Countdown to football: Leipsic

LEIPSIC 2024 Record: 8-5 (5-3 BVC)Head coach: Joe Kirkendall (125-49 at Leipsic, 144-70 career)KEY GAME: Sept. 12, at Pandora-Gilboa. This backyard battle of Putnam County rivals builds enough intensity on its own, whether it's football, basketball, tiddlywinks or horse-shoes. Both teams have some holes to fill after graduation took some all-BVC and all-district talent. Both also have some skilled talent returning, and both will have three games to prepare for this intra-county showdown, which has been decided by a touchdown or less in five of the last seven matchups.INTERESTING FACT: In compiling the history of Leipsic football, Joe Kirkendall uncovered some interesting points, one being that the team was not referred to as the Vikings until 1941. In the 1920s and 1930s, Kirkendall found, the school's sports team were referred to as the Phantoms or Purple Phantoms. Kirkendall also found that in addition to rivalries with Putnam County schools Pandora-Gilboa and Columbus Grove, the Phantoms, back then, also played Continental. Continental, though, only fielded a football team from 1922 to 1931, then dropped the sport.MAGIC NUMBER: 2,640. Usually a run-first style team, Leipsic instead led the BVC in passing offense in 2024 and did it with a freshman – Marc Kirkendall – flinging the football. Kirkendall's 176 completions and 2,640 yards passing both led the league and helped a Leipsic team seeded 11th in Region 26 win three playoff games and reach the regional semifinals. He was second in TD passes with 22, but will have to find new targets this season following the graduation of Jayce Brecht (58 receptions, 862 yards, 7 TDs) and Ty Lammers (51, 866, 9 TDs), who were two of the top receivers in the league. LEIPSIC2025 SCHEDULEDate Opponent Home/AwayAug. 22 Lake A 29 Van Buren* HSept. 5 Elmwood* A 12 Pandora-Gilboa* A 19 Arcadia* H 26 Riverdale* HOct. 3 McComb* A 10 Liberty-Benton* A 17 Arlington* H 24 Ada* H*Blanchard Valley Conference games