No. 2 Imani Christian to provide stiff challenge as Freeport eyes share of Allegheny 7 title

By: Michael Love
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 | 6:29 PM

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Freeport earned a much-needed victory last Friday with a 49-19 triumph over East Allegheny on senior night at Freeport Area Athletic Stadium.

The Yellowjackets had lost two in a row coming into the game, one in heartbreaking fashion and the other that was not as close against a Class 3A power.

But Freeport now is looking to take down another juggernaut in Class 3A, and it will make its debut at one of the WPIAL’s most iconic fields.

The Yellowjackets cap the regular season and Allegheny 7 Conference play against undefeated Imani Christian at 7 p.m. Friday at historic UPMC Graham Field in Wilkinsburg. The conference title is on the line.

“It’s going to be a difficult challenge for us to beat them, but it’s always about showing up and playing to our best ability,” Freeport coach John Gaillot said. “We got some momentum back on our side with last week’s win.”

Last week’s victory over East Allegheny put Freeport at 4-1 in the conference, tied for second with Highlands and one game behind second-ranked Imani Christian. A win by the Yellowjackets would create at least a two-way tie for the conference crown, and a Highlands win over Valley would create a three-way tie at the top.

A Freeport loss and a Highlands victory would push the Yellowjackets to third and most likely out of a chance to host a playoff game.

The Golden Rams put themselves in position, in part, with their 28-27 overtime win over Freeport on Oct. 3.

Imani, Highlands and Freeport have wrapped up automatic berths to the WPIAL playoffs and will find out their first-round fates when the WPIAL releases the Class 3A bracket Saturday afternoon.

The Yellowjackets are in the postseason for an A-K Valley-record 34th time.

Freeport and Imani met for the first time last year, and the Saints came away with a 44-14 victory that helped them secure the top seed in the WPIAL playoffs.

Gaillot said his team had chances to take the lead early in that game before Imani took over. He hopes his team doesn’t miss on chances Friday.

Imani began its season by handing Clairton its only loss, 19-12 at Clairton’s Tyler Boyd Stadium. The Bears have not allowed a point in seven games since.

The Saints have been prolific on offense, especially the past three weeks as they put up 61 points in a shutout of East Allegheny, 56 in a win over Deer Lakes and 53 last Friday in a rout of Burrell.

“Imani is very strong all around: special teams, offense and defense,” Gaillot said.

“They have so much ability and are well-coached. They have so many weapons which can make plays. We have to be disciplined and also match their physicalness.”

Seniors David Davis and Will Gorman and juniors Gabe Jenkins and Dajaun Craighead are a few of the top players from Imani who could be called out by the public address announcer Friday.

Imani Christian led Burrell, 14-0, after the first quarter and 27-7 at halftime before a 19-0 third quarter salted the game away.

Jenkins used his feet and his arm to put points on the board for the Saints. He found the end zone on a 35-yard run in the second quarter and then tossed five touchdown passes, two to freshman Daniel Stephens and one each to Davis, Maurice Williams and Robert Torres-Johnson.

Jenkins, who verbally committed to Penn State in August but decommitted Oct. 12, completed 13 of 19 passes for 258 yards and carried the ball eight times for 132 yards.

Stephens and Davis combined for nine catches for 206 yards.

“I think we are just really focused right now,” Imani coach LaRoi Johnson said.

“Our lift (Monday) was really good. It was part of a good start to the week. We’ve been to this point before, and now we’re a year older, and the guys have a better understanding of what this all means and what they hope to do. They have prepared hard and are excited for what’s ahead.”

Freeport got that winning feeling back against East Allegheny, one week after falling to Hopewell, 48-20.

In front of a large senior-night crowd, the Yellowjackets rallied from an early East Allegheny score to post seven touchdowns, six of them coming over the second and third quarters.

Seniors Amos Glenn and Drew Ross helped celebrate with a combined five rushing touchdowns. Glenn had three of them and finished with 19 carries for 206 yards.

Ross added six carries for 47 yards, and Dawson Gaillot scored on a 24-yard run.

“Freeport is a very good team,” Johnson said. “They can run the ball so effectively with (Glenn and Ross). (Ross) has a nice arm, too. They play the game the right way. They play hard and are well coached. We saw that talent first-hand last year on the field, and we see it again on film. I have a lot of respect for that coaching staff and how they prepare their guys to play each week.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Freeport, Imani Christian