LAST TIME OUT:

The Liberty Leopards won a

home playoff game this past Saturday with a 62-14
victory over Gilmour Academy for the first time since
2004. The Leopards were paced by Lynn Bowden who
rused for 232 yards on 13 carries as Liberty jumped out
to a 56-0 halftime lead over the Lancers. Ben Phillips
chipped in with a solid performance returning two punts to the house and adding a rushing
touchdown. Alex Carnathan and JaShaun Whitman each added touchdown runs for the Leopards. As
a team, Liberty amassed 384 yards of total offense, all of which came on the ground.

FAST FACT
This will be the second meeting between Liberty and Ursuline. The Leopards won the first and only
meeting in 2004 at Austintown Fitch Falcon Stadium when Brian Jones scored on short yardage
quarterback sneak late in the 3rd quarter. Liberty, who held Ursuline to negative six yards in the
second half, held on to win the contest 6-0. The Leopards would fall in the D.IV Region 13 final the
following week to Cardinal Mooney by a score of 14-6.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Liberty in the playoffs for third-consecutive season: The Leopards have earned a spot in the OHSAA
playoffs for the third-consecutive season for the second time in school history. The Leopards first of
eight playoff appearances came in 2000 when they qualified as an 8 seed in the OHSAA D.IV (Region
13) playoffs where they fell to Cleveland VASJ 34-18 in the opening round. Liberty has also qualified
for postseason play the following seasons: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013, and 2014.
Liberty at Mollenkopf: This will be the second time in 10-years that Liberty will play at Mollenkopf
Stadium, home of the Warren G. Harding Raiders. The last time Liberty took the field here was back
on October 28, 2006 when the Leopards defeated Champion by a score of 14-0. The game was moved
from Leopard Stadium because of poor weather conditions do to a heavy rain.
Bowden in good company as a sophomore starting at quarterback for Liberty: Lynn Bowden is the
fifth sophomore to start under center for the Leopards in the past twenty years. Bowden joins Brian
Beinecke (1995), Justin Smolkovich (1998), Brian Jones (2002), and Asim Pleas (2011). Beinecke went
on to play college football at Pitt where he played linebacker from 1998-2002. Pleas is currently
redshirting as a freshman at Youngstown State University where he is listed as a wide receiver.
Spreading the ball around: So far this season, ten different Liberty players have reached the endzone.
Lynn Bowden leads the way with 27 touchdowns scored and Ben Phillips has reached the endzone 15
times to help pace the Leopards this season.
Punt this way: Ben Phillips is having a great season all the way around, including in the special teams
department. Phillips is leading the Leopards with 322 punt return yards (24.8 average) and has three
touchdowns, two of which came a week ago against Gilmour Academy.
Leopard Air Raid: Liberty is having one of their better years throwing the ball as sophomore
quarterback Lynn Bowden has gotten in sync with his impressive group of receivers. Bowden has
completed 36 of his 73 passes for 751 yards and 13 touchdowns. Bowden's main targets have been
Ben Phillips and JaShaun Whitman. Phillips has hauled in 20 receptions for 362 yards and 7 TD's while
Whitman has 12 catches for 340 yards and 4 touchdowns. Khyri Davis and Kaylon Davis have also
hauled in touchdown passes for the Leopards this season. As a team, Liberty is averaging an
impressive 21.9 yards per pass completion.
Cylar with early success as Liberty head coach: Liberty head coach Kevin Cylar might only be in his
second season as a head coach but that doesnt mean that the 1991 East High graduate doesn't know
how to win football games. Cylar is 17-5 so far in his stint as the Leopards head coach. Cylar spent
time at Ursuline High School as an assistant coach before becoming taking over at Liberty.
Stop him if you can: In Liberty's last two games, Lynn Bowden has rushed for 544 yards on 39 carries (13.9
YPC) and 9 touchdowns.
No throw zone: Liberty has intercepted a total of 14 interceptions. Leading the way for the Leopards
in INT's is Ben Phillips with 4 and Dre Rushton and Lynn Bowden with 3 apiece. Brian Maddox, Khyri
Davis, Raymond Minniti, and JaShaun Whitman also have recorded an interception. Teams are only
completing 41.9% of their passes against the Leopard defense this season.

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Liberty stAtisticAl LEADERS

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d.V REGION 15 PLAYOFFS

This weeks other semifinal, #4 Crestview (7-4) vs. #1 Canton Central Catholic (11-0):
Canton Central Catholic has been on a roll this season, going undefeated and averaging 34.4 points per
game while only giving up 8.7 points per contest. The Crusaders starting quarterback Jake Boccuti was
solid in last weaks playoff victory against Beachwood, passing for 138 yards on 8 of 12 while rushing
for 88 yards on 10 attempts in the 41-0 victory.
Crestview, who many considered would be in a rebuilding year pulled a come from behind victory off
last week to defeat Girard by a score of 34-23. The Rebels have been scoring points at will as of late
and are averaging 36.9 points per game. The Rebels, however are giving up 28.8 points per game.

ABOUT Ursuline
Playoff appearances: 19 (2014, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1998,
1996, 1995, 1993, 1992, 1990, 1989, 1984, 1983)
State Championships: 4 (2010, 2009, 2008, 2000)
at Walsh Jesuit W 13-9
at Cleveland Benedictine L 6-27
at Steubenville L 9-14
Mentor Lake Catholic W 39-14
at Warren G. Harding W 33-14
Farrell W 48-14
Massillon Washington W 23-14
at East W 21-0
Cardinal Mooney L 31-7
at Akron SVSM L 6-38
PLAYOFFS: vs United W 39-7

IRISH LAST WEEK: Ursuline made it look easy breezing to a 39-7 opening round victory over
United at Stambaugh Stadium last Saturday. The Irish were led by quarterback Vito Penza who rushed
for 97 yards on just 3 carries, which included two touchdowns and Kimauni Johnson who rushed for a
touchdown while totaling 86 yards. Ursuline gained 331 yards of offense while holding United to only
106 yards of total offense.

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Liberty roster
2- JaShaun Whitman (6'3 170 JR)
3- Ben Phillips (6'3 200 SR)
4- Kaylon Davis (5'10 155 JR)
5- Dra Rushton ( 5'8 140 FR)
6- Lynn Bowden (6'0 190 SO)
7- Isaiah McKnight (5'9 145 SR)
8- Alexander Carnathan (5'8 170 SR)
9- Capone Haywood (5'8 130 FR)
10- Brandon Smith (5'7 165 JR)
11- Alec Coman (5'8 160 SO)
12- Kurtis Townsend (5'9 170 SO)
13- Ke'Andre Bowers (5'9 165 JR)
14- Jose Carnathan (5'8 165 SO)
15- Quaishon Campbell (5'9 130 FR)
16- Ray Minniti (5'7 120 FR)
17- Damien Clark (5'10 195 JR)
20- Brandon Rios (6'1 215 JR)
21- Junior Blair (6'0 280 JR)
22- Jon Griffin (5'10 180 JR)
23- Julian Gibson (5'7 135 SO)
24- Brian Maddox (5'7 150 FR)
25- Khyri Davis (5'10 155 JR)
27- Horizon Watson (5'7 140 FR)
33- Brent Dimattia (5'6 170 FR)
36- Brendan Gilmartin (5'10 180 JR)
37- Tim Pisano (5'7 130 FR)
41- Christopher Edmonds (5'11 175 FR)
53/42- Ahmed Elkafif (5'9 145 SO)
44- Joe Kangas (5'11 175 SR)
51- Joseph Walker (6'3 230 JR)
52- Raymond Shaw (5'10 235 JR)

54- JaJuan Powell (5'9 210 235 SO)

56- Patrick Sturgeon (5'9 200 SR)
58- Arwan Clincscale (5'9 215 JR)
59- John Spivey (5'8 200 SO)
60- Mohammad Yusuf (5'10 210 SO)
63- Jaylen Williams (6'3 340 JR)
65- Davontay Dixon (5'8 265 SR)
67- James Welch (6'1 340 SO)
70- Abdel Yusuf (6'2 265 SR)
72- Greg Marsh (6'0 265 SR)
75- James Spisak (5'10 195 FR)
76- Logan Weinreber (5'10 195 SR)
77- Derek Gilcher (6'4 275 FR)
78- Thron Torres (5'10 200 SR)
79- Eric Gbur (5'11 165 FR)
81- Damien Clark ( 5'10 195 JR)
83- Bryce Blauser (5'7 155 FR)
84- E.J. Shields (5'7 120 FR)
85- Kevin Code (5'9 145 FR)
86- Tyler Cargill (5'11 146 SO)
88/87- Kevin Hawn (5'9 145 FR)
96- Devin Treharn (5'9 145 SO)
96- John Kloos (5'10 195 JR)

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