Leo Defense And Large Sample of Speed Lead Lions to Opening Win

Leo senior running back Tobias Sample spent much of his offseason shaving, but not his chin, rather, seconds off his impressive track times.

The adage "speed kills' was in full throttle as Sample scored four touchdown to lead the Lions (1-0) past Christ the King's Gladiators 54-6 at Pat Cronin Stadium on the Saint Rita campus Saturday afternoon before a crowd of several hundred. Sample finished with more than 200 total yards - 139 yards on seven carries and punt returns of 87 and 83 yards for TDs.

A dazzling "sample" of the 6-foot, 190-pounder's quickness occurred on an 87-yard punt return for a touchdown that he seemed like a one-man track heat. The Blue Island native scooped up the punt, ran 40 yards east to west and turned northbound down the sidelines untouched to pay dirt.

"Nobody touched me," said Sample, a track star in Leo's legendary program, known for decades for training in the hallways for lack of a track. "I really worked hard on my speed this off season."
In the 100-yard dash Sample "shaved" his time from 11.37 seconds to 10.9; in the 200 he dropped from 23 seconds to 22.42.

A good captain and team leader, Sample echoed Leo Coach Mike Holmes words from the post-game chat in midfield.

"We got big headed last year when we won the first game and thought the second game would be the same," said Sample, a team captain. "We do not want that to happen again and so we have to keep grinding."

Leo plays at Evergreen Park next Friday night and expects a strong alumni turnout.
Leo's defensive dominance matched Sample's open-field velocity. Led by defensive linemen Trinton Guilford, Brian Howard, Dorian Owens and Jonathan Gamble, they spent much of the first quarter in Christ the King's backfield harassing quarterback Nick Rose and forcing turnovers to lead 28-0 with 2:06 to play in the first frame. Christ the King got its initial first down with 1:43 to play in the quarter.

Raiyon Davidson opened the scoring with a 25-yard punt return for a touchdown with 9:43 in the first quarter, followed minutes later by Samples' eight-yard TD scamper set up by his own 30-yard punt return. Davidson boosted the score to 22-0 on a 27-yard scamper to the pylon. Sample's five-yard run provided the insurmountable 28-0 lead at quarter's end.

Leo sophomore quarterback James E'Akels controlled the action with Davidson and Sample looking for blockers and finding holes. Evergreen Park's Jalen Johnson tallied more than 100 yards on the ground with two touchdown runs.