Louisville Leopards at Poland Bulldogs 2015 Playoff Preview

Louisville Leopards Vs. Poland Seminary Bulldogs Football Playoffs 2014

#5 Louisville Leopards (9-1) at #4 Poland Bulldogs (9-1)

Poland Seminary Bulldogs Helmet

SPREAD: Louisville By 1 (According to Drew Pasteur’s Ohio Fantastic 50)

WHEN: Friday, November 6 at 7:30 PM

WHERE: Poland Seminary High School Stadium

TICKET INFORMATION: Pre-Sale Tickets are $8.00 (Cash Only) and the LHS Ticket Office is open from Thursday from 7:30-3:00 & 4:00-7:00 AND Friday from 7:30-3:00.

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 12-8, but the series is an even 5-5 when played at Poland.

VIEW FULL ALL-TIME SERIES

LAST MEETING: The Bulldogs defeated the Leopards 41-21 in the DIII, Region 7 Quarterfinals back on November 7, 2014.

View 2014 Video Highlights & Recap

LAST MEETING AT POLAND: The Leopards defeated the Bulldogs 18-7 at Poland back on August 26, 2005.

LEOPARDS LAST WIN OVER BULLDOGS: The Leopards last defeated the Bulldogs 35-13 at home back on August 25, 2006.

View 2006 Video Highlights & Recap

PREVIEW

Well the calendar has flipped a year, and the Leopards and Bulldogs find themselves playing each other again in the opening round of the playoffs. This time the two squads will play on Poland’s turf after the Bulldogs won at Louisville Leopards Stadium 41-21 in last year’s DIII, Region 7 Quarterfinal. The Leopards have won 7 straight contests after falling at Austintown Fitch Week 3. The Bulldogs won their first 9 games before falling to rival Canfield 7-6 last week. That game through a wrench in the DIII, Region 7 rankings and allowed for this first round rematch. Can Louisville avenge last year’s loss or will Poland duplicate last year’s game? Find out Friday at Poland!

LEOPARDS

Louisville is averaging 386 Yards (241 Passing, 145 Rushing) and 39 Points Per Game this season, while surrendering 192 Yards (77 Passing, 115 Rushing) and 14 Points Per Contest this year. The Leopards are currently +3 in takeaways this season in recording 19 Takeaways (10 Fumbles Recovered, 9 Interceptions), while giving the ball up 16 times (8 Fumbles Lost, 8 Interceptions).

Quarterback Jake Adams (156 of 217 for 2,321 yards and 30 touchdowns) set the school record for touchdown passes in a season last week at Canton South. Tyler Adams (66 catches, 1,105 yards, 12 touchdowns) also became the first ever Leopard receiver to have 1,000 yards receiving in a season and he, along with fellow receiver Alec Jones (39 catches, 477 yards, 12 touchdowns), also tied the school mark for touchdown grabs in a single season against the Wildcats this past Friday. Other top receivers include Conner Bast (22 catches, 360 yards, 5 touchdowns) and Brock Haren (21 catches, 277 yards, 2 touchdowns).

Haren (10 carries, 53 yards, 1 touchdown) also filled in nicely on the ground after starting Runningback Rahzul Young (168 carries, 1,087 yards, 17 touchdowns) left the game early at Canton South last week. Young should be back for Friday’s contest and will look to run behind the blocking of Louisville’s staunch offensive line that includes Alex Hall, Terry Gooch, Chase Lautzenheiser, Issac Mathie, and Jarett Heater.

Stat leaders on the Leopards Defense include Linebacker Frankie Falcone (63.5 tackles, 5 tackles for Order Leopard Nation Highlight Videoloss, 5.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception) in tackles, Defensive Lineman Daichi Castles (35.5 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble) in sacks, Defensive Lineman Jimmy Leonard (28.5 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception, 3 pass break-ups) in tackles for a loss, and Defensive Back Dalton Deckerd (34.5 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 0.5 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions, 2 pass-break-ups) in takeaways. Other top tacklers include Kyle Ashcraft (51 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble), Casey Nau (39.5 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 3 pass break-ups), Stephen Kerzan (43 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass break-up), and Cade Stertzbach (35.5 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery). Other key defensive contributors this season include Cody Allgood (19 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception, 2 pass break-ups), Justin Vanover (16.5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery), Reis Rankin (16 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 4 pass break-ups), the recently returning Tanner Brahler (5 tackles, 1 tackle for loss), and Brody Hahn (3.5 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception, 4 pass break-ups).

On Special Teams, Kicker Trevor Burk has made 23 of 30 extra point kicks and Young has booted through 7 of 10 extra point tries. Jake Adams is averaging 33.6 yards on 13 punts this season with a long of 52. Tyler Adams has emerged as the Leopards main return man in averaging 19.5 yards on 10 kick returns and 12.7 yards on 14 punt returns this season. Other top kick returners include Tyler Croxton (13.2 average on 5 returns), Haren (12.3 average on 4 returns), and Hahn (15.7 average on 3 returns).

BULLDOGS

The Bulldogs are averaging 313 yards (82 passing, 231 rushing) and 31 points per game this season, while allowing 10 points per contest this year. Poland is also +6 in the turnover department in giving up the ball just 4 times (2 fumbles lost, 2 interceptions), while taking the ball away 10 times (2 fumble recovery, 8 interceptions).

The Bulldogs Offense is led by Senior Runningback Dylan Garver (183 carries, 1,289 yards, 21 touchdowns). Others carrying part of the load in the run-heavy Poland offense include Nick Petrolla (33 carries, 233 yards, 2 touchdowns), Nick Buccieri (32 carries, 214 yards, 2 touchdowns), Alex Catsoules (17 carries, 180 yards, 3 touchdowns), Anthony Audi (18 carries, 162 yards, 2 touchdowns), and Reid Gould (12 carries, 62 yards, 1 touchdown).

Quarterback Cole Kosco (45 of 77 for 637 yards, 8 touchdowns passing, 32 carries for 214 yards, 2 touchdowns rushing) is only a Freshman. His top targets include Anthony Calcagni (15 catches, 278 yards, 5 touchdowns) and Tyler Smith (20 catches, 243 yards, 5 touchdowns).

Poland’s ball-hawking secondary has recorded 8 interceptions this season led by Garver (36 tackles, 1 Beatty's Sports - 2015 Playoff Shirtfumble recovery) who has picked off 5. Others intercepting passes in the secondary include Smith (34 tackles, 2 interceptions) and Tony Chiaro (5 tackles, 1 interception). Linebacker Padraig O’shaughnessy (56 tackles, 1 tackle for loss) leads the team in tackles. His partners in the linebacking core include sack-leader Audi (49 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 3 sacks), and Buccieri (23 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack). Leaders on the Bulldogs defensive line include Ethan Moncilovich (22 tackles), Trey Ellis (18 tackles), Nick Miller (17 tackles, 2 sacks), Justyn Madick (11 tackles, 1 sack), Josh Bader (9 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack), and Ted Sacco (8 tackles, 1 sack).

On Special Teams, Kicker Colt McFadden has made 38 of 41 extra point kicks and 4 of 8 field goals with a long of 35. He has also averaged 58.4 yards on 66 kickoffs this season with 3 touchbacks. McFadden has also averaged 52.7 yards on 3 punts with a long of 61 and 1 touchback. Bryan Montgomery has also averaged 38.6 yards on 5 punts this season with a long of 56 and has placed 3 boots inside the 20. In the return game, Michael Diaz has averaged 8.5 yards on 14 punt returns with a long of 19. On kick returns, Gould has averaged 25.5 yards on 4 returns with a long of 35 and Calcagni has averaged 16.5 yards on 6 returns with a long of 47.

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