Louisville Leopards at Marlington Dukes 2014 Football Preview

Louisville Leopards Vs. Marlington Dukes 2014 Football Preview

Louisville Leopards (6-1, 4-0) at Marlington Dukes (4-3, 4-0)

Marlington Dukes HelmetLouisville Leopards Helmet

SPREAD: Louisville By 14

WHEN: Friday, October 17 at 7:00 PM

WHERE: Marlington Stadium (Click for Directions)

RADIO: None

TV: None

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 41-5, which includes an 18-4 record at Marlington.

VIEW FULL ALL-TIME SERIES

LAST MEETING: The Leopards scored 38 unanswered points to defeat the visiting Dukes 41-20 back on October 18, 2013.

View 2013 Video Highlights & Recap

LAST MEETING AT MARLINGTON: The Dukes defeated the Leopards 34-24 back on September 14, 2012.

View 2012 Video Highlights & Recap

Schedules:

Louisville Schedule Marlington Schedule
WK Opponent Result Opponent Result
1 at Canfield W 24-7 Poland L 17-38
2 at Hoover L 14-17 at Crestwood L 31-40
3 Ravenna W 40-6 at St. Thomas Aquinas L 35-49
4 at Salem W 49-6 West Branch W 38-13
5 at Carrollton W 37-22 Minerva W 37-21
6 West Branch W 51-0 at Canton South W 25-21
7 Minerva W 44-21 at Salem W 31-0
8 at Marlington 10/17 Louisville 10/17
9 Alliance 10/24 Carrollton 10/24
10 Canton South 10/31 at Alliance 10/31

PREVIEW

The Calendar Year has changed, but the importance of this game has not. 4 of the last 6 NBC crowns have been won by Louisville and Marlington. Whoever wins Friday between these two 4-0 NBC squads will more than likely have one more. The Leopards are riding an 11-game winning streak in conference play, while the Dukes have won 10 of their last 11 league games with their only loss coming against Louisville 41-20 last season. This will only be the second time all year that the Leopards have played on grass. It seemed to make no difference the last time as the walloped the Quakers at Salem 49-6 in Week 4. Despite an 0-3 start, the Dukes have outscored their four NBC opponents an average of 33-14 with their most convincing victory coming last week at Salem in a 31-0 shutout. Louisville has a distinct lead in the all-time series 41-5, but the series is an even 2-2 in the last four meetings and Marlington has won the last two games in the series played in Lexington Township.

LEOPARDS

The Louisville Offense has averaged 373 yards (201 rushing, 172 passing) and 37 points through the first 7 games of the season. Runningback Walter Schrock (74 carries, 581 yards, 7 touchdowns) and Quarterback Connor Zwick (86 carries, 565 yards, 7 touchdowns) have combined for over 1,100 yards on the ground this season. Through the air, Zwick has completed 78 of 117 passes (67%) for 1,078 yards and 15 touchdowns against 5 interceptions. The Senior Quarterback has been able to find a variety of targets this season that include Kyle Woost (27 catches, 272 yards, 3 touchdowns), Alec Jones (17 catches, 233 yards, 7 touchdowns), Ryan Lautner (16 catches, 234 yards, 3 touchdowns), Tyler Adams (9 catches, 209 yards, 4 touchdowns), and Josh Swanson (9 catches, 207 yards, 1 touchdown).

The Leopards Defense has allowed 201 yards (97 rushing, 104 passing) and just 11 points per contest this year. Louisville has forced 13 takeaways (8 fumble recoveries, 5 interceptions) this season led by Beatty's Sports Nothing is Given Shirt Full Size AdLinebacker Casey Nau (28 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 interception) who has recorded 3. Kyle Ashcraft (43.5 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack), Jake Mathie (32 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 2 pass break-ups), and Stephen Kerzan (28 tackles, 1 force fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception, 3 pass break-ups) also have a nose for the football and are among the Leopards leaders in tackles. Other playmakers on the Louisville defense include Dalton Deckerd (18.5 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack), Frankie Falcone (17 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks), Daichi Castles (17 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 force fumble, 1 fumble recovery), Tanner Brahler (15 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 force fumble), Joe Crank (13.5 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 forced fumble, 2 interceptions, 3 pass break-ups), Marco Buccasso (13 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery), and Swanson (1 interception).

On Special Teams, Kicker Austin Terra has scored 39 points this season (30 of 33 on PATs, 3 of 5 on Field Goals). Zwick has averaged 32.7 yards on 11 punts with his longest boot recorded at 53 yards. The Louisville return game has yet to take one to the house this year, but does not lack the ability to. Adams has averaged 30.4 yards on 5 kick returns with a long of 59 and Crank has averaged 10.8 yards on 13 punt returns with a long of 61. Brock Haren and Cade Stertzbach have also each recovered a fumble on kickoff coverage.

DUKES

The Marlington Offense has averaged 352 yards (129 rushing, 223 passing) and 31 Points Per Game. Sophomore Quarterback Chris Pennell has commanded the offense under center completing 105 of 179 (59%) passes for 1,567 yards and 17 touchdowns against 8 interceptions. His top targets include a host of upperclassman receivers: Dylan Simmons (34 catches, 524 yards, 6 touchdowns), Cam Cooper (37 catches, 489 yards, 6 touchdowns), Garrett Floyd (26 catches, 446 yards, 6 touchdowns), and Tyler Oakes (11 catches, 121 yards). Rushing leaders include Junior runningback Tyler Tokos (68 carries, 342 yards, 5 touchdowns) and Sophomore runningback Jaq Sampson (70 carries, 435 yards, 3 touchdowns).

Floyd has stepped up for the Dukes in all three phases of the game and has scored 84 points this season. To go along with his 6 receiving touchdowns he has also returned an interception for a score, returned a punt to the house, booted through 5 of 7 field goals and made 21 of 26 extra points.

The Dukes Defense has allowed 268 Yards (135 Rushing, 133 Passing) and 26 Points Per Contest this season. Marlington has forced 11 takeaways defensively (8 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries).

Individual Defensive Statistics were not provided by Marlington.

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