Freeport brings momentum into showdown with 2nd-seeded Central Valley

By: Jerin Steele
Wednesday, November 6, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Given how many times Freeport and Central Valley have made the WPIAL playoffs in the last decade, it’s fairly surprising that the two teams have never met.

That’ll change when the seventh-seeded Yellowjackets travel to play No. 2 Central Valley in the Class 3A quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Friday night.

Freeport (8-3) is coming off a decisive 44-20 first-round victory over Mt. Pleasant last Friday.

Drew Ross had a big night with five touchdowns — three rushing, one passing and one on an interception return on defense.

Amos Glenn rushed for 190 yards and a touchdown.

For many of the Yellowjackets, it was their playoff debut after missing the postseason last year.

“It was huge for them to get that first playoff win,” Freeport coach John Gaillot said. “The kids were really proud. They’re different now. In a good way.”

Central Valley (5-5) had a bye, so Warriors coach Mark Lyons was able to attend Freeport’s game.

He came away impressed with the overall team speed of the Yellowjackets and sharpness they showed.

“Their quarterback (Ross) and running back (Glenn) are going to pose some problems with their quickness, so we’re going to have to do a good job collectively as a defensive unit to keep those guys in check,” Lyons said. “They seem to play as a cohesive unit, so that’s a testament to their coaches.”

The Warriors received a bye after finishing in a three-way tie for first place in the Western Hills Conference with Avonworth and Beaver.

They slogged through a challenging nonconference schedule that featured Thomas Jefferson, Belle Vernon, Montour and North Hills, four teams that qualified for the postseason in higher classifications.

A week of rest was welcomed.

“With our schedule, we’ve played a lot of intense snaps since Week Zero,” Lyons said. “It was beneficial, because we gained a lot of film reps and learned from our mistakes, but it does take a toll on the body, so the bye was a blessing for us.”

The Warriors feature a dynamic backfield in Mason Dixon and Jance Henry. Dixon is five yards shy of 1,000 for the season and Henry has already drawn the interest of major college programs as a sophomore.

Steven Rutherford is a two-year starter at quarterback and the catalyst of the offense with 821 yards passing.

“They’re very athletic and really disciplined team,” Gaillot said. “They don’t make too many mistakes. They’re a very good team, and it’s going to be a big challenge for us.”

Ross has thrown for 1,103 yards and nine touchdowns, while Glenn is two yards away from eclipsing 1,200 on the ground. He has 16 touchdowns.

The Yellowjackets will also rely on middle linebacker/tight end and senior captain Sean Selinger. He’s one of only a handful of seniors on the team.

Freeport has won six of its last seven games, with the lone setback coming against top-seeded Imani Christian. The run started after nearly coming back to beat Deer Lakes after falling behind by three touchdowns. The Yellowjackets tied the game before the Lancers got a late touchdown for a 28-21 win.

They’ll look to carry the momentum as they try to pull the upset Friday.

“That’s basically where it all started,” Gaillot said. “We just continued to get better and better. We asked them if they were better than the day before, and we need everyone to say yes. I’m proud of them. We’re going to fight, I know that.”

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Central Valley, Freeport