Fallsnewspress.com - Fourth-quarter rally leads Walsh past Louisville

by Dean Raymond

Correspondent

Cuyahoga Falls -- Walsh Jesuit head coach Gerry Rardin has been around long enough to know that he can count on his seniors to make big plays.

That was quite evident Aug. 27 in Week 1 of high school football action as the Warriors defeated Louisville, 28-14.

The visiting Leopards hurt themselves with three offsides penalties as Walsh Jesuit (1-0) took the opening kickoff and settled for a 28-yard field goal by junior Ross Martin for a 3-0 lead with 10:07 remaining in the first quarter.

The key play in the drive came at the Warrior 38 as senior quarterback Connor Cook passed to senior running back Nick Borkey down the right sideline. Borkey scampered all the way to the Louisville 25 for a Walsh Jesuit first down.

The Warriors got the ball back again at their own 35 with 8:03 left in the opening period. Borkey kept the drive alive on fourth and 1 from the Leopard 30 as he gained three yards around left guard.

A 21-yard pass from Cook to junior running back Brock Jones put Walsh at third and goal from the Louisville 4-yard line. Cook found sophomore wide receiver Crissean Caver towards the left side of the end zone for a Warrior touchdown. Martin kicked the PAT and Walsh Jesuit led 10-0 with 2:50 to go in the first quarter.

However, the Leopards answered right back with an 80-yard touchdown drive that took 14 plays. With junior quarterback Chad Neff mixing the run with the pass, Louisville took advantage of a pass interference call on the Warriors and had a first down at the Walsh Jesuit 14.

A seven-yard run by senior wide receiver Michael Schooley put the Leopards first and goal at the Warrior 1-yard line.

Neff then went over right tackle for a Louisville touchdown. Senior Jaron Lohmeyer booted the extra point as the Leopards trailed 10-7 with 10:25 left in the second period.

Both teams had to punt on their next two possessions, before a 36-yard run by junior running back Ryan Jun gave the Warriors a first down at the Louisville 18-yard line late in the second quarter.

On fourth-and-12 from the Leopards 21, Martin kicked a 38-yard field goal as Walsh Jesuit led 13-7 with 25 left in the half.

The score would remain the same until early in the third quarter when both teams traded turnovers as Louisville fumbled and the Warriors were intercepted.

Junior linebacker Lucas Poyser made the interception for the Leopards as he raced down the left sideline all the way to the Walsh Jesuit 16-yard line.

After a personal foul on the Warriors gave the Leopards first and goal, Neff bolted right up the middle of the Warrior defense for a touchdown to tie the game at 13. The PAT was good by Lohmeyer as Louisville led for the only time in the game at 14-13 with 9:13 to go in the third period.

While Walsh Jesuit couldn't put any points on the board in the third quarter, Cook started to find senior wide receiver Tyler Starkey on numerous pass plays as the Warriors offense started to click again.

On fourth-and-2 from the Leopard 25 midway through the fourth period, Rardin decided to go for it and it paid off. Borkey rushed around left guard to the Louisville 21-yard line for a Walsh Jesuit first down.

On the very next play, Jun took the ball and scampered to the Leopard 1-yard line. Cook then scored on a keeper up the middle for a Warrior touchdown on the next play.

Walsh Jesuit went for the two-point conversion and capitalized as Cook passed to junior tight end Kevin Enright in the middle of the end zone for a 21-14 Warrior advantage with 6:16 left in the fourth quarter.

Walsh Jesuit then put the game away late in the final period thanks to an interception by sophomore Josh Kuehn that gave the Warriors a first down at the Louisville 45-yard line.

On third and 7 from the Leopard 31, Borkey scampered around left tackle for a touchdown as Walsh led 27-14 with just 1:16 showing on the clock.

Once again, Martin nailed the extra point to make the final score, 28-14 in favor of the Warriors.

"We overcame adversity tonight," Rardin said. "We had too many penalties but we kept fighting and kept our composure. We made things harder on ourselves than we should have but we learned we can step it up when we are under the gun."

Meanwhile, Cook, Starkey and Borkey were beaming with pride after the game.

"I'm speechless," Cook said. "It felt awesome to beat such a good team. Everyone stayed positive and kept working."

Starkey also agreed with Cook that their team had defeated a tremendous opponent.

"Louisville is tough and they didn't quit," Starkey said. "I played well on defense, too."

Borkey was quick to credit his offensive line on his late touchdown run that sealed the deal for Walsh Jesuit.

"Adam Redmond (senior offensive lineman) blocked well and I ran right through the hole," Borkey said.

Walsh was set to battle Archbishop Hoban Sept. 3 at home, but results were not available at press time.

The Warriors will travel to Bedfrod Sept. 10 at 7 p.m.

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