Hopewell races past Freeport, which drops 2nd straight after winning 1st 6

By: Josh Rizzo
Friday, October 10, 2025 | 10:32 PM

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Hopewell running back Nasir Wade felt the urgency atypical for a nonconference game. The Vikings needed to make a statement to the rest of the WPIAL Class 3A field that they are interested in being a wild card if they can’t be one of the automatic qualifiers from their conference.

Wade scored three times, including on a 100-yard interception late, to help Hopewell beat Freeport, 48-20, and pick up its third consecutive victory. It was the Yellowjackets’ second straight loss after opening the year 6-0.

“We stayed composed and played as a team,” Wade said. “This is the first time we played as a team and a unit.”

Wade piled up 175 rushing yards on nine carries. Wade scored on runs of 47 and 54 yards.

“The outside wasn’t open,” Wade said. “I knew if I hit the right hole with some speed, I could score a touchdown.”

Freeport coach John Gaillot said he shoulders the responsibility for the Yellowjackets being unable to slow down Hopewell’s offense.

The Vikings scored four offensive touchdowns that went 40 yards or more.

“I need to do a better job of having our kids prepared,” Gaillot said.

Freeport (6-2) scored first. Yellowjackets quarterback Drew Ross, who was playing through an injury, found Chace Flynn for a 6-yard touchdown.

Hopewell tied the score on its next possession when quarterback James Armstrong scored on a 4-yard run. The Vikings (6-2) went ahead for good, 14-7, on Wade’s 47-yard scoring run. Armstrong, who finished with 186 passing yards, was pulled from the game briefly at the end of the first half.

He was hit low on a scramble and limped off the field.

However, Armstrong came back out for the second half and threw an 83-yard touchdown to Tre Cameron to stretch the lead to two scores. Cameron finished with 119 receiving yards and scored twice.

Hopewell coach Matt Mottes said the Vikings wanted to get as many one-on-one matchups with Freeport’s secondary as they could.

“We did our game plan,” Mottes said. “They play a lot of man coverage. We wanted to have a lot of motion and get one-on-one with our receivers.”

The Vikings’ offensive assault continued in the third when Wade scored on a 47-yard run. Hopewell scored a third touchdown in the quarter on a trick play. Kingston Krotec found Avery Bokor on a 68-yard strike after taking an end-around.

Hopwell’s pass rush made life difficult on Ross. While Amos Glenn did finish with 134 yards on the ground and scored two touchdowns, both of his scoring runs came late in the fourth quarter.

The Vikings recorded nine sacks, including three by Aris Haniotes.

“We all worked together,” Haniotes said. “We all fought hard.”

Freeport wants to show everyone it still has plenty of fight. The Yellowjackets will get back into Allegheny Seven Conference play next week.

“It’s a must-win,” Gaillot said. “If we don’t win next week, we aren’t in the playoffs. That’s how we are looking at it.”

Tags: Freeport, Hopewell