Gridiron Game Talk – week 2

Lovejoy Leopards vs. Melissa Cardinals
 
Freshman 09-03-09
 
Leopards 12 – Hawks 6
 
Freshman Leopards Pull Out Win vs. Rockwall Heath
The 9th grade Leopards downed the Rockwall Heath Hawks, 12-6, in a back and forth contest Thursday night.  At the start, it looked like it was going to be a long night for the Leopards as the Hawks took the 2nd play from scrimmage to the house on a 71 yard dash up the middle, making the score 6-0, Rockwall.  The wakeup call served the Leopards well as the defense turned into a stone wall for the rest of the contest, with aggressive play in the box by Jace Caton, Slayton Shiels, and Tom Campbell.  Drew Scolaro and Austin Turnbow added great defensive support as well.  Taylor Neitsch, Zack Wilkins, and Jonathan Otiker helped shut down the Hawks passing game with great coverage.  In the first half, Rockwall was held to only 10 plays from scrimmage by solid, aggressive “D” from this tough Leopard defense.
 
The Leopards offense was patient throughout, as the game became a battle of field position and ball control.  This strategy paid off in the as the ball was spread around, mixing runs with passes keeping the Hawks on their heels.  The Leopards put together a 12 play drive in the 2nd quarter resulting in the team’s first score, a 2 yard dive play by Scolaro.  The PAT was blocked, tying the score at 6-6.
 
The opening drive of the 2nd half was an 8 play masterpiece as the Leopards traveled 65 yards, 28 of which came on a keeper by Zack Saffle.  The drive ended with a 20 yard scoring toss as Saffle was forced to scrambled out of the pocket by pressure, but found Grayson Williams in the back of the end zone.  Williams had read pressure, broke off his route and found a soft spot in the Hawk secondary for the score.  The Leopards went for two but were thwarted as Caton was questionably cut down on his pass route by a Hawk defender.  This brought the score to 12-6, Leopards.
 
The only challenge to the Leopards lead came at the end of the 3rd quarter as the Hawks took over at the Leopard 17 after a mishap on a punt attempt.  The Leopards defense immediately stuffed the Hawks for a 10 yard loss, holding on to end the drive at the Leopard 14 with an impressive pass rush led by Thomas Schwab.
 
The Leopard offense took over and put together another impressive 12 play drive, highlighted by a third and eleven, 13 yard pass from Saffle to Turnbow to keep the drive alive.  The offense successfully ran out the clock to cement the 12-6 win.
 
 Written by Dave Saffle
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Junior Varsity 09-03-09
Game was cancelled due to weather
 
Written by Daris Nevil

Lovejoy Defeats Melissa 26-13 for a 2-0 start
 
What a difference a year makes. The Lovejoy Leopards who began last year’s first varsity season with 2 losses have started the 2009 season with 2 victories. Behind the passing attack of QB Michael Means, WR Parker Norris, & WR Hayden Marsh; the running attack of Blake Martin & Means; and an attacking defense led by Ticer Havens, Matt Kotecki, & Nate Krumrei, the Leopards 1st Senior Class Team is off to a 2-0 start.
The game began with the Lovejoy Leopards winning the coin toss and deferring their choice to the 2nd half. Unexpectedly, the Melissa Cardinals chose to kickoff to the Leopards meaning the Leopards could choose to receive the kickoff the 2nd half (which they did).
Not wanting Martin or Means to get their hands on the kickoff (both returned kickoffs for TD’s last year), the Cardinals opened the game with a short kick. The offense took the field and surprisingly began with a delay of the game penalty (penalties would be an issue the entire game). On 3rd and 14, Means hit Marsh for 15 yards and a 1st down but the 1st offensive series would stall and the Leopards would have to punt.
 
The 1st defensive series would begin similar to the 1st offensive series – with a penalty (lined up in the neutral zone). However, the defense would hold behind great efforts of Krumrei & Drew Carson and force the Cardinals to punt. Lovejoy’s offense returned to the field and wasted no time. After a couple of Martin runs, Means rolled to the left and hit Norris for a 21 yard TD pass. Norris also converted the 2 pt conversion which gave the Leopards an 8-0 first quarter lead.
 
After a couple of punts by both teams, Melissa got the ball back with 9:34 remaining in the 2nd quarter and began what could arguably be the series of the game. On 1st and 10 following a successful third and short conversion, Melissa QB Wes McQueen hit the WR Brodie Russell with a short pass who proceeded to break a couple of tackles and was headed for  the end zone. Coming all the way from the other side of the field, Means (playing CB) pushed the receiver out of bounds at the 15 yard line to prevent a TD – chance #1. On the next play, a wide open receiver dropped a sure TD pass – chance #2.  Melissa would not get a third chance. LB Matt Kotecki picked up a fumble on the Lovejoy 15 yd line and raced 65 yards before being pushed out of bounds at the Melissa 20 yd line. The Lovejoy offense wasted no time taking advantage of this gift.  Martin behind a great block by Matt Berryman raced up the middle for a 25 yd TD. Norris hit Means for the 2 pt conversion to extend Lovejoy’s lead to 16-0.
 
The defense flexed their muscles on the next series with two outstanding plays by Havens: a 9 yd sack & a screen pass for a loss.  The Lovejoy offense took over and despite 2 penalties and a dropped pass managed to get 3 points off a 37 yd field goal by Eddie Puskarich. On the ensuing kickoff Melissa was aided by another Lovejoy penalty which lead to a Melissa 20 yd FG and a halftime score of 19-3.
 
The2nd half was no different in terms of penalties erasing big plays and stalling drives. On Lovejoy’s initial possession, a holding call wiped out a 55 yd run by Martin. The drive stalled and Melissa took advantage of this penalty along with a pass interference call on defense. This led to a 30 yd FG and a 19-6 score midway through the 3rd quarter. On the following kickoff, Melissa’s short kickoff strategy almost backfired as Lovejoy’s Ben Thomas nearly went the distance on the return.   Another holding call erased a Means to Parker 1st down completion and forced the Leopards to punt. Lovejoy’s defense stepped up immediately with a sack by Havens & Nate O’Conner.  After two incompletions the Cardinals had to punt.  Lovejoy could only gain one 1st down on the next series and had to punt back to Melissa.
 
It only took Melissa 5 plays to score. After a couple of completions, Melissa QB McQueen found WR Nathan Warren for a 26 yd TD pass to start the 4th quarter. Melissa kicked the extra point and just like that it’s only a one possession game.  The momentum was clearly on the Melissa side. Lovejoy needed to answer and that is exactly what they did. Means began the drive with a first down run of 12 yards. Martin scampered for 9 yards and then for 27 yards after a false start penalty. Means’ run of 20 yards down to the 1 yd line was called back for holding. Coach Puckett’s advice of having a short memory paid off. On the next play, Means found Hayden Marsh for a 25 yard TD pass putting the Leopards up for good 26-13.
 
Momentum was back on the Lovejoy side and the defense took over. A vicious tackle by Blake Westback for a loss, another Havens sack, and a Byron Butler interception on the 4 yd line ended any hopes of a miracle comeback by Melissa. A 65 yd run by Means called back for holding on the next possession only seem to punctuate a night peppered with penalties in which Coach Puckett for the 2nd week in a row called an ugly win. But like Coach Puckett went on to say, “I will take an ugly win over a pretty loss any day”.
 
Written by Marc Means

GRIDIRON CLUB
Lovejoy Football Boosters
http://www.lovejoyleopard.com

For the latest football information online from Coach Puckett,
go to the LHS website:  http://lhs.lovejoyisd.net
then click "On Campus" then click "Athletics"