Fear the Paw

Fear the paw. That is the phrase many Leopards fans reiterated as Liberty prepared to take on the undefeated Jefferson Falcons at home this past Friday. Since the end of the 2011 varsity football season, no visiting football team has found success at Leopards Stadium. This narrative held true Friday night as the Leopards handed the undefeated Falcons their first loss of the season in a 33-24 win in this All-American Conference showdown. The Jefferson Falcons, wary of the explosive potential of the Liberty offense, came into Leopards Stadium knowing that they had to build momentum early on if they were to have a chance at disrupting the hot streak the Leopards have been on since a week one loss to Villa Angela-St. Joseph. This was apparent right off the bat, as Jefferson’s opening kick off to the Leopards was an onside kick that was recovered by the Falcons. However, that would be the most momentum the Leopards would allow for the remainder of the half. Liberty’s defense stepped up to the plate and got the ball back in the hands of the offense.

The Leopards struck first when Lynn Bowden found Ben Phillips on a 27 yard TD pass to give the Leopards a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter. It wouldn’t be too much later in the game when Bowden connected on his second TD pass of the night on a 32 yard pass to JaShaun Whitman. However, the Leopards offense wasn’t the only thing that Jefferson had difficulty containing. The final Leopards TD of the half was a result of special teams dominance, as the Leopards punt return unit executed solid blocks that paved the way for Bowden’s 57 yard punt return. While the Falcons managed to inch up the field a number of times, the Leopards defense came up big with an interception by Khyri Davis and a fumble recovery by JaShaun Whitman. By half, the Leopards lead the Falcons by a score of 20-0. The Falcons finally found the end zone midway through the third quarter, cutting into the Leopard lead and making it a 20-6 game. The Falcons would again find the endzone in the fourth quarter, but the Leopards answered back when Bowden found Khyri Davis for a 23 yard TD pass to make the score 27-12 late in the fourth quarter. However, the Falcons weren’t done yet. Jefferson drove down the field and made their way into the endzone. After a failed two point conversion attempt, the Falcons trailed the Leopards 27-18. Following the scoring drive, Jefferson attempted an onside kick, only for the Leopards to recover the kick and take it all the way back to the Falcons three yard line. One play later, Ben Phillips found the end zone from two yards out to give the Leopards a 33-18 lead with three to play in the game. The Falcons, determined to go out with a bang, punched in one more scoring drive through a series of passes as they ultimately fell to the Leopards. Bowden finished the game with 20 carries for 86 yards on the ground, and 5-7 for 107 yards and three TD’s through the air. Phillips posted 33 yards and one TD on eight carries, as well as one TD catch for 23 yards. Whitman had two catches for 40 yards and one TD, and Davis also had one TD catch for 23 yards. The Leopards (5-1) travel to Campbell (0-6) next week to take on the Red Devils. Good luck, Liberty!