Having won the AAC National Conference title by

going undefeated in conference play, the Liberty

Leopards will now set their sights on a bigger prize as
the OHSAA State Football Playoffs kickoff this
weekend.
The Leopards will play host to the Gilmour Academy
Lancers, a private school located in Gates Mills, Ohio.

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.
Home Sweet Home: Liberty is currently on a 14-game home win streak at Leopard Stadium. The
Leopards started the win streak with a season opening 21-17 victory over Salem in 2012, a victory that
also snapped a then 19-game losing streak for the Leopards. The last time Liberty has suffered a
home defeat was back on October 28, 2011 when the Leopards were defeated by Girard, 28-12.

Liberty's first home playoff game

since 2008: This will be the first
time Liberty has hosted a home
playoff game since 2008 when the
Leopards suffered a 21-0 defeat to
Chagrin Falls back on 11/1/2008.
Liberty was held to 99 yards of
total offense while giving up 284
yards in defeat.
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: 10 different Leopards have scored touchdowns this season. Leading the
way is Lynn Bowden who has 23 touchdowns on the season and Ben Phillips who has reached the
endzone 12 times. Also recording TD's for the Leopards this season include: Brandon Rios (7), JaShaun
Whitman (4), Alex Carnathan (3), Junior Blair (2), Khyri Davis (1), Kaylon Davis (1), Jose Carnathan (1),
and Dra Rushton (1).
Liberty Ground Attack: Liberty is having a solid season rushing the football this season as the
Leopards are averaging 257.8 yards rushing per game, and 7.8 yards per attempt as a team this
season. Leading the way for Liberty on the ground is Lynn Bowden who has rushed the ball for 1,656
yards on 171 attempts (9.7 YPC). The Leopards have also gotten 390 yards from Ben Phillips on 56
carries, and 289 yards on 46 carries from Brandon Rios.
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 70 pass attempts for 751 yards and 13 touchdowns. Bowden's main targets this
season have been Ben Phillips and JaShaun Whitman. Phillips has hauled in 20 catches for 362 yards
and 7 touchdowns while Whitman has caught the ball 12 times for 340 yards and 4 touchdowns. Also
hauling in touchdown passes for the Leopards this season are Kyri Davis and Kaylon Davis. As a team,
Liberty is averaging 20.9 yards per completion and averaging a touchdown every three passes they
complete.
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 16-5 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.
No throw zone: Liberty has intercepted a total of 12 passes this season. Leading the way for the
Leopards in INT's is Ben Phillips andLynn Bowden with 3 apiece. Dra Rushton has 2 INT's and Brian
Maddox, Khyri Davis, Raymond Minniti, and JaShaun Whitman have all recorded an interception.

D.V

REGION 15 PLAYOFFS

THIS WEEKS FIRST ROUND GAMES:

#1 Canton Central Catholic (10-0) vs. #8 Beachwood (5-5): The Beachwood Bison had a slow star to
the season and have since been winners of 5 of their last 6 games, unfortunately for the Bison their
opening round opponent has been hot all season.
Canton Central Catholic enters the playoffs with the No.1 rankin in the AP poll. The Crusaders have
been solid all season but will have a test this week trying to contain Beachwood running back Nate
Hamilton who has rushed for 1,491 yards and 17 touchdowns.
#2 Liberty (9-1) vs. #7 Gilmour Academy (8-2): Liberty's Lynn Bowden won't be the only duel threat
quarterback on the field at Leopard Stadium as Gilmour Academy's junior QB Connor Lesko has rushed
for 1,030 yards while passing for 1,301 yards.
#3 Ursuline (6-4) vs. #6 United (7-3): Ursuline will turn to a solid defensive front to slow down the
United rushing attack led by Caige Vincent, Coltan Antram, and Tyler Powers who have all rushed for
600 yards.
Ursuline is coming off back to back losses by a combined score of 69-13 to Cardinal Mooney and Akron
SVSM, but the last two weeks are no indication of how good this Ursuline team is with victories over
Walsh Jesuit, Warren G. Harding, and Massillon Washington.
#4 Crestview (6-4) vs. #5 Girard (8-2): Girard will turn to Jacob Ryser to continue his solid season
which has seen him rush for 1,055 yards and Christian Bello who has tossed for 996 yards and 13 TD's
to try to outscore a Crestview team that is putting up points in bunches as of late.
Crestview has gone over 50 points in a game four times this season, including a 60-50 victory over
Columbiana last week. On the season, the Rebels are averaging 37.2 points per game and are led by
Zack Hicks who has rushed for 1,348 yards, and Jesse Best who has rushed for 1,161 yards. Best has
also been solid tossing the football throwing for 934 yards.

Liberty stAtisticAl LEADERS

ABOUT GILMOUR ACADEMY

Gilmour Academy travels to Liberty to face the
Leopards in OHSAA D.V State Playoff action.
This will be the second straight week the
Lancers have played in the Mahoning Valley
after making the trip to Poland a week ago to
face Youngstown Christian, a game the Lancers
won by a score of 48-13.
Gilmour Academy finished the regular season
with a 8-2 record with their two losses coming
to Danville (19-45), and Loudonville (13-53).
The Lancers have some quality wins on the season, defeating Beachwood in the first week of the
season, 46-40 and defeating Conneaut in the eight week of the season by a score of 22-21.
Gilmour Academy will be lead by a solid duel-threat quarterback and a sophomore running back who
has emerged as one to keep an eye on in Northeast Ohio.
Under center for the Shawn Dodd coached Lancers will be Connor Lesko who passed for 1,301 yaqrds
during the regular season while completing 73 of his 135 pass attempts. Lesko also tossed 14
touchdown passes while only being intercepted three times.
Lesko's main target through the air has been Nick Regalbuto who has hauled in 39 catches for 731
yards and 7 touchdowns. Regalbuto has been equally impressive on defense intercepting 7 balls
including one for a touchdown.
On the ground, Jonathan Abrams has been the man for Gilmour Academy rushing for 795 yards and 11
touchdowns on 123 carries.

ROSTER

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- Hyland Burton (6'0 150 FR)
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 Gilmarti (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- Jospeh 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- Mohannad 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)
88/87- Kevin Hawn (5'9 145 FR)
96- Devin Treharn (5'9 145 SO)
99- John Kloos (5'10 195 JR)