Liberty WS Guy Football Home Opener

September 4, 2014 by Jim Detoro, LHS Faculty

Last night, our WS Guy Leopards opened their 2014 football season with a hard fought 18-14 win over the Niles Red Dragons. The Leopards and Dragons defenses were both dominant in the first quarter which remained scoreless. Then, early on in the second quarter, Ezell Brown burst over the left side of the line and ran past the Niles defenders using a nifty cutback move for a 30 yard TD run. Paving the way for the TD romp were blockers Garyon Dailey, Simi Moananu, Kylan Wilson, Mason Granger, Terrance Yeboah, Kaleb Merrick-Neff and Justin Cizmar. That TD was the only score for either team in the first half. Niles came out roaring early in the third quarter and almost scored a TD only to be thwarted by a touchdown saving tackle by Zion Matlock on a long run. That turned out to be a huge play for the Leopards because on the next Niles play, defensive back Gio'vanni Washington blasted the Niles ball carrier forcing a fumble on the nine yard line. It was scooped up by Mehlyn Clinkscale and returned 91 yards for another Leopard score. The score was now 12-0 Leopards, but the Dragons roared back and closed the gap to 12-6 on their next series of plays. But once again, the Leopards clawed their way back to a two TD lead when QB Zane Cylar found a wide open Ezell Brown for a spectacular 64 yard TD pass to increase our margin to 18-6. Providing adequate time for the TD pass were blockers Laquintin Dailey, Kyree Morgan and Giovanni DiNardo who had just been inserted into the game. But, not to be outdone, the Red Dragons scored on their own big play on fourth down. The Leopard "D" was proving to be a tough force, but although DB Marquan Tate deflected the desperation fourth down pass, it luckily bounced into a Niles' receiver's hands and he raced in for the score and after a two point conversion, the score was now 18-14 for the Leopards.

This is when the Leopard "D took control and iced the victory. Hard charging defenders Zach Coman, Greg McGee, Jalen McKinney, Anthony DeFrance, Kameron Thomas, Hamad Alhmeed, Kyler Morgan, Braylin and Jalen Stredrick made sure the Dragons scored no more. An interception by Zane Cylar also highlighted the Leopard victory.

Next week, the Leopards travel to Lakeview to battle the Bulldogs on Wednesday, September 10 at 5:00