Northwest Indians top Louisville Leopards 26-14

Photo by James Ellifritz

What a special night to be back watching my alma mater, Louisville High School host their former NBC Conference rival and PAC 7 opponent, the Northwest Indians at Leopard Stadium.

This is the home opener for the 1-1 Leopards who are coming off their 1st win for new Head Coach Chris Kappas by defeating Zanesville 22-0 in week 2. Northwest comes in at 0-2 to start their season but they sure didn’t look like a team with a losing record.

Louisville took a 7-0 lead when Leopards QB Owen Burick hit a wide-open Braiden Hershey right in the hands as he crossed the goal line with the 1st TD pass of the night with 7:53 left in the 1st qtr.

7-0 Leopards on this wide open TD pass. 7:53 remaining in the 1st qtr. @neosportsinside@fox8fntd@hshysteria@lepsad@louisvilleleps@nwhsindians pic.twitter.com/FDNggpDOEO

— James Ellifritz (@TheFritz330) September 2, 2023

Louisville later failed on a 4th down attempt with under 12 minutes to play early in the 2nd at their opponent’s 3-yard line. Northwest was able to March into Leopard territory only to throw an interception on a 3rd and goal play with 5:37 to play in the 2nd quarter.

A 2nd 1st half interception by Louisville kept the Indians off the scoreboard for most of the 1st half. All but 1 second of clock anyways. The Tribe from Canal Fulton was able to tie the score at 7 a piece at half with NW scoring a short rushing TD as the 1st half expired.

Halftime at Louisville

The game is tied at 7-7@neosportsinside@fox8fntd@hshysteria@lepsad@louisvilleleps@NWHSIndians pic.twitter.com/Wp4SvfvQhY

— James Ellifritz (@TheFritz330) September 2, 2023

During the 3rd quarter the Leopard offense took the lead back at 14-7 on a short run play with 7:04 left to play in the quarter. That, however, was the last points scored for the Leopards tonight. Northwest tossed a beautiful passing TD in the corner of the end zone with 5:14 in the 3rd qtr

A Northwest INT in Leopard territory with 4:14 remaining in the 3rd was returned for a TD but a holding penalty on the return kept the 6 points off the scoreboard.

The Tribe really started to lean on Louisville’s line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. The shift in momentum was rewarded with a

Northwest rushing TD with 1:57 in the 3rd for their 1st lead of the night, 20-14. The 2pt conversion was missed.

Northwest takes a 20-14 lead on this rushing TD! 2pt conversion no good. 1:57 left in the 3rd. @neosportsinside@fox8fntd@hshysteria@lepsad@louisvilleleps@nwhsindians pic.twitter.com/kmmNG50ysu

— James Ellifritz (@TheFritz330) September 2, 2023

20-14 Northwest to start the 4th.

Northwest Defense has been solid the entire 2nd half. A Louisville INT at their 41 with 9:49 in the 4th held the Indians back but not for long.

Louisville’s offense had a 4th and 8 on the Northwest 28 with 5:35 left but a false start moved them back to a

4th and 13. The Roll Tribe defense sacked the Leopard QB for the turnover on downs with just under 5:28 to play in the game. Northwest tacked on 1 more rushing TD with 1:43 left

It was all but over when Northwest got the ball back from one last Leopard turnover on downs so they could take a final knee for the well-earned victory tonight.

Final score

Northwest Indians 26

Louisville Leopards 14

Thank you to both communities for showing out under the Friday night lights.