Week 4 Recap: Leo vs. DePaul Prep Top Performers

The Leo Lions roared their way to a 28-14 victory over DePaul Prep in week 4. Winning the time of possession battle and dominating the trenches is usually a recipe for success; Leo did both and did so convincingly, and their stingy defense was impressive, to say the least. DePaul's rushing attack was non-existent, and although DePaul has a solid quarterback in <strong>Christian Perez, </strong>Leo's athletic and massive front seven made life hard with their ability to pressure the quarterback consistently. Leo's offense is loaded with versatile athletes which allowed them to score early and often and keep DePaul's defense on their heels. Quarterback <strong>James E'Akels</strong> completed passes to seven different receivers and the hard running of <strong>Marcus Ray</strong> and <strong>Timothy Durr </strong>enabled the Lions to control the game en route to their second victory of the season. Leo is an underrated team that plays in a pretty tough conference. If they get to the playoffs, they're not a team you want to face in the first round. Their skilled positions are going to compete with anyone, but what stands out about Leo and leads me to believe they can be a tough matchup is the fact that you're not going to be able to dominate their big boys in the trenches. And we all know that most games are won in the trenches. With that being said, let's find out who were the top performers in this matchup between Leo vs. DePaul Prep... <hr /> <h5><em><strong>Rayion Davidson | ATH | ’22*</strong></em></h5> Davidson had a big game on both sides of the ball. There weren't many passes thrown his way on defense, but when they did come, he was there to make a play on the ball which showcased his great instincts. He was just as impressive on offense. He eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark and made one tough catch after another, to include a 29-yard highlight-reel worthy touchdown reception that came midway through the third. To sum it up, Davidson is an above-average defensive back who on offense, is a play-making possession receiver who is capable of beating his opponent deep on any given play. <h5><em><strong>Marcus Ray | RB | ’22</strong></em></h5> The senior running back would have completed the hat trick had it not been for a fumble near the goal line. Nonetheless, Ray had a solid outing and is a running back to keep an eye on as we progress through fall. He recorded two rushing touchdowns while proving he's capable of being an every-down back with his aggressive and tough running style. Ray also flashed the necessary speed to bounce runs to the outside and go the distance. <h5><em><strong>Kevin Jackson | ATH | ’23</strong></em></h5> Jackson is a dynamic prospect who excels on both sides of the ball. His speed alone makes him a threat on offense and allows his teammates to benefit from his ability to take the top off a defense. On defense, he utilizes that speed to cover the field sideline to sideline which was on display as he tracked down the ball and came up with an interception during the fourth quarter to end any comeback hopes DePaul Prep had in mind. <h5><em><strong>James E’Akels | QB | ’22</strong></em></h5> E'Akels registered his only touchdown of the night when he tossed an impressive 29-yard back-shoulder touchdown to Rayion Davidson. He made good decisions with the ball and did an even better job at managing the game. Took what the defense gave him, didn't turn the ball over, and took his shots when necessary. Kept his teammates engaged by completing passes to seven different pass catchers. <h5><em><strong>Isaiah Knox | LB | ’23</strong></em></h5> The kicker on the kickoff team is usually the last line of defense, but that wasn't the case for Leo's LB/K Isaiah Knox. He would kick the ball off and race down the field and somehow find himself in a position to make a tackle after every kickoff. Has a nose for the ball and plays with an extremely high motor. Forced a key fumble which shifted the momentum in Leo's favor during Friday's win. <h5><em><strong>William Anderson | OL/DL | ’22*</strong></em></h5> Anderson recorded three sacks with multiple QB hurries and has convinced me that he is a prospect who should be on everyone's radar for the remainder of this season. He wreaked havoc on the opposing o-line and was a big reason for Leo winning the battle of the trenches. Was relentless in the pursuit of his target throughout the entire game. <h5><em><strong>Jakolbi Wilson | OL/DL | ’22*</strong></em></h5> Wilson was the anchor of Leo's d-line. He was constantly communicating and was an extension of the coach on the field. He's a massive, immovable interior lineman 6'4" 310lbs. Flashed impressive run-stopping ability and was consistently able to collapse the pocket. <hr /> <h5><em><strong>Other prospects to keep an eye on..</strong></em></h5> <strong>Timothy Durr | ATH | Leo '23</strong> <strong>Chris Lindo | ATH | Leo '22</strong> <strong>Lavelle Hardy | WR | DePaul Prep '24</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="65709" first="Chris" last="Perez"] | QB | DePaul Prep ’22</strong> <strong>Austin Ford | WR | Leo '22</strong> <strong>Michael Battaglini | LB | DePaul Prep '22</strong> <hr /> <h5><em><strong> In-Game Highlights</strong></em></h5> https://twitter.com/i/status/1439381447845060608 https://twitter.com/i/status/1439393956492677122 https://twitter.com/i/status/1439403519837155333 https://twitter.com/i/status/1439413320210075656