Louisville Falls to Westerville South 14-10 on Last-Second Touchdown – Varsity Football
#5 Westerville South 14, #12 Louisville 10
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The #12 eed Louisville Leopards Football Team fell to the host #5 seed Westerville South Wildcats, 14–10, in a last-second heartbreaker Friday night at Westerville South Stadium. The Division II, Region 7 first-round loss ends Louisville’s season at 6-5.
Game Stats | Scoring Summary | Team Stats | Individual Stats
Zahler to DiMarzio Puts the Leopards Ahead Late
When hope was fading, sophomore quarterback Cody Zahler hit senior running back Owen DiMarzio in stride near midfield, and DiMarzio sprinted untouched for a 67-yard score to put Louisville up 10–7 with 1:33 left.
DiMarzio finished with 127 yards to lead the Leopards offense. He carried the ball 20 times for 59 yards to lead the team on the ground and made two receptions for 68 yards to lead the team receiving. Zahler would finish 6 of 17 for 117 yards through the air. Senior wide receiver Quin Burick was his top target with 3 receptions for 36 yards. Sophomore tight end Jake Baker also caught a 3rd-and-11 screen pass for 13 yards earlier.
Kaba Hauls in Game-Winner with 3.7 Seconds Left
Senior quarterback Evan Andrews was just 1 of 14 passing for 9 yards heading into Westerville South’s final play on offense. Andrews had used his legs to march the Wildcats down the field ripping off first down runs of 15 and 16 yards. Andrews also lofted a deep ball inside the 10 that drew a pass-interference flag. That gave Westerville South another 15 free yards and senior running back Jhalil Armstrong converted a 3rd-and-5 on a 13-yard delayed handoff to the Louisville 10.
The officials called timeout for a Leopard injury on the play and the Wildcats went to the sideline. However, the clock began running as soon as the officials re-spotted the ball. Westerville South scrambled to the line as the clock ticked down to under 10 seconds. Finally, Andrews snapped the ball and threw a jump ball to the back-left corner of the end zone. The Wildcat senior star receiver Hassan Kaba, who had been held without a catch all night long, hauled in the catch for a 10-yard go-ahead touchdown reception with only 3.7 seconds remaining in the contest.
Junior placekicker Ethan Rozen booted home his second extra point of the night to increase the Westerville South lead to 14-10. Rozen then attempted an onside kick, but he recovered it before it went 10 yards and no time ran off the clock. Louisville took over on its own 38. After a catch and four successful laterals, a fifth lateral was unsuccessful out of bounds ending the game and the Leopards’ season.
Stoffer Interception Sets Up Daum Field Goal
Neither team sniffed the end zone in the opening half as the two teams went into the break scoreless. Westerville South junior Elliot Bakirci intercepted a pass on the third play from scrimmage, but the Wildcats were not able to convert a 4th-and-6 after Leopard senior defensive back Colton Norris delivered a jarring hit to knock the ball to the turf. Louisville took over on its1 own 36 and that would mark the deepest Westerville South would penetrate until the fourth quarter.
Just like the first half, the opening second-half drive ended in an interception. This time it was Leopard senior defensive back Gabe Stoffer who made the pick at the Louisville 28 and ran it back 29 yards down the right sideline into Wildcat territory at the Westerville South 43. A few plays later, Zahler lobbed a pass down the right sideline to Burick for a 27-yard first down completion. Four snaps later, Louisville settled for a 25-yard Parker Daum field goal to strike first with 5:07 remaining in the third quarter.
Kortis Pick Halts Wildcat Response
The Wildcats started off with great field position after Ja’Mari Alston returned the ensuing kickoff 22 yards to the Westerville South 47. Andrews ran for 3 yards to convert a 4th-and-1 and the Wildcats looked poised to answer the Leopards’ score. On 3rd-and-11, Andrews rifled a pass to the right that was intercepted by sophomore defensive back Caden Kortis and returned to the Louisville 37.
The Leopards ensuing drive nearly mirrored Westerville South’s drive as Zahler ran for a first down on 3rd-and-1 before being intercepted on a pass to the right by Wildcat senior Manny Norwood.
Gordon Puts Westerville South on the Board
Westerville South used the momentum from Norwood’s takeaway with their best drive of the night. The Wildcats marched 74 yards on 7 plays, utilizing a heavy dose of running backs Jhalil Armstrong and Ian Gordon. Andrews also busted up the middle for a 19-yard first down, one play prior to Gordon’s 21-yard touchdown run to the left that put Westerville South up 7-3 with 7:59 left.
Andrews Leads Three-Headed Wildcat Running Attack
The Wildcats out-rushed the Leopards 348-64 on the evening and held a 15-8 edge in first downs. Andrews led Westerville South on the ground with 18 carries for 144 yards.
Jhalil Armstrong also carried the ball 19 times for 61 yards and Ian Gordon had 4 rushes for 43 yards.
Westerville South will travel to the south side of Columbus to take on the host #4 seed Canal Winchester Indians at Mike Locke Stadium in the DII, Region 7 Quarterfinals on Friday, November 7 at 7:00 PM.
Berdella Recovers Two Muffed Punts on Special Teams
Sophomore Xavier Berdella recovered two muffed punts, accounting for half of Louisville’s takeaways.
Late in the first half, Stoffer had to rush to get a punt away and the line drive kick hit the back of a Wildcat in punt coverage. Berdella was Johnny-on-the-spot coming in from behind to pounce on it at midfield. The Leopards were unable to capitalize on it with points, but it allowed them to take more time off the clock and pin the Wildcats back deep in their own territory, keeping the game scoreless at halftime.
Later in the fourth quarter, Westerville South defensive lineman recorded a strip-sack forcing Louisville to punt on 4th-and-17 from their own 20 with under seven minutes left in the game. Stoffer banged another line drive kick that bounced past midfield before it was mishandled by the Wildcat returner. Berdella was right there again and corralled it at the Westerville South 41-yard line giving the Leopards new life.
Junior linebacker Andre Braxton and Norwood stormed into the backfield on 3rd-and-4 for a 2-yard loss forcing Louisville into a 4th-and-6. On the next play, DiMarzio broke wide open past the secondary but Zahler’s throw was just past his outstretched arms falling incomplete. The Leopards defense got a stop and Zahler wouldn’t miss DiMarzio when the chance came on the next drive.
Louisville Playoff History
Believe it or not, Friday’s loss marked Louisville’s first-ever playoff loss on the road. The Leopards had previously won in the opening round at the home stadiums of Pickerington Central (2003), New Philadelphia (2004), and Poland Seminary (2014) in their previous three road playoff games. That victory at Poland serves as their only postseason win in their last 8 playoff games dating back to 2008.
The Leopards are now 14-18 all-time in the playoffs and 10-11 in all games, away or neutral, played outside of Louisville. Westerville South is the 24th unique opponent that the Leopards have challenged in the playoffs all-time and 92nd unique school they have faced all-time.
Louisville finishes with a winning season for the first time since 2018 and earned its way into the playoffs for the first time since 2015 in a meat-grinder Division II, Region 7. LHS faced a lot of adversity throughout the season, especially in terms of injuries to their best players. These Leopards never gave up and their determination will pay dividends for the program in the years to come as Louisville looks to bounce back next year looking for their first playoff victory since 2015.
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Louisville at Westerville South Football Game Statistics
Scoring Summary
WILDCATS 14, LEOPARDS 10
Team 1-2-3-4–TOTAL
Louisville 0-0-3-7–10
Westerville South 0-0-0-14–14
1st Quarter
NO SCORING
2nd Quarter
NO SCORING
3rd Quarter
LOUISVILLE – Parker Daum 25-Yard Field Goal | LHS 3, WSHS 0, 5:07
7 Plays, 33 Yards
4th Quarter
WESTERVILLE SOUTH – Ian Gordon 21-Yard Run (Ethan Rozen Kick) | LHS 3, WSHS 7, 7:59
7 Plays, 74 Yards
LOUISVILLE – Owen DiMarzio 67-Yard Pass from Cody Zahler (Parker Daum Kick) | LHS 10, WSHS 7, 1:33
2 Plays, 67 Yards
WESTERVILLE SOUTH – Hassan Kaba 10-Yard Pass from Evan Andrews (Ethan Rozen Kick) | LHS 10, WSHS 14, 0:03.7
8 Plays, 74 Yards
Records: Westerville South 9-2, Louisville 6-5
Team Stats
First Downs
Louisville: 8 (5 Rushing, 3 Passing)
Westerville South: 15 (12 Rushing, 2 Passing, 1 Penalty)
Total Offense
Louisville: 47 Plays, 181 Yards, 1 Touchdown (3.9 Yards Per Play)
Westerville South: 56 Plays, 267 Yards, 2 Touchdowns (4.8 Yards Per Play)
Rushing
Louisville: 30 Carries, 64 Yards (2.1 Average)
Westerville South: 41 Carries, 248 Yards, 1 Touchdown (6.0 Average)
Passing
Louisville: 6 of 17 for 117 Yards, 1 Touchdown, 2 Interceptions
Westerville South: 2 of 15 for 19 Yards, 1 Touchdown, 2 Interceptions
Fumbles/Lost
Louisville: 4/0
Westerville South: 4/2
Penalties/Yards
Louisville: 7 for 60 Yards
Westerville South: 3 for 25 Yards
3rd Down Conversions
Louisville: 4 for 11 (36%)
Westerville South: 5 of 12 (42%)
4th Down Conversions
Louisville: 0 for 2 (0%)
Westerville South: 1 for 2 (50%)
Punt Yards
Louisville: 5 Punts, 153 Yards (30.6 Average)
Westerville South: 4 Punts, 132 Yards (33.0 Average)
Kick Return Yards
Louisville: 2 Returns, 24 Yards (12.0 Average)
Westerville South: 2 Returns, 22 Yards (11.0 Average)
Punt Return Yards
Louisville: 1 Return, 0 Yards
Westerville South: 1 Return, 3 Yards
Field Goal Attempts
Louisville: 1 for 1 (Made: 25 Yards)
Westerville South: None
Individual Stats
Rushing
Louisville
Owen DiMarzio 20 Carries, 59 Yards
Gabe Stoffer 3 Carries, 4 Yards
Cody Zahler 7 Carries, 1 Yard
Westerville South
Evan Andrews 18 Carries, 144 Yards
Jhalil Armstrong 19 Carries, 61 Yards
Ian Gordon 4 Carries, 43 Yards, Touchdown
Passing
Louisville
Cody Zahler 6 of 17 for 117 Yards, 1 Touchdown, 2 Interceptions
Westerville South
Evan Andrews 2 of 15 for 19 Yards, 1 Touchdown, 2 Interceptions
Receiving
Louisville
Owen DiMarzio 2 Catches, 68 Yards
Quin Burick 3 Catches, 36 Yards
Jake Baker 1 Catch, 13 Yards
Westerville South
Hassan Kaba 1 Catch, 10 Yards, Touchdown
Owen Eschenauer 1 Catch, 9 Yards
Kick Returns
Louisville
Anderson Kandel 2 Returns, 24 Yards, 12 Long (12.0 Average)
Westerville South
Ja’Mari Alston 2 Returns, 22 Yards, 22 Long (11.0 Average)
Punt Returns
Louisville
Drake Wilson 1 Return, 0 Yards
Westerville South
Isaac Patterson 1 Return, 3 Yards
Punts
Louisville
Gabe Stoffer 4 Punts, 134 Yards, 44 Long (33.5 Average)
Cody Zahler 1 Punt, 19 Yards
Westerville South
Ethan Rozen 4 Punts, 132 Yards, 57 Long (33.0 Average)
