Freedom must replace large senior class to reach playoffs for 4th straight season

By: George Guido
Monday, August 19, 2019 | 9:22 PM

After Freedom made the WPIAL playoffs for a school-record third consecutive season, sustaining the streak will be in the hands of new coach Greg Toney.

Toney was named coach in December after athletic director John Rosa served as interim coach the last four games of the season following Russ Barley’s resignation. With Toney as defensive coordinator, the Bulldogs went 11-2, making it to the WPIAL semifinals for just the fourth time in school history.

“We had a senior-laden team last season,” Toney said. “We had a great year, and the kids were very resilient and played together very well.”

Freedom edged Avonworth in the opening round of the Class 2A playoffs, then defeated No. 2-seeded Burgettstown, 7-6, before losing to Steel Valley in the semifinals.

While a fourth straight playoff trip is sought, one milestone Freedom definitely will reach is the 1,000th football game in school history: vs. New Brighton on Oct. 4 at home. The Freedom-New Brighton rivalry dates to 1902.

But 11 seniors from last year’s teams graduated, and Toney has just four seniors on the roster.

“We have a pretty good junior class,” he said. “They’ve been blocked by those seniors and have been playing on Saturdays. They’ll have to grow up fast.”

At the controls for the Bulldogs will be junior Cole Beck who will replace Zach Rosa. Last season, Rosa threw for 1,389 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Senior Max Ujhazy will see time in the backfield, and senior Kevin Lawrence will be at guard and defensive end.

Among the few returning starters is all-Midwestern Conference first-team linebacker Noah Valles, a senior.

Graduated, however, are Rosa, the offensive MVP of the conference, and Cody Ross, the defensive MVP.

Lineman Tanner Boyer also closed out a great career and needs to be replaced.

“We’ve got a lot of replacing to do and get players who can step into these roles,” said Toney, a Blackhawk and Yale graduate.

Junior guard/defensive end David Martsolf and junior Reiker Welling, a receiver and defensive back will have larger roles.

Junior Jim Happ will be the nose guard and Brett Boyd a linebacker as Freedom will switch between a 4-4 and a 4-3 defense.

“We’ll have to find out in a hurry what people can do,” Toney said. “We’ll have to put the pads on and install our schemes.”

That’s because, like most WPIAL schools, Freedom will have a Week Zero game. The Bulldogs will visit neighboring Hopewell, then jump into conference play the following week against Shenango, a school where Toney once coached.

The new coach’s assistants include: Dave Commesso, defensive coordinator; Tom Lazarus; Bob Prennis, special teams; Johnny Fiscus, linebackers; Jared Hogue, secondary and Scott Lazarus, offense and secondary.

Besides last season, Freedom also made the WPIAL semifinals in 2003, 1977 and ‘73.

Schedule

Coach: Greg Toney

2018 record: 11-2, 6-1

All-time record: 409-530-54

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23, at Hopewell, 7

8.30, Shenango*, 7:30

9.6, at Riverside*, 7

9.14, Mohawk*, 7

9.20, Ellwood City*, 7:30

9.27, at Valley, 7

10.4, New Brighton*, 7:30 10.11, at Neshannock*, 7

10.18, at Apollo-Ridge, 7

10.26, at Western Beaver*, 12:30

*Class 2A Midwestern Conference game

Statistical leaders

Passing: Zach Rosa*

77-135, 1,350 yards, 20 TDs

Rushing: Jake Pail*

175-1,017 yards, 14 TDs

Receiving: Pail*

21-455 yards

*Graduated

Tags: Freedom