Hoban Knights Vs. Louisville Leopards 2015 Playoff Preview
#1 Archbishop Hoban Knights (10-1) Vs. #5 Louisville Leopards (10-1)
SPREAD: Archbishop Hoban by 14 (According to Drew Pasteur’s Ohio Fantastic 50)
WHEN: Friday, November 13 at 7:30 PM
WHERE: Green Memorial Stadium
TICKET INFORMATION: Advance Sale General Admission Tickets can be purchased for $8.00 (Cash Only). The LHS Ticket Office Horus are Wednesday & Thursday from 7:30 AM-3:00 PM & 4:00PM-7:00 PM and also on Friday from 7:30 AM-3:00 PM.
HIGHLIGHTS: Will be available following the game late Friday night or early Saturday morning right here on louisvilleleopards.org
SERIES
ALL-TIME SERIES: Louisville leads the all-time series 2-0, but this will be the first time these two teams have met in the postseason.
LAST MEETING: The Leopards defeated the Knights 12-3 back on September 11, 2009 at Louisville Stadium. Louisville also won at Hoban 28-3 back on September 5, 2008.
LEOPARDS
The Leopards are averaging 397 Yards (247 Passing, 150 Rushing) and 39 Points Per Game, while surrendering only 186 Yards (73 Passing, 113 Rushing) and 14 Points Per Contest this season. Louisville is currently +4 in the Turnover Department as they have given the ball up 16 times (8 Fumbles Lost, 8 Interceptions), while taking the ball away 20 times (11 Fumbles Lost, 9 Interceptions).
Jake Adams (181 of 258 for 2,631 yards, 32 passing touchdowns, 3 rushing touchdowns) has emerged 
as one of the best Quarterback’s in the area. With his performance last week at Poland he tied Neal Seaman’s (2007) school record for most passing yards in a season at 2,631. Adams loves to spread the ball around to a host of talented receivers that includes Leopards Single Season Reception Record Holder Tyler Adams (76 catches, 1,222 yards, 13 touchdowns), Alec Jones (44 catches, 545 yards, 13 touchdowns), Conner Bast (29 catches, 453 yards, 5 touchdowns), and Brock Haren (22 catches, 303 yards, 2 touchdowns).
Multiple Defenders are typically needed to bring down Runningback Rahzul Young (193 carries, 1,222 yards, 19 touchdowns) who has powered his way to 20 total touchdowns and leads the team in scoring with 124 points. Others taking handoffs in the running game include Noah Bellew (26 carries, 129 yards), Sean McKinney (19 carries, 102 yards, 2 touchdowns), and the versatile Haren (15 catches, 71 yards, 2 touchdowns).
Leopard Leaders on Defense include Linebacker Frankie Falcone (67.5 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception) in tackles, Defensive Lineman Daichi Castles (40 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass break-up) in sacks, and Defensive Back Dalton Deckerd (37.5 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 0.5 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions, 2 pass-breakups in takeaways.
Kyle Ashcraft (67.5 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception) has also been a major contributor on the Louisville defense at Linebacker along with fellow LB Justin Vanover (18.5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery). The secondary includes other playmakers in Casey Nau (45 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 4 pass break-ups), Stephen Kerzan (48 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass break-up), Cody Allgood (21 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception, 3 pass break-ups), Reis Rankin (18 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 4 pass break-ups), and Brody Hahn (3.5 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 2 interceptions, 4 pass break-ups). The Leopards upfront will look to break-through the tough Knights O-Line with defensive lineman Cade Stertzbach (37.5 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery), Jimmy Leonard (31 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 3 pass break-ups), and Tanner Brahler (5 tackles, 1 tackle for loss).
The combination of Long Snapper Philip Thomas, Holder Hahn, and Kicker Trevor Burk was a perfect 6 for 6 last week on extra points. Burk has now made 29 of 36 extra points this season. Other Special Teams leaders include Jake Adams averaging 33.6 yards on 15 punts and Tyler Adams averaging 19.5 yards on 11 kick returns & 13.3 yards on 18 punt returns. Tyler Croxton (13.2 average on 5 kick returns) and Haren (12.3 average on 4 kick returns) have also made an impact in the kick return game.
KNIGHTS
Despite losing to rival & AP Poll Champion Cleveland Benedictine 35-14 in Week 10, Hoban remained #2 in the final Division III AP Poll. The Knights are led by 4 Big Ten College Commits and a host of other DI College Recruits. The Ohio State Committed Todd Sibley (208 carries, 1,560 yards, 18 touchdowns) leads the Hoban rushing attack averaging 7.5 yards per carry at Runningback. He will look to run behind DI Recruits in Sophomore RJ Kelly (89% grade out OL, 15 pancake blocks) and Freshman Michigan Commit Nolan Rumler (88% grade out OL, 29 pancake blocks). Other starters on the offensive line include Senior Jacob Kepler (93% grade out OL, 26 pancake blocks) and Senior Jacob McNeil (94% grade out OL, 8 pancake blocks) who Head Coach Timothy Tyrrell describes at the “hardest working kid on the team.”
Junior Quarterback Danny Clark (115 of 192 for 2,215 yards, 20 touchdowns passing and 61 carries, 
341 yards, 3 touchdowns rushing) transferred from Massillon in the offseason and now leads the Knights potent passing attack. Clark has also committed to play on Saturdays for the Buckeyes. His favorite target includes Michigan State Bound Jonah Morris (27 catches for 650 yards, 7 touchdowns). The Senior Receiver is averaging 24 yards per catch this season. Clark has plenty of other wide receivers to throw to as well including Senior Tyler Gilchrist (27 catches, 501 yards, 4 touchdowns), Junior Blake Bishop (23 catches, 406 yards, 2 touchdowns), Sophomore Nate Bauer (19 catches, 404 yards, 2 touchdowns receiving and 2 carries, 101 yards, 1 touchdown rushing), and Senior Anthony Christian (10 catches, 103 yards, 3 touchdowns).
The speedy Hoban Defense has been explosive this season in scoring 6 touchdowns of its own. The majority of these have come from the Knights secondary led by Morris (60 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 3 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles) who has taken defensive scores to the house on 3 occasions. Other Leaders in the Defensive Backfield for Hoban include Gilchrist (39 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 interception), Bauer (26 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 touchdown), Free Safety Christian (22 tackles, 1 sack, 3 interceptions), and Tyler Canova (19 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 interception).
Linebacker Dane Kersh (67 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 1 touchdown) leads the team in tackles and Outside Linebacker Jack Griffith (20 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 tackles for loss, 3 fumble recoveries) is tied for the team lead in fumble recoveries. Hoban is led upfront by Major DI Recruit Sophomore Daeshon Coppinger (33 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 touchdown) at defensive end. Others on the Defensive Line include Kepler (21 tackles, 8 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries) and Nick Lewis (21 tackles, 5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries).
On Special Teams, Kicker Grant Kersh has booted 90% of his kickoffs into the endzone, made 7 of 9 field goals with a long of 46, and is a perfect 46 for 46 on extra point tries. Punter Dane Kersh has averaged 41 yards per punt and has placed 10 different boots inside the 5 yard line. Bauer has also averaged 23 yards per punt return and has returned 3 for touchdowns. Also, be on the lookout for the x-factor in Griffth who has also blocked 2 punts this season and has scored 3 defensive/special teams touchdowns.
