Freeport runs away with Friday night win against Quaker Valley
BUFFALO TWP — There is more to football than offense and defense.
All three phases of the game were clicking for Freeport football Friday night when the Yellowjackets defeated Quaker Valley 61-7 at home in non-conference action.
“These kids just like to be physical,” Freeport coach John Gaillot said. “They take great pride in that and the kids that stepped in did a tremendous job and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Freeport scored a special teams touchdown for a third straight game off a Ben Lane 60-yard punt return halfway through the first quarter.
Coach Gaillot said he now owes his team a reward yet again for the special teams score, which might be giving the Yellowjackets a little extra motivation on the field.
“I owe them pizza again,” Gaillot said. “I told them every time they score on special teams I told them I would buy them pizza and ice cream.”
Almost no time was wasted by the Yellowjackets after kickoff, as they forced a quick three and out on defense and followed up with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Gavin Croney to Brady Stivenson.
Five total touchdowns were scored by Freeport in the first quarter, followed by three more in the second quarter to give the Yellowjackets a commanding 55-0 lead at halftime.
“Freeport is a very good team,” Quaker Valley coach Jason Cappa said. “We are very inexperienced and young. We are going to go through some growing pains.”
Perhaps the biggest play of the game was something that won’t show up on the stat sheet.
Freeport kicker Isaac Wetzel was a busy man with extra points, but halfway through the second quarter, he lined up for a 58-yard field goal.
Wetzel did miss the attempt slightly to the left, but he could’ve made the kick from 60-yards plus if it was kept on line.
“I need to get a highlight video together,” Gaillot said of Wetzel. “He is a heck of a soccer player. He has a future, that kid can kick. He kicks 56-yarders in practice and everyone is probably thinking what is this idiot doing putting the ball back there.”
The Quakers eventually got on the board towards the end of the third quarter, off a Logan Benedict 3-yard touchdown run, but it was too late with a running clock and a large deficit at hand.
Croney left the game after the first half due to the large lead, but not before throwing four touchdown passes for 99 yards and one interception.
Lane only ran the ball seven times for Freeport, but collected 104 yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns, with one catch for five yards and a touchdown.
Freeport will look to continue its dominance next week when the team heads to Armstrong for another non-conference game.
Armstrong defeated New Castle Friday night. 49-13.
Quaker Valley 0 0 7 0 – 7
Freeport 35 20 0 6 - 61
First Quarter
F – Brady Stivenson 35 pass from Gavin Croney (Isaac Wetzel kick), 10:23
F – Ben Lane 5 pass from Croney (Wetzel kick), 7:53
F – Lane 60 punt return (Wetzel kick), 5:39
F – Lane 3 run (Wetzel kick), 3:55
F – Colton Otterman 16 pass from Croney (Wetzel kick), 2:33
Second Quarter
F – Stivenson 16 pass from Croney (Wetzel kick), 6:54
F – Lane 24 run (Wetzel kick blocked), 3:46
F – Croney 28 run (Wetzel kick), 1:56
Third Quarter
Q – Logan Benedict 3 run (Issac Walker kick), 3:44
Fourth Quarter
F – Madden Wisniewski 36 run (kneel), 2:04
Individual Statistics
Rushing: Quaker, Troy Kozar 4-0, Gavin Eshenbaugh 6-5, Logan Benedict 7-26, Nicolas Cardinale 1-4, Benjamin McHenry 1-15. Freeport, Gavin Croney 5-30, Brady Stivenson 2-14, Ben Lane 7-104, Dean Furer 1-22, Amos Glenn 7-38, Sean Selinger 3-3, Drew Ross 2-1, Madden Wisniewski 3-45.
Passing: Quaker, Troy Kozar 8-25-124-4, Logan Benedict 0-2-0-0. Freeport, Gavin Croney 6-10- 99-1, Sean Selinger 0-1-0-1.
Receiving: Quaker, Jakub Pickett 6-102, Thomas Debelak 1-3, Nicolas Cardinale 1-19. Freeport, Brady Stivenson 3-66, Ben Lane 1-5, Colton Otterman 2-28.