Daum’s Last-Second Field Goal Completes Leopard Comeback From 14 Down at Dover – Varsity Football
Louisville 15, Dover 14
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The Louisville Leopards Varsity Football Team erased a 14-point deficit and rallied past the host Dover Tornadoes 15-14 Friday night at Crater Stadium.
Junior placekicker Parker Daum connected on a 26-yard field goal with just 10.6 seconds remaining to give Louisville its first lead of the night. Junior defensive back Logan Galbraith then intercepted Dover quarterback Dieter Weber on the Tornadoes’ final play to seal the comeback.
Junior quarterback Cody Zahler accounted for 203 yards of offense and scored both Louisville touchdowns. The Leopards held Dover scoreless over the final 32:16 and recorded five sacks, including three during the fourth quarter.
Louisville scored 15 unanswered points after trailing 14-0 and improved to 2-1 on the season. Dover dropped to 1-2 with the loss.
Game Stats | Scoring Summary | Team Stats | Individual Stats
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Dover Builds a 14-0 Lead
Neither team scored in the opening quarter, although both offenses moved into opposing territory.
Louisville’s defense stopped Dover on 4th-and-1 at the Leopard 46 during the Tornadoes’ opening possession. The Leopards then drove to the Dover 22 before a fumble ended the threat. Louisville later advanced to the Dover 34, but the Tornadoes stopped the Leopards one yard short on fourth down.
Dover broke the scoreless tie early in the second quarter. Weber completed a 41-yard pass to junior wide receiver Dante Clark to move the Tornadoes to the Louisville 22. Dover overcame a pair of holding penalties before Weber scored on an 18-yard quarterback run.
Junior kicker Jacob Noretto added the extra point to cap the six-play, 66-yard drive and give the Tornadoes a 7-0 lead with 10:36 remaining in the first half.
The Leopards crossed midfield on their next possession following a 17-yard completion from Zahler to junior wide receiver Drake Wilson and a 14-yard run by junior running back Colton Dougherty. Dover recovered Louisville’s second fumble of the night at its own 38 and quickly turned the takeaway into another touchdown.
Weber completed five passes during the ensuing six-play, 39-yard drive. He found Clark for a 26-yard touchdown on the final play before Noretto’s extra point extended the Dover advantage to 14-0 with 8:16 left in the second quarter.
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Zahler Leads 80-Yard Touchdown Drive Before Halftime
Dover threatened to add to its lead later in the quarter, driving from its own 24 to the Louisville 11. The Leopard defense held, however, and the Tornadoes missed a 28-yard field goal attempt.
Louisville took over at its own 20 and Zahler engineered an 80-yard scoring drive. He opened the possession with a 12-yard run before a Dover pass-interference penalty moved the Leopards to their own 47.
Zahler then completed a 15-yard pass to junior running back Caden Kortis and followed with a 22-yard run to the Dover 16. His 11-yard completion to junior Xavier Berdella moved the ball to the 5 before Zahler carried it into the end zone on the next play.
The extra-point attempt failed, but Louisville had cut the deficit to 14-6 with 16 seconds remaining before halftime. Zahler accounted for 65 yards on the five-play drive, rushing for 39 yards and completing both of his passes for 26 yards.
Louisville Defense Keeps Comeback Within Reach
Neither team scored during the third quarter as the Leopard defense continued to keep Dover off the scoreboard.
Louisville’s defensive front repeatedly disrupted Weber, recording five sacks for a loss of 40 yards during the game. The Leopards also held Dover to just 79 rushing yards on 33 attempts.
Dover appeared ready to extend its lead when junior running back Cohen Murray broke loose for a 30-yard run early in the fourth quarter. The Tornadoes eventually advanced to the Louisville 21, but a false-start penalty and an eight-yard sack pushed them backward.
Facing 4th-and-13 from the Leopard 24, Weber’s pass intended for Clark fell incomplete. The turnover on downs gave Louisville possession with an opportunity to draw closer.
Zahler’s 29-Yard Touchdown Pulls Leopards Within Two
Louisville responded with a nine-play, 76-yard touchdown drive that featured contributions from several different playmakers.
Wilson opened the possession with a 3-yard run and caught passes for gains of 5 and 8 yards. Zahler also connected with senior Ryan Rush for 13 yards to move the chains.
The Leopards later faced 4th-and-2 at the Dover 43. Zahler kept the drive alive by finding Berdella for a 14-yard completion to the Dover 29.
On the next play, Zahler broke through the Dover defense and raced 29 yards for his second touchdown of the night. Louisville’s two-point conversion attempt was stopped, leaving the Leopards trailing 14-12 with 5:08 remaining.
Wilson Return Sets Up Daum’s Game-Winning Field Goal
Dover earned a first down on its ensuing possession when Weber completed a 10-yard pass to Murray, but the Louisville defense took over from there.
The Leopards sacked Weber on consecutive plays for losses of 6 and 10 yards, forcing the Tornadoes into a 4th-and-26 from their own 23. Noretto punted 36 yards to the Louisville 41, where Wilson fielded the ball and returned it 19 yards to the Dover 40.
Kortis carried three times for 13 yards during Louisville’s final possession, while Zahler completed a 4-yard pass to Berdella. A holding penalty eventually left the Leopards facing 3rd-and-17 at the Dover 25.
Zahler scrambled for 16 yards to reach the 9 and give Daum a manageable opportunity on fourth down. The junior calmly split the uprights from 26 yards out, putting Louisville in front 15-14 with only 10 seconds remaining.
Dover received one final chance following the kickoff, but Galbraith intercepted Weber’s last pass to complete the comeback and send the Leopards home with a victory.
Zahler Accounts for 203 Yards and Two Touchdowns
Zahler led Louisville with 86 yards and two touchdowns on 12 rushing attempts. He also completed 12 of 20 passes for 117 yards, finishing with 203 yards of total offense.
Kortis carried 12 times for 51 yards and caught a 15-yard pass. Dougherty added 31 yards on five attempts as Louisville out-rushed Dover 185-79.
Wilson caught four passes for a team-high 45 yards and totaled 25 yards on two punt returns. Berdella hauled in a game-high five passes for 43 yards, including the pivotal fourth-down reception during Louisville’s fourth-quarter touchdown drive.
Louisville finished with 302 total yards and 20 first downs. The Leopards converted 6 of 11 third downs and their only successful fourth-down conversion led directly to Zahler’s 29-yard touchdown.
Weber and Clark Lead Dover Offense
Weber completed 25 of 31 passes for 237 yards and a touchdown. He also scored Dover’s first touchdown on an 18-yard run, but Louisville’s five sacks held him to minus-3 net rushing yards and Galbraith intercepted his final pass.
Clark led all receivers with 10 catches for 123 yards and a touchdown. His 41-yard reception helped set up Dover’s first score before his 26-yard touchdown catch extended the Tornado advantage to 14-0.
Murray led Dover on the ground with 63 yards on 11 carries and added seven receptions for 29 yards. Noretto caught three passes for 47 yards, while junior Cooper Connare made two catches for 15 yards.
Dover out-gained Louisville 316-302 and completed more than 80 percent of its passes, but the Tornadoes were held scoreless throughout the second half. They converted 6 of 14 third downs and only 1 of 3 fourth-down attempts.
Louisville Takes Lead in All-Time Series
Louisville’s victory broke a 3-3 tie and gave the Leopards a 4-3 advantage in their all-time series with Dover.
The Leopards are now 3-2 at Dover and 1-1 at home against the Tornadoes. Friday’s win was Louisville’s first in the series since a 28-12 victory at Crater Stadium on October 16, 1992, and came in the schools’ first meeting since Dover won 19-10 at home in 2020.
The one-point finish was the closest game in series history, surpassing Louisville’s 14-12 victory at Dover in the first meeting in 1988. The Leopards now lead the all-time scoring total 129-105.
<<< Previous 2020 | Dover All-Time Series
UP NEXT: The Louisville Leopards will remain on the road to take on the Boardman Spartans Friday, September 11. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 PM at Spartan Stadium.
Cover Photo By Rick Everhart Photography
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UP NEXT: The Leopards will next travel to take on the Boardman Spartans on Tuesday, September 11. Game time is set for 7:00 PM from Spartan Stadium.
Leopard Opponent Schedule and Scoreboard – Week 3
Friday, September 4
Indian Valley 37, at New Philadelphia 14
at Liberty 27, Boardman 14
Garfield Heights 22, at North Canton Hoover 15
at Rocky River 20, Lake 16
at Cardinal Mooney 19, Canfield 7
at Green 42, North Olmsted 14
at Steubenville 48, Linsly (WV) 7
Saturday, September 5
Bishop Watterson at Youngstown Ursuline
GlenOak Vs. Cleveland Heights
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Louisville at Dover Football Game Statistics
Scoring Summary
LEOPARDS 15, TORNADOES 14
Team 1-2-3-4–TOTAL
Louisville 0-6-0-9–15
Dover 0-14-0-0–14
1st Quarter
NO SCORING
2nd Quarter
DOVER – Dieter Weber 18-Yard Run (Jacob Noretto Kick) | LHS 0, DHS 7, 10:36
6 Plays, 66 Yards
DOVER – Dante Clark 26-Yard Pass from Dieter Weber (Jacob Noretto Kick) | LHS 0, DHS 14, 8:16
6 Plays, 39 Yards
LOUISVILLE – Cody Zahler 5-Yard Run (Kick Failed) | LHS 6, DHS 14, 0:16
5 Plays, 80 Yards
3rd Quarter
NO SCORING
4th Quarter
LOUISVILLE – Cody Zahler 29-Yard Run (Run Failed) | LHS 12, DHS 14, 5:08
9 Plays, 76 Yards
LOUISVILLE – Parker Daum 26-Yard Field Goal | LHS 15, DHS 14, 0:10
8 Plays, 40 Yards
Records: Louisville 2-1, Dover 1-2
Team Stats
First Downs
Louisville: 20 (11 Rushing, 6 Passing, 3 Penalty)
Dover: 17 (4 Rushing, 12 Passing, 1 Penalty)
Total Offense
Louisville: 54 Plays, 302 Yards, 2 Touchdowns (5.6 Yards Per Play)
Dover: 64 Plays, 316 Yards, 2 Touchdowns (4.9 Yards Per Play)
Rushing
Louisville: 34 Carries, 185 Yards, 2 Touchdowns (5.4 Average)
Dover: 33 Carries, 79 Yards, 1 Touchdown (2.4 Average)
Passing
Louisville: 12 of 20 for 117 Yards
Dover: 25 of 31 for 237 Yards, 1 Touchdown, 1 Interception
Fumbles/Lost
Louisville: 2/2
Dover: 1/0
Penalties/Yards
Louisville: 8 for 70 Yards
Dover: 10 for 82 Yards
3rd Down Conversions
Louisville: 4 for 11 (36%)
Dover: 6 for 14 (43%)
4th Down Conversions
Louisville: 1 for 2 (50%)
Dover: 1 for 3 (33%)
Punt Yards
Louisville: 4 Punts, 172 Yards (43.0 Average)
Dover: 4 Punts, 148 Yards (37.0 Average)
Kick Return Yards
Louisville: 1 Return, 26 Yards
Dover: 3 Returns, 24 Yards (8.0 Average)
Punt Return Yards
Louisville: 2 Returns, 25 Yards (12.5 Average)
Dover: None
Field Goal Attempts
Louisville: 1 of 1 (Made 26)
Dover: None
Sacks Against
Louisville: 2 for 8 Yards
Dover: 5 for 40 Yards
Individual Stats
Rushing
Louisville
Cody Zahler 12 Carries, 86 Yards, 2 Touchdowns
Caden Kortis 12 Carries, 51 Yards
Colton Dougherty 5 Carries, 31 Yards
Lucas Neff 3 Carries, 9 Yards
Haiden Reynolds 1 Carry, 5 Yards
Drake Wilson 1 Carry, 3 Yards
Dover
Cohen Murray 11 Carries, 63 Yards
Carson McGarry 6 Carries, 18 Yards
Dante Clark 1 Carry, 1 Yard
Dieter Weber 15 Carries, -3 Yards, 1 Touchdown
Passing
Louisville
Cody Zahler 12 of 20 for 117 Yards, Sacked 2 Times for 8 Yards
Dover
Dieter Weber 25 of 31 for 237 Yards, 1 Touchdown, 1 Interception, Sacked 5 Times for 40 Yards
Receiving
Louisville
Drake Wilson 4 Catches, 45 Yards
Xavier Berdella 5 Catches, 43 Yards
Caden Kortis 1 Catch, 15 Yards
Ryan Rush 1 Catch, 13 Yards
Lucas Neff 1 Catch, 1 Yard
Dover
Dante Clark 10 Catches, 123 Yards, 1 Touchdown
Jacob Noretto 3 Catches, 47 Yards
Cohen Murray 7 Catches, 29 Yards
Cooper Connare 2 Catches, 15 Yards
Brody Hale 2 Catches, 13 Yards
Carson McGarry 1 Catch, 10 Yards
Kick Returns
Louisville
Haiden Reynolds 1 Return, 26 Yards
Dover
Juma Herman 1 Return, 14 Yards
Maverick Miller 1 Return, 7 Yards
Brody Hale 1 Return, 3 Yards
Punt Returns
Louisville
Drake Wilson 2 Returns, 25 Yards, 19 Long (12.5 Average)
Dover
None
Punts
Louisville
Hunter Fetrow 4 Punts, 172 Yards, 50 Long (43.0 Average), 2 Inside 20
Dover
Jacob Noretto 4 Punts, 148 Yards, 45 Long (37.0 Average)
