Leopards Cruise Past Gilmour

“Will the Leopards crowd-pleasing antics come back to bite them in the playoffs?” was the question being asked by sports writers in the community as the Leopards offense, led by sophomore QB Lynn Bowden, became known for turning broken plays into big ones. After Saturday’s game, it became clear that the Leopards were the ones doing the biting. Many around the area anticipated the red-hot Liberty Leopards to edge out a win this Saturday against the visiting Gilmour Academy Lancers, but nobody quite expected the results that followed as the Leopards dominated the Lancers by a score of 62-7. The Leopards came roaring out the gates as Bowden set the pace for the offense, scoring the first TD of the night on a 15 yard keeper. Ben Phillips punched in his own TD run a few minutes later on a 26 yarder. The two continued to trade scores back and forth, as Bowden took it to the house on a 76 yard keeper, only for Phillips to return a 60 yard punt one minute after. The Leopards finished the quarter with a 28-0 lead, and they didn’t rest. The second quarter told the same tale as Bowden scored on a 12 yard run and Phillips struck again with his second punt return for a TD on the night, this time taking it 52 yards. Bowden would post his final score of the night with 4 to play in the first half as he found paydirt on a 69 yard run. Alex Carnathan punched in his own score from one yard out to end the first half with a score of 56-0.

The Leopards, holding a very comfortable 56-0 lead by the start of the third, slowed down their offense and produced only one more TD on the night, coming from a one yard run by JaShaun Whitman late in the third quarter. The Lancers found their first score of the night late in the fourth on a toss through the air, making for a final score of 62-7. Bowden rushed for 232 yards and four TD’s on 13 carries, while Phillips returned a pair of punts for TD’s and a score rushing. Alex Carnathan and JaShaun Whitman added their own TD’s on one yard runs. Come support the Liberty Leopards in their 10 year reunion with the Ursuline Fighting Irish in the OHSAA regional semifinals at Warren G. Harding’s Mollenkopf Stadium Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 7 PM. Drown Warren in maroon and mold as the Leopards battle their way to state!