Team

Struthers

Record	Div.	Conf.
7/4	Div. IV	All-American Conference White Tier

Team

Liberty

Record	Div.	Conf.
8/3	Div. V	All-American Conference Blue Tier

By Ryan Buck

sports@vindy.com

LIBERTY

Struthers coach Curt Kuntz was asked about the rarified gifts of his quarterback, junior A.J. Musolino.

“He’s our guy,” said Kuntz, whose Wildcats routed host Liberty 34-7 to open the season Friday night. “I think he’s pretty special on offense, but he’s a different dude on defense though.

“If there’s somebody better athletically with his size and speed ... I wouldn’t trade him for anybody.”

Musolino threw three touchdown passes and helped his own cause defensively as he returned a 55-yard interception for a touchdown in the second quarter to lead Struthers (1-0).

The interception return revealed the 6-foot-3 200-pound athlete’s abilities.

With Struthers ahead 6-0 in what looked to be a defensive struggle, Liberty quarterback JaShaun Whitman rolled to his left as he looked to convert a third-and-10 at his own 45.

Struthers defender Connor Calabrette hit Whitman as he released the football across his body in the direction of teammate Kaylon Davis.

Musolino tracked the play from his safety spot and snagged the wobbly pass out of the air before tip-toeing the Liberty sideline. He outran the pursuing Leopard linemen and the touchdown gave Struthers a 13-0 lead at the second quarter’s 7:23 mark after rushing in the two-point conversion.

“I was on the other side of the field and I heard one of our coaches screaming, ‘Get to the middle of the field, get to the middle of the field!’ And I just happened to be at the right place at the right time,” he said.

Says Kuntz, “God gave him a lot of that. It’s great genetics and he’s a better kid off the field. His only problem is he wants to work eight days a week.”

Whitman, a great athlete in his own right, went down on the play and returned for the second half, but the Liberty offense was never the same.

“I think it was a bit of he got his wind knocked out of him,” said first-year Liberty coach Chet Allen. “Could be a little bit of a pride issue. I mean my pride would have been hurt too throwing a pick-six.”

The Leopards (0-1) advanced to the state playoffs the last three years, but attrition and the coaching change created a tumultuous offseason for the program.

“We need to get a better rhythm going and these guys are used to having athletes everywhere and not having to build and chomp at the ground to get a drive going,” said Allen. “They’re used to big plays.”

After the interception return, Wildcats running back Regal Reese got going behind a powerful offensive line. He capped an eight-play, 47-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to help put Struthers ahead 21-0.

After recovering a pooch kick to open the second half, Musolino connected with Tekale Rushton for the second time, leading him on a well-executed screen pass on third-and-21 for a 40-yard score.

Musolino hit Rushton on a 69-yard strike with 6:35 left in the first quarter.

Liberty running back Ke’Andre Bowers scored the Leopards’ only touchdown of the game late in the fourth on a twisting 15-yard run.

The Wildcats are in the All-American Conference National Division and the Leopards compete in the AAC American Division.