Through the Years: Freeport staved off Deer Lakes upset bid in ’84

By: George Guido
Thursday, October 24, 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 quarterback Mike Petras ran for two touchdowns, and Deer Lakes running back Allen Schietroma scored on a 22-yard pass and 50-yard punt return. With the Lancers ready to pull off an upset, Tom Yates forced a fumble at the 4, and Jeff Christy recovered to preserve a 20-14 victory for 9-0 Freeport on Oct. 27, 1984.

75 years ago

• Leechburg (7-0) stayed alive in the WPIAL playoff race with a 28-6 victory over Shannock Valley. Dom Garda threw three touchdown passes — two to Bernie Jack — in a rare Thursday night home encounter.

• Future Philadelphia Eagle Kenny Keller scored three TDs as Bell Township advanced to 7-0 with a 40-6 victory over neighboring Avonmore.

60 years ago

• Springdale was eliminated from the WPIAL playoff race by dropping a 20-7 decision to Hampton in a battle of unbeatens at Veterans Memorial Field. The Talbots took the lead for good on a 63-yard pass from Tom McGaughey to Bob McFarlane with 24 seconds left in the half.

• Har-Brack won its first game of the season by downing rival Ken High, 25-18. Terry Davis ran for three Tigers TDs to tie the all-time series at 15-15-5.

50 years ago

• Jeff Sinclair tossed a pair of touchdown passes to Terry George and scored on a 5-yard run to propel Highlands to a 42-14 victory over Churchill.

• East Allegheny’s Gordon “Too Much” Jones was exactly that against Burrell. The future Pitt and Tampa Bay Bucs standout scored on an 86-yard pass play and a 16-yard pick-6 as the Wildcats topped Burrell, 28-8.

40 years ago

• Riverview clinched a playoff spot with a 10-8 victory over Brentwood. A 22-yard field goal by Bill Tomlinson sent the Raiders to the postseason.

25 years ago

• Freeport tight end Jeremy McCorkle hauled in two touchdown passes from Brandon Farster, and John Kurtz intercepted a pass with a minute left to preserve a 34-30 Yellowjackets victory at Apollo-Ridge.

• Valley’s Donny Booker ran for 239 yards, including touchdown runs of 77 and 43 yards in the third quarter, as the Vikings downed Johnstown, 32-20.

10 years ago

• Knoch nabbed a Class 3A playoff berth by routing Yough, 44-0. Cody Milsom ran for 143 yards and three TDs.

• Plum wrapped up a Class 4A playoff berth by scoring on its first six possessions en route to a 42-7 victory over Latrobe. Wil Fuhrer completed 11 of 12 first-half passes for 191 yards and three scores.

Five years ago

• Freeport senior Ricky Hunter’s 5-yard touchdown run with 20 seconds remaining lifted the Yellowjackets to a 34-31 victory over Knoch.

• Leechburg’s Jake Blumer, in his final home game at Memorial Stadium, ran for 160 yards and three TDs as the Blue Devils held on for a 50-43 victory over Springdale, overcoming three rushing touchdowns by Christian Vokes.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Freeport, Highlands, Knoch, Leechburg, Plum, Riverview, Springdale, Valley