Leopards Score in Final Minute to Put Away Massillon 31-30 – JV Football

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Louisville 31, Massillon 30

My Fit Life Personal Trainer AdThe Louisville Leopards JV Football team earned a hard fought 31-30 victory over the visiting Massillon Tigers Saturday Morning at Louisville Leopards Stadium. With their first victory of the season, Louisville JV finishes the 2019 campaign with a final record of 1-4-1.

Junior Quarterback Tyler Jackson connected with Sophomore Wide Receiver Zack Seaman for a 10 Yard touchdown pass on 4th-and-9 to put the Leopards ahead 30-22 with only 39 seconds left in the contest. Sophomore Kicker Myles Lab sealed the win for Louisville with his fourth made extra point kick of the game that made it a two possession contest at 31-22. Lab also banged through a go-ahead 26 yard field goal earlier in the fourth quarter to give LHS a 24-22 lead.

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Leopards Take Second Quarter Lead

Lingenhoel Group - Arden and Lisa Lingenhoel - Cutler Real Estate AdThe tandem of Jackson and Seaman gelled the Leopard offense all morning long. Massillon got on the scoreboard first when Sophomore Runningback Camden Beasley scored from a yard out in the opening quarter. Jackson answered to give Louisville their first lead of the game at 7-6 on a 4 yard run with 8:31 left in the second quarter. Later in the quarter, Seaman broke free of the secondary and Jackson delivered a long pass down the right side line that went for a 65 yard touchdown reception. That put the Leopards in front 14-6 with four minutes left before halftime.

The touchdown came after two defensive stops by the Louisville defense. The Leopards held on 4th-and-4 on their own 34, but gave the ball back to the Tigers five plays later when Sophomore Defensive Back Darrius McElroy intercepted a tipped pass at the Massillon 45. Two plays into the Tiger drive, Sophomore Safety Creed Patterson stripped the Massillon ball carrier and Junior Defensive Back Ethan Rebuck fell on it at the LHS 35. Jackson went for broke to Seaman seconds later.

Massillon Rallies to Tie the Game at the Half

Beatty's Sports Football 2018 Schedule Shirt T-ShirtThe Tigers went four-and-out on the next drive. Going for it on 4th-and-1, Massillon ran the ball to the left but Seaman made a textbook stick stopping the runner short of the line to gain with 2:05 remaining in the second quarter. 

The Tigers still managed to tie the game up heading into the break. The Leopards completed a short pass to the left during the next series, but Junior Linebacker Nick Liebler scooped up his own forced fumble and returned it to the Louisville 49. Two plays later, Sophomore Quarterback Tanner Pierce went over the top to the streaking Junior Wide Receiver Eric Thurman for a 46 yard touchdown strike. Pierce rolled right and found Sophomore Nate Watkins on the right edge of the endzone for the two-point conversion tying the game at 14-14 with 47 seconds left in the half.

Seaman Scores Touchdown After Recording Takeaway

Massillon opened the second half with a promising drive down to the Leopards 31. It ended with an overthrown pass that was picked off by Seaman in the endzone for a touchback.

Louisville wasted no time in capitalizing on the takeaway. Going to the bag of tricks, Jackson threw to Junior Wide Receiver Kurt Haren who made an outstretched catch at the end of his curl route. Haren then immediately flipped the ball to Seaman who ran 67 of the 71 yards gained on the play down to the Tiger 9 yard line. The drive went backwards on the next three plays setting up a 4th-and-goal from the 12. With defenders closing in, Jackson threaded the needle between two Massillon defenders to Seaman in the center of the endzone for the go-ahead score. 21-14 Leopards.

Tigers Strike Back to Take a 22-21 Lead

But the Tigers punched right back with an immediate Pierce to Sophomore Wide Receiver Austin Brawley 65 yard touchdown on a screen pass to the left. Brawley made the catch and ran diagonally across the field to the right sprung by blocks from lineman Jaiden Woods, Jacob Orner, and Nick Grassler. It was a foot race by the time he reached the right sideline and he ran untouched the remaining 45 yards for the score. Pierce faked a handoff and ran a delayed draw up the gut for the two-point conversion to give Massillon a 22-21 lead with 6:16 left in the third quarter.

The two defenses stiffened for the rest of the quarter. Louisville was stopped on 4th-and-3 after driving to the Tiger 10 yard line. Junior Defensive Back Cameron Burgi read the bubble screen perfectly and broke it up for an incompletion. Massillon ran for a first down, but was halted after a second down sack went for a loss of 6. They punted on 4th-and-15 from their own 25.

Leopards Recapture Lead on Rare JV Field Goal

The Leopards started from their own 41 after a fair catch. On the first play of the fourth quarter Jackson lofted a pass to the left to wide open Sophomore Wide Receiver Brandon Kimble for a 27 yard gain to the Tiger 31 yard line. Two plays later, Jackson took the snap and ran a sweep to the left for 27 yards before being knocked out at the Massillon 1 to set up 1st-and-goal.

A high snap on the following play doomed Louisvilleā€™s touchdown chances setting them back to the Tiger 9. They settled for a rare junior varsity field goal attempt. From the left hash, Lab booted through the 26 yard attempt to give LHS a 24-22 lead with 7:51 left.

Louisville Gets the Break of the Game on Special Teams

Massillon sustained a drive to the Leopards 31 in response. But the Louisville defense stormed into the backfield for a loss, the Tigers were called for a false start, and a 3rd-and-17 pass fell incomplete. Massillon punted into the endzone for a touchback.

The Leopards went three-and-out on their next drive and then received the break of the game. The ensuing punt was muffed by the Tigers returner, was nearly recovered by WHS, but the ball squirted out toward the sideline. Kimble pounced on it at the Massillon 47 giving Louisville the ball back with 3:06 left.

Leopards Stay Aggressive on Game-Clinching Drive

The Leopard continued to make big plays to close the deal. On 3rd-and-14, Haren broke free wide open to the right and Jackson threw to him for a 40 yard gain to the Tiger 11. Louisville went to the ground on their next three plays forcing Massillon to burn all three of their timeouts. On 4th-and-9 from the 10, three Leopards receivers lined up to the right. Two drew off the Tiger defenders leaving Seaman wide open inside the 5 yard line. Jackson floated a pass to the wide open receiver who reeled it in while crossing the goal line to put LHS ahead 30-22 with 39 seconds left. Lab’s extra point made it a two possession contest to seal Louisville JV’s first victory of the year.

Massillon scored on another 65 yard Pierce to Brawley touchdown connection on the next play. Runningback Nathan Depuy ran through the right side of the line on the conversion attempt to trim the lead to the slimmest of margins at 31-30 with 25 ticks left. But it was too late, since JV has no kickoff the Leopards retained possession at their own 35 and took a knee to end it.

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Scoring Summary

LEOPARDS 31, TIGERS 30

Team 1-2-3-4–TOTAL

Massillon 6-8-8-8–30

Louisville 0-14-7-10–31

1st Quarter

MASSILLON – Camden Beasley 1 Yard Run (Pass Failed) | LHS 0, WHS 6, 2:58

2nd Quarter

LOUISVILLE – Tyler Jackson 4 Yard Run (Myles Lab Kick) | LHS 7, WHS 6, 8:31

LOUISVILLE – Zack Seaman 65 Yard Pass from Tyler Jackson (Myles Lab Kick) | LHS 14, WHS 6, 4:00

MASSILLON – Eric Thurman 46 Yard Pass from Tanner Pierce (Nate Watkins Conversion Pass from Tanner Pierce) | LHS 14, WHS 14, 0:47

3rd Quarter

LOUISVILLE – Zack Seaman 12 Yard Pass from Tyler Jackson (Myles Lab Kick) | LHS 21, WHS 14, 6:30

MASSILLON – Austin Brawley 65 Yard Pass from Tanner Pierce (Tanner Pierce Run) | LHS 21, WHS 22, 6:16

4th Quarter

LOUISVILLE – Myles Lab 26 Yard Field Goal | LHS 24, WHS 22, 7:51

LOUISVILLE – Zack Seaman 10 Yard Pass from Tyler Jackson (Myles Lab Kick) | LHS 31, WHS 22, 0:39

MASSILLON – Austin Brawley 65 Yard Pass from Tanner Pierce (Nathan Depuy Run) | LHS 31, WHS 30, 0:25

Records: Louisville 1-4-1

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