The Leo Lions got the 2016 football season off to a fine start with a 16-0 victory over Ottawa Township in Ottawa, Il., on Friday, Aug. 26.

The Lions had two overcome a two-hour bus ride in Friday evening traffic, a 50-minute weather delay (caused by lightning) and a team from a much larger school—Ottawa, with an enrollment near 1,500, competes at the 6-A level in IHSA-sanctioned events.

In addition, standout quarterback Aamir Holmes left the game in the first quarter with a hip injury.

But sophomore Darryl Ousley, in his first varsity appearance, led the Lions on two touchdown drives after the weather delay, capping the first with a 28-yard scoring pass to David Moore. Sterling Smith scored Leo’s other TD on a 10-yard run, and Smith and Antoine Wheeler each ran for a two-point conversion.

John Harris, Ron Nelson and Rodney White were the leaders of a defensive team that pitched a shutout, with Nelson recording three sacks and an interception.

But the road only gets tougher for the Lions, who visit two-time state champion Nazareth on Friday, Sept. 2. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., following the frosh-soph game at 4:15.