Lions Dominate John I. Leonard 46-11 in 2017 Pre-season Kickoff Classic

Lions Dominate John I. Leonard 46-11 in 2017 Pre-season Kickoff Classic

Despite a sputtering and stalled start that saw the Lions fall behind 11-0 early in the game, once the engine warmed up and started hitting on all cylinders, the Olympics Heights football team went on to trounce the John I. Leonard Lancers 46-11 in the 2017 Pre-season Kickoff Classic on Friday night at Corey Lewis Stadium.

Senior quarterback James Micioni led the Lions offense for most of the game, throwing for three touchdowns and 250 yards, hooking up with senior wide receiver Michael Ippolito for two of those scores. One of Ippolito’s scores featured some nifty footwork on his part as he juked several Lancer defenders and scampered down the sideline for the 50-yard score.

The other Micioni touchdown pass came when he found senior tight end Shane Ellis in the end zone on a 4-yard strike.

Ippolito also caught a touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Aaron Jacobs.

Senior running back Reis Clark also had a solid game, racking up yards and scoring on a 35-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter that put the Lions up for good 14-11. Notably, on the Lions first play of the game from scrimmage, Clark took a handoff and bolted up the middle past Lancer defenders for what appeared to be an 80-yard touchdown run. However, an illegal block penalty nullified the scoring run.

Senior running back Albert Gonzalez had two touchdowns on a three-yard run and a one-yard run to add to the scoring onslaught.

Despite giving up the first 11 points of the game on sustained drives in the first quarter of the game, the OH defense found its footing and shut down the Lancer attack for the rest of the game.

The Lions open regular season play on Friday, Aug. 25 at Boynton Beach. The following week marks the first home game of the regular season as the crosstown Spanish River Sharks visit Olympic Heights on Friday, Sept. 1.