Leonardo Correani Steals the Show at Les Schwab Bowl with Game-Changing Hustle
In football, they say being in the right place at the right time is sometimes just dumb luck. Once? Sure. But twice in under eight minutes? That’s not luck—that’s a player with serious instinct and a nose for the ball.
Meet Leonardo Correani, a rising junior from Lincoln High School who flat-out stole the spotlight during Friday night’s Les Schwab Bowl. Playing linebacker for Team Columbia, Correani set the tone early by creating not one, but two turnovers—an interception and a fumble recovery—in the first 7 minutes and 55 seconds of the contest. Those two big-time plays helped Columbia charge to a 10-0 lead before most fans had even found their seats, en route to a 34-21 win over Team Willamette at Lewis & Clark College’s Griswold Stadium.
“Dude, I didn’t know what to expect coming in, but I made some plays,” Correani said, grinning during the postgame celebration. “I know how it’s done. I know what to do, and I played my role. Things just fell my way.”
But ask anyone who’s played alongside Correani, and they’ll tell you—it’s not things just “falling” his way. It’s grit. Hustle. Athleticism. Smart reads. A whole lot of work behind the scenes.
Correani’s Fast Start: The Spark That Lit Columbia’s Fire
On Team Willamette’s second drive, they looked like they were gaining momentum, marching the ball down to the Columbia 40-yard line. Quarterback Zayden Anderson dropped back to pass—but what looked like a routine play quickly turned upside down. Anderson’s pass was tipped at the line, and that’s when Correani pounced.
“I barely saw it,” he said about the tipped ball. “I just looked up, and it fell in my hands. I felt lucky. It felt like a gift.”
No hesitation. Just instinct.
Correani dove full extension—arms out, body horizontal—and snagged the ball inches above the turf. Pick. Game-changing energy.
Two plays later, Columbia quarterback Cade Mitchell uncorked a beauty—a 65-yard bomb to Hunter Vaughn for the opening touchdown. Just like that, Team Columbia was up 7-0.
And Then… It Happened Again
Willamette tried to regroup, handing the ball off to running back James Richards, who broke off an eight-yard run. It looked solid—until it didn’t. As Richards was brought down, the ball popped loose. Chaos ensued. Bodies piled. And guess who came out of the scrum with the football?
Yep. Leonardo Correani—again.
“It was the same thing. Right place, right time,” he said. “I just focus on doing my role. Be a star in your role—that’s what the coaches are always saying. And I was a star in my role.”
That humble tone is classic Correani. But don’t get it twisted: these weren’t fluke plays. They were results of preparation meeting opportunity.
Following the fumble recovery, Columbia put together a gritty 13-play, 47-yard drive that ended with Canaan Moore drilling a 31-yard field goal, giving Team Columbia a 10-0 lead with just 33 seconds left in the first quarter.
Built Different: Correani's Rise at Lincoln High
This breakout performance didn’t come out of nowhere. During the 2024 season for Lincoln High School, Correani was a force. He racked up 92 total tackles, including 50 solo, 13 tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble. Coaches and opponents alike took notice.
He earned first team all-Portland Interscholastic League (PIL) honors at linebacker, while also grabbing honorable mentions as both a running back and for Class 6A all-state linebacker as a sophomore. The dude does it all.
“When I’m on a team, it has to feel like a family,” Correani said. “I feel like we built that family, and we stayed disciplined. We know how to play football.”
And it shows—whether it’s the regular season or the bright lights of an all-star showcase.
Teammates Know: This Kid’s Special
“He is genuinely one of the best football players I’ve ever played with,” said Columbia teammate and fellow Lincoln grad Brady Holland, who’s set to play college football at Central Washington University.
And Holland doesn’t just throw that praise around. He’s seen what Correani brings day in and day out—whether it’s in-game hustle or quiet leadership in practice. To him, Correani’s stock is rising fast.
“He’s a fantastic kid and an amazing athlete. Whatever college gets him in a couple years will get the biggest steal.”
Looking Ahead: Bigger Goals on the Horizon
Correani isn’t slowing down. If anything, his Les Schwab Bowl experience lit a bigger fire. Surrounded by top-tier coaches and elite competition all week, he soaked in every bit of it.
“We just had a bunch of great coaches,” he said. “We were a family, and I got to play against the best competition. It felt great.”
Now, his eyes are on fall 2025. Correani expects to once again man the middle linebacker position—and he’s ready to see some action at running back, too.
“I think the PIL is underrated, but we can play,” he said. “We had a couple PIL guys here, and they know how to play.”
From Under-the-Radar to Can’t-Miss
Correani might not be a household name—yet—but don’t be surprised if that changes soon. His ability to read plays, disrupt offenses, and lead by example makes him the kind of athlete every coach wants anchoring their defense.
While fans at the Les Schwab Bowl were treated to a fun, high-energy matchup, they also witnessed the beginning of what might be a breakout journey. The kind where people down the line say, “I saw that kid before he blew up.”
So whether it was a tipped pass snagged in midair or a fumble scooped out of chaos, Leonardo Correani proved that he doesn’t just show up—he shows out.
And if you thought being in the right place twice was just luck?
Nah.
That’s what ballers do.
Quick Highlights
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2 turnovers in under 8 minutes (INT + fumble recovery)
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Led to 10 early points for Team Columbia
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Part of a 34-21 win in the Les Schwab Bowl
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2024 Lincoln High stats: 92 tackles, 13 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF
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First Team All-PIL Linebacker | 6A All-State Honorable Mention
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Expected to play both middle linebacker and running back in 2025
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