Lane erupts on the ground in key Freeport win
BUFFALO TWP — Before he stood up to talk, Ben Lane sat on the 30-yard line with his legs spread out, leaning back on his hands. Whether taking in his surroundings after an important, 35-13 section win over East Allegheny, or resting for a moment — he deserved it.
The senior tailback covered 254 yards on the ground and, when the Yellowjackets got the football back with 4:48 to go, he saw just enough space to pass a mile marker.
“We were at the 45-yard line,” Lane said. “I wanted to get that last 45-yard run to make it 300.”
With the outcome crystal-clear, Freeport (6-1, 2-0) coach John Gaillot didn’t see it the same way. He pulled his starting offense off the field and replacing it with understudies, who wound up draining the rest of the clock.
The teams entered the final frame with only one score separating them. That was until Lane punctuated a seven-play, 80-yard series by going five yards to his left, essentially walking in next to the right front pylon.
The visiting Wild Cats (5-2, 1-1) pushed into the red zone on the drive that followed, but were stuffed by the Freeport defense at the 14-yard line. Lane gashed East Allegheny for a 76-yard rushing score that put things on ice on the next play.
“He’s a great running back,” Wild Cats coach Dom Pecora said. “If you give somebody those lanes and you give somebody an edge that can run like him, you’re in for a long night.”
“I don’t know what was in me tonight, I just had that dog mentality,” Lane said. “Our line played a great game. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them. They were blocking like I’d never seen them block before. I think they’re really starting to click.”
The front was made up of left tackle Payton Westendorf, left guard Jacob Bollinger, centers Jack Smetak and Jackson Buterbaugh, right guards Taylor King and Isaac Woods, and right tackle Brady Paga.
“He just took over the game,” Gaillot said. “Our line really stepped up. I think this was the best they’ve played ... We came out and just ran, following those big guys.”
To the tune of 399 yards, to be exact.
“We have some injuries — at linebacker, in particular — that showed up today,” Pecora said. “They (Freeport) are good up front and they have a lot of backs. They just grinded us down.”
The weight of the offense was a lot heavier on Lane last season. He started the season at tailback, had to fill in at quarterback to provide a spark, and also returned kicks and punts. Oh, and he played defensive back.
“He’s not as stressed out as what he was last year, because everything was on his shoulders,” Gaillot said. “Now, we have six, seven, eight guys that can help carry the load.
“I just think that we’re playing without thinking and that’s a good place to be.”
With seniors Zach Clark spelling him with carries, Gavin Croney providing a steady presence behind center, and Brady Stivenson taking back kicks, the spotlight hasn’t fully been on Lane this season.
The more ordinary role is something he’s been okay with.
“A football game takes 11 people and everyone has their own job,” Lane said. “For you to be able to be a winning football game, everyone has to get their particular job done.”
In saying that, he sounded a lot more diplomatic than his play was on the field. He went for three touchdowns in total. Rare was the occasion in which a single defender could drag him down.
“He was just lowering his shoulder and trucking people,” Gaillot said. “We expect even more now.”
The ‘Jackets are in prime position to claim the Allegheny Six Conference title, with Knoch, Valley, and Deer Lakes remaining on the schedule. Those crews are a combined 5-16.
“It feels great to win this game,” Lane said. “Beating Shady Side, then beating this team — probably the two best teams in the section. We can’t settle.”
Gaillot will tell you the same.
“(It’s) one game at a time,” Gaillot said. “You start looking at the next opponent and that’s the most important thing.”
East Allegheny 7 6 0 0 — 13
Freeport 7 14 0 14 — 35
First Quarter
F — Gavin Croney 11 run (Isaac Wetzel kick), 3:19
EA — Michael Cahill 20 pass from Prince Tarrant (Matt Armenio kick), 1:43
Second Quarter
F — Ben Lane 2 run (Wetzel kick), 6:51
F — Croney 2 run (Wetzel kick), 4:48
EA — Steve Yusko 13 pass from Cahill (kick blocked), 0:48
Fourth Quarter
F — Lane 5 run (Wetzel kick), 10:58
F — Lane 76 run (Wetzel kick), 7:32
Individual Statistics
Rushing: East Allegheny, Michael Cahill 13-84, Jarell Steele 8-46, Tre Jeter 5-6. Freeport, Ben Lane 18-254, Gavin Croney 13-61, Zach Clark 9-55, Dawson Gaillot 2-18, Drew Ross 2-12, Sean Selinger 1-1, Amos Glenn 2-(-2), TEAM 2-(-2).
Passing: East Allegheny, Michael Cahill 13-33-107-1. Prince Tarrant 1-1-20-0. Freeport, Gavin Croney 1-8-29-1.
Receiving: East Allegheny, Steve Yusko 6-69, Jarell Steele 4-20, Michael Cahill 1-20, Brennen Rutledge 2-14, Tre Jeter 1-4. Freeport, Brady Stivenson 1-29.
