As the 2022 football season progresses, the sting of a 14-12 loss to DePaul College Prep’s Rams is likely to linger for the Leo Lions.
The Friday, Sept. 16 meeting at DePaul was a winnable game that the Lions didn’t win. Instead, a third straight setback left them with a 1-3 record and in need of four wins in their five remaining regular-season games to secure a playoff berth, Leo’s first since 2013.
That’s a tall order against a schedule that includes Montini (2-2), Thornton (0-4), Nazareth (1-3), Marmion (2-2) and Rich Township (2-2).
Kevin Jackson didn’t have a touchdown reception after catching six TD passes in Leo’s first three games, but he returned an interception—one of his two in the game—for a 65-yard score that gave the Lions a 12-0 second-quarter lead.
Leo’s first touchdown came on Javon Logan’s seven-yard run: The sophomore running back had 52 yards on eight carries as Leo ran for a season-best 77 yards, but six pass completions (in 16 attempts) produced only 36 yards. Meanwhile, the Lions negated nearly all that offense by being penalized 13 times for 101 yards, including four holding calls that were a factor in their scoreless second half.
DePaul controlled the clock with a running game that piled up 174 yards on 41 tries, a 4.2-yard average. Leo ran only 33 plays from scrimmage all evening.
Next up for Leo: Montini on Friday, Sept. 23 at St. Rita’s Cronin Field. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.