Lorain Titans Impress in Summer 7-on-7 Debut Under New Coach Jeremy Leyva

Lorain’s Summer Kickoff: A Glimpse into the Future

Lorain’s summer schedule officially began on June 18 with a 7-on-7 scrimmage against Firelands, offering fans their first look at the Titans under the leadership of first-year head coach Jeremy Leyva. The game provided an early indication of what to expect from the team as they transition into a new era.

The Titans have undergone significant changes this offseason, including the departure of four All-Ohio players from last season and the hiring of Leyva, who brings a fresh perspective after a decade as an assistant coach. Despite these changes, the team showed no signs of slowing down during the scrimmage, particularly in the early stages.

Senior quarterback Leonard McCall took the field first and immediately made an impact, connecting with senior wide receiver Tyler Chapman on two long touchdown passes. He also completed several other deep throws to Tyree Morales and Jayen Kuznar, showcasing his ability to stretch the field.

“What I really liked is that it wasn’t necessarily a focal point on one guy,” Leyva said. “If we can have multiple guys getting their hands on the ball and being able to do things in space, that makes it harder for a defense to key in on one person.”

McCall has not yet been officially named the starter for the upcoming season, but he received the most reps among Lorain’s quarterbacks during the scrimmage and performed well. Leyva emphasized the importance of leadership and resilience, noting that McCall remained composed even when mistakes occurred.

“For him, I looked more at the mistakes,” Leyva said. “It’s all good when things are good, and for the most part, he was a leader, and that’s what we want. He didn’t get down on himself, and if someone dropped a pass, he was telling his receivers to get the next one. Those are the things I want to see out of my quarterback.”

When McCall came off the field, the deep passing didn’t stop. Each of Lorain’s other two quarterbacks also connected on long touchdowns, demonstrating the team’s depth at the position.

On the defensive side, the Titans started strong but faced challenges as they rotated in more reserves during the scrimmage. Leyva acknowledged the communication issues that arose with the second and third units.

“I felt that there was a good mesh and good chemistry from our ones,” Leyva said. “But once we got to the twos and threes, the communication breakdowns are what hurt us more than anything. Over the summer, those ones have been here every day, and that’s where the success comes from.”

For Leyva, this was his first experience leading a team in a game-like setting after years of coaching from the sidelines. He expressed his pride in representing the community and taking in every moment of the season.

“I am beyond proud and humbled to be the representative of our community for this team,” Leyva said. “So every time, whether it’s 7-on-7, practice, or anything, stepping on this field is something special. I played on this field, so for me, every time coming out of the locker room is special, and every first experience this year is going to be unique and different.”

Firelands’ Performance

Firelands, on the other hand, had its own standout moments during the scrimmage. Senior quarterback Liam Tobicash, entering his third year as the starter, looked sharp despite playing without one of his top targets, Andrew Pawlak, who transferred to Amherst.

“In his third year, he’s more comfortable,” said Firelands coach Ryan O’Rourke. “He understands what we want to do and is more confident making some tight-window throws, so he did a nice job.”

The scrimmage came just two weeks into Firelands’ summer practice, but O’Rourke was impressed with his team’s effort.

“I thought we competed really well,” he said. “Lorain’s got some serious speed, and their QB got rid of the ball really quickly. Our kids adjusted, and I thought we made some nice plays on the offensive side.”

Perhaps the most memorable play of the day came from Firelands’ senior Lucas Green, who made an incredible one-handed interception on the opening play of Lorain’s second series of possessions.