Freeport shuts out Valley to snap losing streak
BUFFALO TWP — In typical Freeport (3-6) football fashion, the Yellowjacket defense held Valley (2-7) to 34 total rushing yards Friday night on its way to a 27-0 victory over the Vikings at Freeport Senior High School.
“That’s just Freeport defense,” Freeport coach John Gaillot said. “We gave up some big plays in those games we lost. We really are responding well.”
The rain in the early part of the game limited both offenses, with two fumbles a side. Those fumbles were not lost by either squad, but forced some punts early on.
Even when the rain stopped, Freeport’s run defense still kept the pressure.
“Our offensive line didn’t get the push we wanted,” Valley coach Mark Adams said. “Unfortunately we didn’t recover from not being able to move the ball. We found ourselves deep in our own end for most of the night.”
Freeport was able to get on the board with just over a minute to play in the first quarter off a Brady Sullivan touchdown catch from quarterback Drew Ross.
Colton Otterman took a little bit to find his rhythm in the running game, but he would end the day with 91 rushing yards on nine attempts and found the end zone twice.
Otterman’s first touchdown came halfway through the second quarter, with a leaping effort over a Viking defender at the pylon for a 10 yard touchdown run.
“He (Otterman) makes me nervous sometimes,” Gaillot said with a laugh.
Valley defensive lineman Demetrius Ballard did provide a lot of pressure for the Viking defense at times, forcing Ross to make some quick throws while also dropping him for a pair of sacks.
“That kid is an athlete,” Gaillot said of Ballard.
Adams said Ballard has been getting a lot of looks from some division one schools.
“Right now Indiana is on him real hard,” Adams said. “Ohio is on him and South Carolina. He’s a real player.”
The final score of the game came early in the fourth quarter when Ross ran the ball in from six yards out to put the game out of reach and secure the 27-0 victory.
Ross would finish the game with 127 yards through the air, with Sullivan as his main target, who snagged three catches for 68 yards.
In its regular season finale Freeport will travel to Deer Lakes with a potential playoff spot on the line.
“It could be loser goes home,” Gaillot said. “We will be playing for something, but you know, we have been playing for something five weeks ago.”
Valley 0 0 0 0 – 0
Freeport 7 6 7 7 – 27
First Quarter
F – Brady Sullivan 45 pass from Drew Ross (Judah Thompson kick) 1:07
Second Quarter
F – Colton Otterman 10 run (Thompson kick miss) 7:43
Third quarter
F – Otterman 7 run (Cole Troutman kick) 6:43
Fourth Quarter
F – Ross 6 run (Thompson kick) 10:39
Individual Statistics
Rushing: Valley, Charles Perkins 12-22, Tristian Goodwin 7-8, Darnell Coaston 1-4. Freeport, Drew Ross 12-2, Justin Jack 8-15, Colton Otterman 9-91.
Passing: Valley, Tristian Goodwin 11-25-77-0. Freeport, Drew Ross 8-14-127-1.
Receiving: Valley, Sean Wilkerson 1-1, Darnell Coaston 9-75, Coury Pitts 1-1. Freeport, Colton Otterman 1-5, Cyprian Selinger 2-32, Brady Sullivan 3-68, Danny King 1-21, Conner Patterson 1-1.
