Louisville Leopards Vs. Dublin Scioto Irish 2005 Playoff Football Highlights
Louisville 28, Dublin Scioto 23
Linebacker Kevin Sears forced a fumble and Clay Swigert fell on it in the endzone with 43 seconds left to preserve the Leopard victory. Louisville won the DII, Region 7 Semifinal game 28-23 over Dublin Scioto back on November 11, 2005.
“I’m not real sure what happened,” Sears said of the play. “But I knew it was good when the crowd went crazy.”
The Leopards came out of the gate to take a two touchdown advantage via two Drew Kuhn to Ben 
Schmucker connections of 8 and 22 yards. Kuhn would finish the evening 17 of 24 passing for 212 yards and Schmucker hauled in 5 receptions for 52 yards. The first touchdown was sparked by a fake punt fourth down conversion in which Kuhn ran for 13 yards.
The Irish cut the lead in half when Quarterback Dane Fowler hit Julius McCormick for a 29 yard touchdown pass. The score capped off a 6 play, 85 yard drive.
Louisville answered back when Kuhn threw his third touchdown pass of the game on a fourth down play. The recipient of the 34 yard touchdown was Wide Receiver Bill Poyser. He would finish with a game-high 81 yards on 4 catches.
Dublin Scioto chipped away at the deficit to get within 21-16 heading into the fourth quarter. Brandon Cannon caught a 29 yard touchdown grab from Fowler with just 13 seconds to go before halftime. David Brewer also booted through a 26 yard field goal for the only score of the third period.
In the fourth quarter, Jared Nicholson’s sack forced a fumble that was recovered by Blake Ruffing to give the Leopards possession on the Irish 43. Four plays later, Louisville faced a 4th-And-Inches at the 34. On an option play, Kuhn used blocks from Receivers Kyle Smith & Schmucker along with a circus spin move to break free for a back-braking touchdown with 7:55 left. Kuhn would finished as the team’s leading rusher with 62 yards on 18 attempts. This eclipsed Brian Whaley’s second best total of 14 carries for 59 yards.
Scioto responded on the next drive when Jason Rice rushed into the endzone from 9 yards away. Rice would finish as the game’s leading rusher with 20 carries for 107 yards. With 5:38 remaining, the Irish trailed just 28-23.
On Scioto’s final possession, Fowler suffered a leg injury and was pulled from the game with 1:52 remaining and the Irish at the Leopard 36 yard line. Fowler finished the night 13 of 15 for 203 yards.
“These last three minutes are up to you. Do you have the mettle?” Louisville Head Coach Paul Farrah said to his defense. “We made the play and got a good team to turn the ball over.”
Dublin Scioto managed to get as close as the 3 yard line. That’s where perhaps the most clutch and probably the most important defensive play in Louisville Football history happened.
“The last drive came down to our defense,” Sears said. “We’re all brothers out there. We had to get it done.”
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Scoring Summary
Team 1-2-3-4–TOTAL
Dublin Scioto 0-13-3-7–23
Louisville 7-14-0-7–28
1st Quarter
Louisville – Ben Schmucker 8 Yard Pass from Drew Kuhn (Colin McLinden Kick), 7-0
2nd Quarter
Louisville – Ben Schmucker 22 Yard Pass from Drew Kuhn (Colin McLinden), 14-0
Dublin Scioto – Julius McCormick 29 Yard Pass from Dane Fowler (David Brewer Kick), 14-7
Louisville – Bill Poyser 34 Yard Pass from Drew Kuhn (Colin McLinden Kick) 21-7
Dublin Scioto – Brandon Cannon 14 Yard Pass from Dane Fowler (Kick Failed), 21-13
3rd Quarter
Dublin Scioto – David Brewer 26 Yard Field Goal, 21-16
4th Quarter
Louisville – Drew Kuhn 34 Yard Run (Colin McLinden), 28-16
Dublin Scioto – Jason Rice 9 Yard Run (David Brewer Kick), 28-23
Stats
Rushing: Dublin Scioto 36-155, Louisville 33-128
Passing: Dublin Scioto 16-19-237-0, Louisville 17-24-212-1
First Downs: Dublin Scioto 17, Louisville 16
Fumbles-Lost: Dublin Scioto 4-3, Louisville 5-1
Records: Louisville 12-0; Dublin Scioto 8-4
