Salem Quakers at Louisville Leopards 2015 Football Preview
Salem Quakers (8-0, 5-0) at Louisville Leopards (7-1, 5-0)
SPREAD: Louisville By 15 (According to Drew Pasteur’s Fantastic 50)
WHEN: Friday, October 23 at 7:00 PM
WHERE: Louisville Leopards Stadium
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 7-2 and are an undefeated 4-0 against Salem at home.
LAST MEETING: The Leopards defeated the Quakers 49-6 back on September 19, 2014 at Reilly Stadium.
View 2014 Video Highlights & Recap
LAST MEETING AT LOUISVILLE: The Leopards defeated the Quakers 41-28 back on September 20, 2013 at Louisville Leopards Stadium.
View 2013 Video Highlights & Recap
LAST QUAKERS VICTORY: Salem last defeated Louisville 34-13 back on September 22, 1928.
PREVIEW
Well this is it, Week 9, for all the marbles in the NBC. The undefeated Salem Quakers look to continue their Revenge Tour through the NBC, while the Leopards look to make it 20 straight wins in league play& remain the King of the Conference. In addition, each team controls their own destiny for the postseason and a victory Friday should enabled either squad to clinch a playoff birth. Louisville Leopards Stadium should be rocking Friday Night for this NBC Title Game!
LEOPARDS
Louisville is averaging 395 Yards (255 Passing, 140 Rushing) and 38 points per contest this season, while surrendering 191 Yards (80 Passing, 111 Rushing) and 14 points per game this year. The Leopards are currently +1 in takeaways this season. They have turned the ball over 14 times (7 fumbles lost, 7 interceptions) and recorded 15 takeaways (7 fumbles recovered, 8 interceptions).
Quarterback Jake Adams (129 of 181 for 1,978 Yards Passing & 26 Touchdowns) is currently edging 
John Doerschuk (71.1% Completion in 1971) for the highest completion percentage in a single season in school history. He is also nearing the school season record of 29 passing touchdowns set by Neal Seaman in 2007 (15 games). His top targets include Tyler Adams (50 catches, 851 yards, 10 touchdowns) and Alec Jones (37 catches, 461 yards, 11 touchdowns) who both dangerously close to breaking the school receiving touchdown mark of 12 set by Brandon Mathie in 2007 (15 games). Other impactful receivers include Conner Bast (18 catches, 313 yards, 4 touchdowns) and Brock Haren (18 catches, 257 yards, 1 touchdown).
Running back Rahzul Young (136 carries, 846 yards, 11 touchdowns) has moved piles all season long and is averaging 6.2 yards per attempt. Young will again look to run behind the blocking of Louisville Offensive Linemen Alex Hall, Terry Gooch, Chase Lautzenheiser, Issac Mathie, and Jarett Heater.
On defense, Linebacker Frankie Falcone (49.5 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception) has been an unstoppable force in leading the team in tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks. Linebacker Kyle Ashcraft (36.5 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks), Defensive Back Stephen Kerzan (35.5 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass break-up), and Defensive Lineman Daichi Castles (32 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks) are the Leopards other top tacklers.
In the secondary, Dalton Deckerd (28 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 0.5 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 3 interceptions, 1 pass break-up) has recorded 4 takeaways. Other Louisville defenders with multiple takeaways this year include Jimmy Leonard (20.5 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception, 2 pass break-ups), Cody Allgood (19 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception, 2 pass break-ups), and Brody Hahn (2 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 2 interceptions, 3 pass break-ups). Three other Leopards defenders have also recorded takeaways this season and they include Casey Nau (31.5 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass break-up), Cade Stertzbach (28 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery), and Justin Vanover (10.5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery).
On Special Teams, Kicker Trevor Burk (16 of 22 on PAT Kicks) has converted his last 6 extra point kicks and Young (6 of 8 on PAT kicks) has also seen time as the extra point placekicker. In addition, Jake Adams has averaged 34.0 yards on 12 punts this season with a long of 52. In the return game, Tyler Adams has averaged 17.8 yards on 9 kick returns and averaged 14.3 yards on just as many punt returns. Hahn has also averaged 15.7 yards on 3 kick returns and 4.4 yards on 5 punt returns.
QUAKERS
Salem is averaging 343 Yards (141 Passing, 202 Rushing) and 35 points per game this season, while 
allowing 269 Yards (139 Passing, 130 Rushing) and 12 points per contest this year. The Quakers have turned the ball over just 6 times (3 fumbles lost, 3 interceptions), while recording 17 takeaways (7 fumbles recovered, 10 interceptions) through the first 8 weeks of the season.
Junior Runningback Cooper Bezeredi (112 carries, 1,005 yards, & 11 touchdowns rushing) has accounted for 56% of Salem’s offensive yards this season. Bezeredi broke the 1,000 yard mark on the ground for the season with a career-high 285 rushing yards against Alliance last week. Senior Runningback Kade Byland (103 carries, 607 yards, 4 total touchdowns) has also taken on a good portion of the load on the ground.
Senior Quarterback Matt Weingart (80 of 123 for 1,057 yards & 18 touchdowns) leads the Quakers aerial attack and has only thrown 1 interception all season. His top targets are leading receiver Matt Humeniuk (26 catches, 439 yards, 10 touchdowns) and also Bezeredi (26 catches, 422 yards, 4 touchdowns receiving). Outside of those two, other receivers include Jake Maenz (1 catch, 37 yards), Chase Ackerman (2 catches, 27 yards, 1 touchdown), DJ Pullie (2 catches, 26 yards, 2 touchdowns), and Byland (2 touchdown catches).
On Special Teams, Bezeredi scored on a 95 yard kick return and a 50 yard punt return in Salem’s opening game against Mineral Ridge. Senior Kicker Max Righetti has made 29 of 36 extra points and has been true on 7 field goals this year. His longest kick was a 47 yard make Week 7 against Minerva.
