Avonworth dominates Freeport on way to WPIAL quarterfinal win

By: Antonio Rossetti
Friday, November 7, 2025 | 10:02 PM

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The Avonworth Antelopes thundered past the Freeport Yellowjackets in a 56-7 stampede that sent them galloping into their fifth consecutive WPIAL semifinal.

Dimitri Velisaris spearheaded Avonworth, slicing through the Freeport defense for 110 yards and four touchdowns on 10 carries.

Velisaris scored from 45 yards and 26 yards on Avonworth’s first two drives, for an early 14-0 lead.

He thought it was huge to win the battle up front and take a lead early.

“We knew what we could do, and we knew what we were going to do,” Velisaris said. “It was cool just to see that we could run all over the team and score two touchdowns back to back.”

Velisaris, who didn’t get a carry in the second half, credited the line for his performance.

“There are some studs,” Velisaris said. “They do it all for me. I would not be scoring all these touchdowns, rushing all these yards without them. They’re the starting points, so I really appreciate them.”

Junior lineman Brad Hines loves blocking for Velisaris.

“He makes it so easy,” Hines said. “I just have to hold my point for one, two seconds and it’s just off to the races from there.”

Hines said the linemen all play for each other and are a brotherhood.

“We call each other brothers,” Hines said. “We love each other, and we just try and move and perform as one unit. We just take everything together.”

The Antelopes combined for more than 250 rushing yards with Luca Neal tallying a 36-yard touchdown and Jackson Krul scoring from 67 yards.

The defense shut down the Freeport running attack.

Romello Harris led the defense with two sacks and a forced fumble, which Krul fell on at the Freeport 1.

Bryce Metz tallied an interception in the second quarter, and Nate Kabasha notched a 15-yard scoop and score that put them up 56-7.

Freeport showed promise early that it could move the ball, but running back Amos Glenn went down early in the first quarter.

“Amos tore his hamstring,” coach John Gaillot said. “It put us in the hole, and things got one dimensional.”

When up 14-0, Avonworth’s Cooper Scharding fielded a botched punt at the Freeport 22, but a hit at the 2 jarred the ball loose and into the end zone for a touchback.

Drew Ross found Danny King for 22 yards to get into Avonworth territory.

Metz, however, picked off a Ross pass on the next play. The Antelopes capitalized as Neal took a 36-yard carry to the house to go up 21-0.

Velisaris mustered his third touchdown from 3 yards to go up 28-0.

His fourth touchdown of the half was a 1-yard score extending the lead to 35-0.

After a strong return from Scharding to the Freeport 22, Carson Bellinger found Evan Loutzenhiser for an 18-yard touchdown, putting them up 42-0 going into halftime.

Krul tacked on a 67-yard touchdown on the first play of the third quarter, making it 49-0.

The Yellowjackets’ fumbled the kickoff return, and Kabasha took it 15 yards, to go up 56-0.

Ross found Kason Barker for a 31-yard touchdown and Freeport’s first score.

Dawson Gaillot tallied 84 yards on 14 carries for Freeport. Ross went 6 for 18 for 147 with a touchdown and interception.

Coach Gaillot was proud of the senior group.

“They continue to fight,” Gaillot said. “They fight for each other. It’s a really good solid group the last two years.”

Velisaris is happy to help get the seniors one last win at Lenzner Field.

“I just knew I had to play my heart out, no matter what team it was. It could be the greatest, they could be the worst team,” Velisaris said. “Just got to go 100% every rep, play, just nonstop football. Can’t back down, and we were able to do that, and I’m really happy that our seniors ended off on this field on a good note.”

Tags: Avonworth, Freeport