John Tyler desperately needed a win Friday against Whitehouse in its District 16-5A opener.

It wasn't the prettiest win of all time, but the Lions got the job done. And defensive tackle Pierre Leonard was there to deflate the Wildcats time and time again in a 65-33 victory.

Leonard has won the latest ETSN.fm + Dairy Queen Defensive Player of the Week honor with two blocked punts, a fumble recovery, two tackles for loss and a sack Friday. One of his blocks was kicked out of the end zone for a safety score.

This isn't Leonard's first time to win the award. He took the honor 51 weeks ago with another two blocked punts.

John Tyler had struggled to an 0-3 start through non-district play.

Things weren't looking very good with a 2-1 Whitehouse team visiting Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium. The Wildcats had been dominant since committing to quarterback Collin Bullard early in their second game against Chapel Hill.

Lions quarterback Bryson Smith came out of the gates hot for an early 28-12 lead. Leonard's first blocked punt of the game, the safety, upped the lead to three possessions midway through the second quarter.

But Whitehouse was back within 37-26 at halftime and got the ball back to start the second half.

John Tyler got back up by three possessions with Leonard's second blocked punt to kill the Wildcats' first drive of the half. It set up a short touchdown drive.

Leonard, who holds one Division I scholarship offer from Southern University, will have to bring it again this week. His team visits a confident Lindale squad that took down Corsicana last week and is sitting in a four-way tie for first place along with the Lions in the district standings.

Corsicana was the only 16-5A team that survived non-district competition with a perfect record.

Leonard had two blocked punts in the head-to-head game with Lindale last season. An easy, 76-13 victory against a less experienced team.

ETSN.fm/Dairy Queen Defensive Players of the Week

 

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