Through the years: Freeport coach collected 100th win with thrilling victory over Mars in 1974

By: George Guido
Thursday, September 19, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Each week throughout the high school football season, the Valley News Dispatch will take a look at the players, coaches and events that shaped our scholastic legacy.

Freeport’s 20-13 victory at Mars on Sept. 20, 1974 was the 100th win of coach Don Earley’s career. Quarterback Dan Leri scored the winning touchdown on a 2-yard keeper midway through the fourth period.

75 years ago

• Oakmont defeated Plum Township, 7-0, on a 5-yard pass from Walter Knezevich to Jim Masters in a game played at Oakmont’s Scaife Field.

• West Deer handed Aspinwall its first loss of the season, 14-6. Merle Allen ran for both Braves TDs.

60 years ago

• Despite two touchdowns from future Pirates pitcher Bob Moose, Apollo took the measure of Franklin Regional, 32-19. Jim Stankus scored three TDs and two PAT runs as the Striped Tigers tallied three scores in a 5½ minute span of the second quarter.

• Tarentum and Freeport played to a 6-6 stalemate, thus eliminating the defending WPIAL runner-up Yellowjackets from title consideration. Wayne Brant’s 96-yard fumble recovery return with 10 minutes left tied the score for Freeport, but the extra point kick went wide.

50 years ago

• A crowd of close to 10,000 packed Davis Field to see Kiski Area edge Valley, 7-0, in a battle of unbeatens. A 42-yard pass from Jay Winiesky to Rich Painter with 8 minutes, 28 seconds to go decided the issue.

40 years ago

• Third-string quarterback Rich Kutch guided Riverview to a 30-14 victory over Homestead’s Bishop Boyle. Kutch’s 27-yard touchdown pass to Mike Juliano and two rushing TDs from Rich Rossi propelled the 3-1 Raiders.

• Kiski Area’s John Holloway tossed three touchdown passes to flanker Dennis Wuyscik as the Cavaliers knocked off Highlands, 20-6.

25 years ago

• Valley held Hampton to minus-2 yards rushing and B.J. Flenory intercepted a pair of passes to lead the 4-0 Vikings to a 22-0 win.

• Burrell’s Josh Maxwell scored on a 30-yard interception return and caught two touchdown passes from Tim Eckman as Burrell rolled past Kittanning, 28-7.

10 years ago

• Deer Lakes senior Ryan McGrath ran for 259 yards on 30 carries and two touchdowns, lifting the Lancers to a 35-20 victory over Burrell, handing coach Steve Sciullo his first win.

• Shady Side Academy’s Louis Berry IV scored four TDs – one on a 99-yard kickoff return – as the Indians rolled to a 32-20 Allegheny Conference win over Valley.

Five years ago

• Springdale went to 4-0 for the first time in 12 years with a 41-6 win over Bishop Canevin. Christian Vokes ran for 211 yards and three first-half touchdowns.

• Windy conditions in Uniontown forced Burrell to abandon its run-and-shoot offense and go with a ground game. It all worked out as Mikey Schearer ran for 175 yards and a TD and Seth Fischbach returned a punt 70 yards for a score in a 43-0 Bucs victory.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Armstrong, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Freeport, Highlands, Kiski Area, Riverview, Shady Side Academy, Springdale, Valley