Friday Night Lights
Originally Published In: THE SPOTLIGHT Volume 83, Issue 2 (November 2006)
By Jared Heller
After starting with a record of 1-3, the Leopards made a comeback to end the season even at 5-5. The Leopards also finished with a winning record of 4-3 in the NBC!
After a disappointing loss to Alliance, the Leopards took it to the Marlington Dukes. Brandon Hostetler keyed the offense with a touchdown catch, 78 yards rushing, and two touchdowns on the ground. Ben Schmucker also ran for 86, Kyle Falk and Neal Seaman also added touchdown runs, and Clay Swigert led the defense scoring on a 65-yard interception return. After leading 33-0 at halftime, the Leps cruised to a 40-8 victory. The Leopards now hold a 36-3 all-time record against the Dukes.
The Leopards then lost a heartbreaker to Canton South in overtime 27-21. The Leps got ahead early when Schumucker broke loose for a 71-yard touchdown run. However, South then scored 14 unanswered points. Schmucker followed by scoring on a 13-yard run, but South answered right back with a touchdown of their own. The Leopards rallied in the fourth quarter, tying the game on a 10-yard catch by Falk from Schmucker. After the Leopards failed to score in overtime, South took their chance. The Leps defense forced a fumble, but South ran it in for a touchdown anyways in snapping a seven game losing streak against the Leps.
The Leps suffered another nail-biting loss, this time to Northwest 14-13. The Leps led 13-0 at the half with the help of a Schmucker touchdown run and touchdown pass to Falk. However, a 99-yard drive capped off a two touchdown rally by the Indians with 49 seconds left.
The Leps showed no mercy on homecoming night to the West Branch Warriors. Homecoming King, Ben Schmucker, led the team with 258 yards passing, threw two touchdown passes, and ran in two more touchdowns. Neal Seaman and Tyler Adkins each caught touchdown grabs, and Kyle Falk finished with 8 catches for 115 yards. The Leps defense put the shaft on the Warriors as the Leps won 26-6. Schmucker earned the Repository Player of the Week for his dominating performance.
The Leps won their second consecutive game when they crushed Carrollton 20-6. The Leopards held a slim lead at the end of three quarters before pulling ahead in the fourth quarter. Schmucker racked up 133 yards rushing and scored all three touchdowns. Marcus Poyser also helped the Leps offense with 45 yards rushing. Sadly, the Leps learned that night that they were eliminated from the playoffs for the first time since 1998.
The thought of not making the playoffs lit a spark into the Leps when they played Minerva. The Leopards racked up 367 yards on the ground and had 23 first downs despite the brutal weather conditions. Schmucker led the team running for a 190 yards and 5 touchdowns. Marcus Poyser also helped out, rushing for 118 yards and a 30-yard touchdown scamper. Falk also scored two touchdowns on the ground, and Aaron Hooper ran for a TD late in the fourth quarter. The Leps defense dominated Minerva by forcing four turnovers, holding them to 89 yards of offense, and only allowing 5 first downs. The Leps won the game 58-6, the third largest point margin ever against the Lions.
The Leopards fought hard to finish with a .500 record and still finished fourteenth in their region. The Leopards season might have been disappointing, but they still ended it with a bang to keep their pride alive within the NBC!
