Louisville Shutout at Steubenville 21-0 in Opener – Football
Steubenville 21, Louisville 0
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The Louisville Leopards Varsity Football Team was shutout by the host Steubenville Big Red 21-0 in their season opener Friday Night at Harding Stadium.
Scoring Summary | Team Stats | Individual Stats
Mueller Puts Leps in Prime Position After Returns
Senior defensive back Chase Mueller had a 37 yard punt return and a 28 yard interception return to setup Louisville with short field position twice. Mueller’s 37 yard punt return down the right sideline landed the Leopards on the Big Red 32 yard line as they looked poised to answer Steubenville’s first touchdown. However, an exchange was fumbled two plays later and senior defensive end Spencer Ostovich fell on it for Steubenville at the Big Red 17.
Later in the third quarter, Steubenville was driving in Louisville territory when Mueller used his lengthy outstretched arms to reel in an interception at the 37 yard line. He returned it 28 yards before he stepped out of bounds at the Big Red 35.
Two plays later, senior quarterback Daveion Cruse ran the ball to his left on an option play and appeared to have sprinted into the endzone for a 30 yard score. However, the referees ruled him out at the five yard line making it officially a 25 yard run that setup 1st-and-goal. Cruse would finish as the Leopards leading rusher carrying the ball 13 times for 65 yards. Senior runningback Andrew Essik also had 12 carries for 25 yards.
The Big Red slammed the door shut as the Leopards would fail to score on their next goal-to-go plays. Steubenville took over on downs on their own 2 yard line.
Hill Throws for 232 Yards and 3 Touchdowns
Senior quarterback Phaeton Hill completed 11 of 20 passes for 232 yards and threw three touchdowns to lead the Big Red.
Hill led Steubenville on a 7 play, 55 yard scoring march on their second drive of the contest. Hill began the drive with a 19 yard completion to junior wide receiver Isaac Hill and the two would hook up again for another 19 yard strike to end the drive which resulted in six points. The touchdown put the Big Red on the scoreboard first as they led 7-0 with 1:15 remaining in the first quarter.
Steubenville needed just a single play to find the endzone on their next scoring drive after senior cornerback Ivan Buggs intercepted a jump ball in the endzone on the play before. The left-handed Hill threw a screen pass back to his right to senior tailback Gavin Bozica. A pair of blocks from senior wide receiver Hakim Edwards and junior offensive lineman Demetrius Leas paved the way for Bozica to hit the open field. He shoved off a tackler at the Louisville 40 and continued running down the sideline. He then high-stepped another tackle attempt inside the five yard before reaching pay dirt. The 80 yard touchdown pass put the Big Red in front 14-0.
Neither team would score again until Hill threw his third touchdown pass of the game with 8:32 left in the fourth quarter. Facing 3rd-and-8, Hill tossed a short pass to Edwards on a quick out route. Edwards broke a tackle soon after and sprinted down the right sideline into the endzone for a 54 yard touchdown. The back-breaking score gave Steubenville a commanding 21-0 advantage and they would carry it until the clock ran out.
Steubenville Dominates Air and Ground
The Big Red out-gained the Leopards in total offense 394-102. This included a 232-20 edge in passing yards and a 162-82 advantage in rushing yards. Bozica carried most of the load for Steubenville racking up 56 yards on 14 attempts. Junior tailback Savier Faulks was the game’s leading rusher with 8 carries for 68 yards.
This was the first every meeting between the two squads in varsity football.
UP NEXT: The Leopards will next host the Poland Seminary Bulldogs on Friday, August 26. Game time is set for 7:00 PM from Louisville Leopards Stadium.
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Louisville at Steubenville Football Game Statistics
Scoring Summary
BIG RED 21, LEOPARDS 0
Team 1-2-3-4–TOTAL
Louisville 0-0-0-0–00
Steubenville 7-7-0-7–21
1st Quarter
STEUBENVILLE – Isaac Hill 19 Yard Pass from Phaeton Hill (Cole Bowers Kick) | LHS 0, SHS 7, 1:15
7 Plays, 55 Yards, 3:10
2nd Quarter
STEUBENVILLE – Gavin Bozica 80 Yard Pass from Phaeton Hill (Cole Bowers Kick) | LHS 0, SHS 14, 1:58
1 Play, 80 Yards, 0:15
3rd Quarter
NO SCORING
4th Quarter
STEUBENVILLE – Hakim Edwards 54 Yard Pass from Phaeton Hill (Cole Bowers Kick) | LHS 0, SHS 21, 8:32
3 Plays, 56 Yards, 1:35
Records: Steubenville 1-0, Louisville 0-1
Team Stats
First Downs
Louisville: 7 (5 Rushing, 1 Passing, 1 Penalty)
Steubenville: 19 (12 Rushing, 6 Passing, 1 Penalty)
Total Offense
Louisville: 38 Plays, 102 Yards, 2 Turnovers
Steubenville: 60 Plays, 394 Yards, 1 Turnover
Rushing
Louisville: 31 Carries, 82 Yards
Steubenville: 40 Carries, 162 Yards
Passing
Louisville: 2 of 7 for 20 Yards, 1 Interception
Steubenville: 11 of 20 for 232 Yards, 3 Touchdowns, 1 Interception
Fumbles/Lost
Louisville: 5/1
Steubenville: 1/0
Penalties/Yards
Louisville: 3 for 25 Yards
Steubenville: 3 for 35 Yards
3rd Down Conversions:
Louisville: 0 for 6 (0%)
Steubenville: 8 of 14 (57%)
4th Down Conversions:
Louisville: 0 for 0
Steubenville: 1 of 6 (16%)
Individual Stats
Rushing
Louisville
Daveion Cruse: 13 Carries, 65 Yards
Andrew Essik: 12 Carries, 25 Yards
Chase Mueller 1 Carry, 8 Yards
Jacob Davide 1 Carry, 6 Yards
Kason Graybill 1 Carry, -2 Yards
Brandon Jackson 1 Carry, -4 Yards
Braiden Hershey 1 Carry, -5 Yards
Cooper Rice 1 Carry, -11 Yards
Steubenville
Savier Faulks: 8 Carries, 68 Yards
Gavin Bozica: 14 Carries, 56 Yards
Spencer Ostovich 7 Carries, 20 Yards
Jalen Minniefield 5 Carries, 11 Yards
Phaeton Hill 4 Carries, 4 Yards
Zack Smith 1 Carry, 3 Yards
Tylik Sims 1 Carry, 0 Yards
Passing
Louisville
Daveion Cruse 2 of 7 for 20 Yards, 1 Interception
Steubenville
Phaeton Hill 11 of 20 for 232 Yards, 1 Interception
Receiving
Louisville
Braiden Hershey 1 Catch, 17 Yards
Andrew Essik 1 Catch, 3 Yards
Steubenville
Gavin Bozica 2 Catches, 82 Yards, Touchdown
Isaac Hill 4 Catches, 56 Yards, Touchdown
Hakim Edwards 1 Catch, 54 Yards, Touchdown
Tylik Sims 1 Catch, 7 Yards
Jace Kernahan 2 Catches, 28 Yards
Ty Pierce 1 Catch, 5 Yards
Kick Returns
Louisville
Brandon Jackson 3 Returns, 24 Yards, 16 Long
Punt Returns
Louisville
Chase Mueller 1 Return, 37 Yards
Braiden Hershey 1 Return, 30 Yards
Steubenville
Jordan West 1 Return, 17 Yards
Ivan Buggs 1 Return, 6 Yards
Punts
Louisville
Carter Duskey 5 Punts, 167 Yards,, 40 Long
Punting
Phaeton Hill 1 Punt, 29 Yards
