback Connor Adelman ran the ball 28 times for 146 yards and a touchdown to lead the Leopards on offense. Adelman also recorded three key interceptions on defense to help Louisville end its season on a winning streak.
Senior quarterback Caleb Miller finished 17 of 21 passing for 188 yards and threw 2 touchdown passes. Senior wide receiver Zack Seaman was his top target making 5 catches for 103 yards while also catching a 34 yard touchdown pass to put the Leopards ahead 7-0 early on in the second quarter.
Mueller Hauls in Winning Touchdown
Junior wide receiver Chase Mueller hauled in what proved to be the game winning touchdown catch with just 22.2 seconds remaining to put Louisville in front 20-14. From the Linsly 15 yard line, Miller stepped back in the pocket and fired the ball into the left corner of the endzone. Mueller positioned himself perfectly in front of the Cadet defender who appeared to be holding down his left arm. It didn’t matter, Mueller made a one handed grab and secured the ball in his arm as he went to the ground. The referee threw his arms up indicating a touchdown as the Linsly defenders stood befuddled in the endzone.
The catch was Mueller’s only reception of the game and it capped off a 10 play, 74 go ahead scoring drive that began after Adelman intercepted a Linsly 3rd-and-15 pass at the Leopard 5 yard line. Adelman returned the pick 21 yards to the LHS 26 where Louisville would begin with 4:26 to work with.
Senior lineman Liam Lyck and sophomore linebacker Raymon Kovalesky stopped a quarterback draw in the backfield for a two yard loss on the Leopards opening play of the drive. But the hard running of Adelman moved the sticks anyways as he picked up 10 yards on a handoff up the middle and converted a 3rd-and-2 with a 7 yard run off a direct snap.
Miller went to the air after that hitting Seaman near the right sideline on back-to-back first down completions that netted 26 yards down to the Linsly 33. Louisville went to that same well again on 3rd-and-7 as Miller connected with Seaman for a 10 yard completion to the Cadet 20 yard line with 48.6 seconds remaining. Adelman took a direct snap and ran to his right, stiff-arming a potential tackler to the grass in gaining another five yards to the 15 yard line. Miller hit Mueller for the go-ahead score on the next play.
Season Ends with the Ball in Adelman’s Hands
Kovalesky shot through the right side of the line and blocked the extra point to keep the deficit at six points for Linsly. However, Leopards special teams and defense would do the rest to finish off the Cadets.
On the ensuing kickoff, senior AJ Lingehoel booted a line drive kick over the second line of Linsly blockers. The ball hit open turf and then shot threw the legs of the Cadet returner. Mueller tackled the return man at the Linsly 15 yard line pinning the Cadets back deep in their own territory.
Linsly netted just 4 yards on the next two plays before facing 3rd-and-6 from their own 19 yard line with 4.9 seconds remaining. A final Hail Mary heave to the right fell into the waiting arms of Adelman as the clock hit triple zeros. The interception was his third of the contest, the most by any Louisville player since Marc Zustin intercepted three passes against Canton South during a 34-15 home victory in 2002. Only Joe Callan, who intercepted 4 passes during a 24-0 home win against Jackson on September 20, 1974, is the only Leopard to ever record more in a single contest.
The senior shot up, took off his helmet, and celebrated with his teammates, mud stained uniform and all. It was appropriate the the ball ended up in Adelman’s hands on the final play of his high school career. Despite all the adversity the 2021 Louisville Leopards had faced through the first eight weeks of the season, his interception guaranteed that this senior class would go out winners.
Cadet Goal Line Stand Keeps Leps Off the Board
Louisville’s defense set the tone early in holding Linsly to a three-and-out on the opening drive of the game.
After a punt, the Leopard offense had no trouble moving the ball downfield on their opening drive. A 33 yard pass from Miller to Seaman followed by an 18 yard completion from Miller to junior wide receiver Charlie Roberts setup LHS with a 1st-and-goal on the Linsly 4 yard line. A miscommunication on the next play led to a 4 yard loss and LHS eventually faced 4th-and-goal from the 3 yard line. A direct snap to Adelman netted only two yards on fourth down as senior defensive lineman Adam Dolata and junior defensive back Mateo Dimitrioski combined to make a touchdown saving tackle at the Cadet 1 yard line.
Linsly picked up a pair of first downs to get out of the shadow of their own endzone. However, they went backwards on three straight plays. Junior defensive back Connor Morley tripped up the ballcarrier on a sweep to the left and senior defensive lineman Cameron Brazek recorded the tackle for the loss on first down. The Leopards line read the next run to the left perfectly and forced the Cadet ballcarrier back left into the waiting arms of Morley for a five yard loss. On 3rd-and-17, Louisville covered up all potential receivers and senior linebacker Carson Rode shot into the backfield to hit the quarterback first for a three yard sack bringing up a 4th-and-20 punt attempt.
Leopards Strike First
The Leopards marched right back downfield in response on a 5 play, 70 yard scoring drive. Adelman burst up the gut for a gain of 12 on the drive’s opening play. On the next play, a screen pass to Adelman was blown up in the backfield for a three yard loss but Linsly continued to push Adelman backwards blatantly after the whistled had been blown. Much to the displeasure of the home fans, the Cadets were called for a 15 yard personal foul which pushed the ball across midfield.
The two teams swapped directions to start the second quarter and the drive ended with Miller finding Seaman wide open for a 34 yard touchdown pass. The touchdown reception was Seaman’s team leading eighth of the season. With senior starting kicker Myles Lab helping Louisville Boys Soccer advance to districts, Adelman booted home the extra point to put LHS in front 7-0 with 11:23 remaining in the second quarter.
Linsly Answers With a Pair of Touchdowns
The Cadets answered the Leopards opening score with a touchdown drive of their own. On 4th-and-5 from the Louisville 29, junior quarterback Luca DiLorenzo scrambled to his left and fired on the run to sophomore wide receiver Malte Feil for a 29 yard touchdown. Dimitrioski’s extra point attempt went through the uprights tying the game at 7-7 with 7:33 remaining in the half.
Louisville drove to midfield on their next possession. On 3rd-and-10, junior defensive lineman Wyatt Haynes stripped the ball in the backfield. The ball bounced forward on the grass before it was covered up by Cadet senior defensive back Felix Reitter on the Linsly 43 yard line.
The Cadets were called for a false start to open their next drive, but it wouldn’t matter. On the next play, DiLorenzo threw a short pass to the right flat to junior wide receiver Jy’Leik Johnson. Picking up key blocks from Dolata and Reitter, Johnson sprinted into the open field down the right sideline and into the endzone for a 62 yard touchdown reception. Dimitrioski’s extra point boot was true again giving Linsly a 14-7 lead with 3:13 to go before halftime.
Adelman Endzone Pick Ends Opening Half
Neither team obtained a first down on the final four possessions of the first half. Brazek and Adelman stopped the Cadets cold on a 4th-and-2 from their own 43 setting up Louisville with great field position. However, Miller was sacked by Dolata on 4th-and-10 with just a single tick left on the clock.
A personal foul after the play set Linsly up on the LHS 34 yard line for one final play. The Hail Mary attempt was intercepted in the endzone by Adelman to end the first half.
Defenses Step Up in 2nd Half
Neither team scored in the third quarter. The Leopards drove to the Cadet 32 yard line before Linsly stopped them for a 2 yard loss on 4th-and-2. Senior linebacker Brodie Selmon led the charge for the the Cadet defense on the play.
The next three possessions ended in punts as they game progressed into the fourth quarter. On the opening play of the fourth quarter, junior linebacker Jacob Davide swarmed into the backfield for a 4 yard tackle for a loss on 3rd-and-9 forcing Linsly to punt from the Leopards 45. The punt was shanked out of bounds and only netted 15 yards giving Louisville possession on their own 30.
Louisville Ties the Game at 14-14
On the second play of the Leopards next drive, Miller faked a pitch to Adelman, dropped back, and fired to a wide open Morley deep down field. Morley made the catch and dragged defenders before finally being dropped at the Cadet 25 yard line to complete a 41 yard pickup. The reception was Morley’s first and only catch of the season, and it couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.
Two plays later, Adelman ran left through a hole paved by Brazek, junior lineman Trevor Eshler, and junior lineman Jacob Shammo for his biggest run of the day. The 22 yard scamper set Louisville up 1st-and-goal on the Linsly 1 yard line. On third-and-goal, Adelman took a direct snap, charged forward, and spun into the endzone for his team leading seventh rushing touchdown of the season. He then kicked home the extra point to tie the game at 14-14 with 8:08 to go in the contest.
Adelman Interception Ends Linsly Threat
The Cadets drove 40 yards into the redzone on their next drive in search of a senior night victory, but the Leopard defense had other plans. Davide and Rode stopped DiLorenzo for a three yard loss on a run to the right on first down. On second down, a pass to the left flat was snuffed out by Louisville. Junior defensive back Brandon Jackson forced the receiver to cut back to his right into the waiting arms of Rode who made another tackle for a loss knocking Linsly out of the redzone.
On 3rd-and-15, the Cadets looked to go deep to a receiver in the right side of the endzone. The pass was significantly underthrown and it landed in the arms of Adelman at the LHS 5 yard line. Adelman returned the interception 21 yards to the Louisville 26 to setup the Leopards game-winning scoring drive with 4:21 to play.
Thus, Linsly’s final drive into Leopard territory ended the same way the first half ended and the same way the game would end. In the hands of Adelman.
Leopards Find Success in Road Trips
The Linsly Cadets are the 88th unique opponent that Louisville has faced in their history dating back to 1924, but just the second opponent they have faced from outside the state of Ohio. The Leopards are now 2-0 against West Virginia opposition with their only other out-of-state win coming at Point Pleasant 40-21 back on October 18, 2019.
Using the shortest route in Google Maps, Lockhart Alumni Stadium ranks fifth all-time in longest distance traveled to a venue by the Louisville football team. Only their trip to Point Pleasant in 2019 and playoff travels to Pickerington Central, Zanesville, and Lexington (twice) rank longer than the 78.6 miles from Louisville, Ohio to Wheeling, West Virginia. If you took route 77 to route 70, the trip is actually 118 miles which would rank it third all-time in comparison. The Cadets are scheduled to make the return trip to Louisville Leopards Stadium in 2022.
The Leopards are 6-0 when traveling 75 miles or more to play a game. Louisville finishes 2-3 on the road this season and stand at 4-5 over the past two seasons when playing away from home.
Louisville Leopards Longest Distances Traveled
| Rank | Distance (Miles) | Location | Stadium | Date | Opponent | Result |
| 1 | 178.4 | Point Pleasant, WV | Ohio Valley Bank Stadium | 10/18/2019 | Point Pleasant | W 40-21 |
| 2 | 132.3 | Pickerington, OH | Tiger Stadium | 10/31/2003 | Pickerington Central | W 35-34 |
| 3 | 96.1 | Zanesville, OH | Sulsberger Memorial Stadium | 11/7/2008 | Logan | W 7-0 |
| 4 | 81.2 | Lexington, OH | Lexington Minutemen Stadium | 11/16/2007 | St. Francis DeSales | W 25-20 |
| 4 | 81.2 | Lexington, OH | Lexington Minutemen Stadium | 11/11/2005 | Dublin Scioto | W 28-23 |
| 6 | 78.6 | Wheeling, WV | Lockhart Alumni Stadium | 10/23/2021 | Linsly | W 20-14 |
| 7 | 73.7 | Mansfield, OH | Arlin Field | 11/14/2008 | St. Francis DeSales | L 21-38 |
| 8 | 67.3 | Coshocton, OH | Coshocton Stewart Field | 11/7/2003 | Col. Independence | L 26-49 |
| 9 | 64.3 | Berea, OH | George Finnie Stadium | 11/27/1992 | Fostoria | L 7-48 |
| 10 | 54.9 | Wintersville, OH | Kettlewell Memorial Stadium | 9/7/1990 | Wintersville | W 16-7 |
| 11 | 50.7 | Bedford, OH | Bearcat Stadium Stewart Field | 11/23/2007 | Mayfield | W 41-13 |
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Louisville at Linsly Football Game Statistics
Scoring Summary
LEOPARDS 20, CADETS 14
Team 1-2-3-4–TOTAL
Louisville 0-7-0-13–20
Linsly 0-14-0-0–14
1st Quarter
NO SCORING
2nd Quarter
LOUISVILLE – Zack Seaman 34 Yard Pass from Caleb Miller (Connor Adelman Kick) | LHS 7, LINSLY 0, 11:23
5 Plays, 70 Yards
LINSLY – Malte Feil 29 Yard Pass from Luca DiLorenzo (Mateo Dimitrioski Kick) | LHS 7, LINSLY 7, 7:33
8 Plays, 67 Yards
LINSLY – Jy’Leik Johnson 62 Yard Pass from Luca DiLorenzo (Mateo Dimitrioski Kick) | LHS 7, LINSLY 14, 3:13
1 Play, 62 Yards
3rd Quarter
NO SCORING
4th Quarter
LOUISVILLE – Connor Adelman 1 Yard Run (Connor Adelman Kick) | LHS 14, LINSLY 14, 8:08
7 Plays, 70 Yards
LOUISVILLE- Chase Mueller 15 Yard Pass from Caleb Miller (Kick Blocked) | LHS 20, LINSLEY 14, 0:22.2
10 Plays, 74 Yards, 4:03.8
Records: Louisville 2-8, Linsly 5-4
Team Stats
First Downs
Louisville: 21 (11 Rushing, 8 Passing, 2 Penalty)
Linsly: 12 (4 Rushing, 7 Passing, 1 Penalty)
Total Offense
Louisville: 60 Plays, 354 Yards
Linsly: 50 Plays, 240 Yards
Rushing
Louisville: 38 Carries, 166 Yards, 1 Touchdown
Linsly: 31 Carries, 77 Yards
Passing
Louisville: 17 of 22 for 188 Yards, 2 Touchdowns
Linsly: 11 of 19 for 163 Yards, 2 Touchdowns
Fumbles/Lost
Louisville: 2/1
Linsly: 0/0
Penalties/Yards
Louisville: 3 Penalties, 25 Yards
Linsly: 6 Penalties, 40 Yards
3rd Down Conversions:
Louisville: 4 for 9 (44%)
Linsly: 4 for 12 (33%)
4th Down Conversions:
Louisville: 0 for 2 (50%
Linsly: 1 for 2 (50%)
Punt Yards
Louisville: 2 Punts, 69 Yards (34.5 Average)
Linsly: 4 Punts, 125 Yards (31.3 Average
Kickoff Returns
Louisville: 3 Returns, 41 Yards
Linsly 4 Returns, 53 Yards
Punt Returns
Louisville: None
Linsly: None
Individual Stats
Rushing
Louisville
Connor Adelman 28 Carries, 146 Yards, 1 Touchdown
Caleb Miller 9 Carries, 25 Yards
Charlie Roberts 1 Carry, -5 Yards
Linsly
Alex Taylor 9 Carries, 40 Yards
Aiden Sanders 8 Carries, 19 Yards
Luca DiLorenzo 9 Carries, 7 Yards
Adam Dolata 3 Carries, 6 Yards
Mateo Dimitrioski 1 Carry, 5 Yards
Passing
Louisville
Caleb Miller 17 of 21 for 188 Yards, 2 Touchdowns
Charlie Roberts 0 of 1
Linsly
Luca DiLorenzo 11 of 17 for 163 Yards, 2 Touchdowns, 1 Interception
Collin Paull 0 of 2, 2 Interceptions
Receiving
Louisville
Zack Seaman 5 Catches, 103 Yards, Touchdown
Connor Morley 1 Catch, 41 Yards
Charlie Roberts 3 Catches, 20 Yards
Chase Mueller 1 Catch, 15 Yards, Touchdown
Brandon Jackson 1 Catch, 8 Yards
AJ Lingenhoel 1 Catch, 5 Yards
Connor Adelman 5 Catches, -4 Yards
Linsly
Jy’Leik Johnson 4 Catches, 90 Yards, Touchdown
Malte Feil 3 Catches, 47 Yards, Touchdown
Felix Reitter 4 Catches, 26 Yards
Kick Returns
Louisville
Brandon Jackson 2 Returns, 41 Yards
Zack Seaman 1 Return, 0 Yards
Linsly
Jy’Leik 2 Returns, 31 Yards
Brodie Selmon 1 Return, 12 Yards
Itay Cohen 1 Return, 10 Yards
Punting
Louisville
AJ Lingenhoel 2 Punts, 69 Yards
Linsly
Felix Reitter 4 Punts, 125 Yards
