JV Leopards Rally Back, but Fall in Final Minute at New Philadelphia – JV Football
JV: New Philadelphia 20, Louisville 18
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The Louisville Leopards JV Football Team fell to the host New Philadelphia Quakers 20-18 in their season opener Saturday Morning at Woody Hayes Quaker Stadium.
Quakers Take Early 14-0 Lead
New Philadelphia took an early 14-0 lead on a pair of touchdown passes from quarterback Parker Reiger to wide receiver #43 from 35 and 23 yards away. Noah Colletti booted home the extra point after both touchdowns and the Quakers led 14-0 with 6:52 remaining in the second quarter.
The Leopards mounted a long drive down to the Quaker 1 yard line on their ensuing possession. However, a 3rd-and-goal pass was picked off in the endzone by New Philadelphia’s Noal Rosneck.
Zahler Throws TD to Baker Just before Half
Louisville’s defense forced a three-and-out on the Quakers next possession. Ryan Rush stormed in a for a sack on 3rd-and-goal forcing New Philadelphia to punt out of the back of their own endzone from their own 4 yard line.
The Leopards started from the Quaker 35 and got right to work. Quarterback Cody Zhaler hit Jake Baker to the right for an 18 yard completion. Two plays later, the pair would hook up again as Baker broke wide open in the left side of the endzone for a 17 yard touchdown strike with 24 seconds to go before halftime.
Louisville’s two-point conversion attempt fell incomplete and the score would remain 14-6 Quakers at the break.
Elsass Runs In 2 Touchdowns to Put LHS in Front
Neither team scored on their opening possession of the second half. The Leopards drove into Quaker territory, but the drive stalled at the 36 when a 4th-and-3 pass dropped incomplete.
Louisville’s defense didn’t give an inch, forcing a three-and-out and a New Philadelphia punt on 4th-and-10.
The Leopards inched closer with a 7 play, 69 yard touchdown drive that ended with Brayden Elsass running the ball in from a 2 yards out. Zahler set the tone early with an 18 yard first down keep to the right to begin the drive. Elsass blasted through the middle of the line on the next play and two plays later ran left for a first down to the Quaker 22. Zahler then found Drake Wilson for a 14 yard completion to setup Louisville with goal-to-go. Elsass scored on 2nd-and-goal.
The Leopards conversion run ended in a pile up just in front of the goal line. It was determined that Zahler didn’t break the plane and the score remained 14-12 in favor of New Philadelphia with 2:39 left in the third.
Both teams punted on their next possession. After that, the Quakers looked poised to put the game away with a drive deep into Louisville territory. However, pressure from Chaun Cline on Reiger forced an incomplete pass on 4th-and-3 giving the Leopards the ball back on their own 16 with 3:43 remaining in the game.
Louisville wasted no time in moving the ball downfield. Zahler connected with Anderson Kandel for a gain of 15 on the first play of the drive. Two plays later Chase Wilson hit Kandel on a bubble screen. Kandel was sprung loose, by blocks from Baker and Colten Norris, and scampered down the left sideline for a gain for 48 to the Quaker 21. Two plays later, Zahler threaded the needle between two defenders as Baker hauled in a 22 yard reception that set the Leopards up with a 1st-and-goal on the New Philadelphia 1 yard line.
Elsass ran untouched into the endzone on the next play to give Louisville its first lead of the game at 18-14 with just 1:46 remaining. The Leopards were unable to complete a jump ball pass on the two-point try and the Quakers deficit remained 4.
Murphy Catches Game Winner with 32 Seconds Left
Elsass nearly ended the Quakers ensuing drive with a finger-tipped interception on the second play of the series. Instead the ball tipped off Elsass and tipped off of New Philadelphia wide receiver Lincoln Murphy’s fingertips into the air. Murphy snagged the ball out of the air to convert a Quaker first down into Louisville territory at the 49. It would be an sign of things to come.
Reiger found Murphy for a 19 yard first down completion followed by another 18 yard reception from the same duo. The pair was at it again two plays later: Reiger hit Murphy on an inside slant at the 2 yard line and Murphy dived into the center of the endzone for the game winning score with just 32 seconds left in the contest.
UP NEXT: The Leopards JV will next travel to play the Alliance Aviators on Saturday, August 31. Game time is slated for 10:00 AM from Len Dawson Field.
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Louisville at New Philadelphia Football Game Statistics
Scoring Summary
QUAKERS 20, LEOPARDS 18
Team 1-2-3-4–TOTAL
Louisville 0-6-6-6–18
New Philadelphia 7-7-0-6–20
1st Quarter
NEW PHILADELPHIA – #43 35 Yard TD Pass from Parker Reiger (Noah Colletti Kick) | LHS 0, NPHS 7, 3:17
2nd Quarter
NEW PHILADELPHIA – #43 23 Yard TD Pass from Parker Reiger (Noah Colletti Kick) | LHS 0, NPHS 14, 6:52
LOUISVILLE – Jake Baker 17 Yard Pass from Cody Zahler (Pass Failed) | LHS 6, NPHS 14, 0:24
3rd Quarter
LOUISVILLE – Brayden Elsass 3 Yard Run (Run Failed) | LHS 12, NPHS 14, 2:39
4th Quarter
LOUISVILLE – Brayden Elsass 1 Yard Run (Pass Failed) | LHS 18, NPHS 14, 1:46
NEW PHILADELPHIA – Lincoln Murphy 12 Yard Pass from Parker Reiger (Run Failed) | LHS 18, NPHS 20, 0:32
Records: New Philadelphia 1-0, Louisville 0-1
