TRIB TOTAL MEDIA • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2020 • 65
ANDREW SULLIVAN
GARRETT KING
SCHEDULE
Coach: John Gailott
2019 record: 4-5, 3-5
All-time record: 559-378-47
Date Opponent Time
9.11 Deer Lakes* 7
9.18 Apollo-Ridge 7
9.25 at Derry* 7
10.2 Valley* 7
10.9 at East Allegheny* 7
10.16 Burrell* 7
10.23 at North Catholic*# 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
#AT MARS ATHLETIC COMPLEX
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Garrett Schaffhauser*
95-153, 1,376 yards, 13 TDs
Receiving Brodey Woods*
38-552 yards, 7 TDs
Rushing Ricky Hunter*
108-728 yards, 10 TDs
*GRADUATED
FAST FACTS
• Freeport coach John Gailott
owns 72 victories and eight
WPIAL playoff appearances
in his first 12 seasons at the
helm of the Yellowjackets
• Freeport averaged 31.3 points
last year and gave up 27.2 per
contest.
• The Yellowjackets’ rushing
attack averaged just under
200 yards a game (195.4) last
season.
• The Freeport defense racked
up 22 sacks in nine games a
year ago as 12 different defenders
recorded at least one
quarterback takedown.
YOUNG YELLOWJACKETS
HOPING TO IMPRESS
by MICHAEL LOVE
Youth will be served on the Freeport football
team as underclassmen will be featured
at several key positions.
“There is a lot of good competition, including
some younger players, freshmen
and sophomores who got some good playing
time last year,” said veteran coach John
Gaillot, who welcomes back just five combined
starters on offense and defense as the
Yellowjackets hope to return to the WPIAL
playoffs after missing out on the postseason
a year ago.
“We lost a big senior class from last year,
and there were a couple of others who transferred.”
Gaillot said the team rallied around what
needed to be done to get back on the field for
workouts over the past month or two after
coronavirus restrictions halted in-person
team gatherings.
“The kids are thankful to be on the field,”
he said. “We had a lot of conditioning to
catch up on through summer workouts.
They responded and really have set a good
foundation.”
Freeport began preseason camp Aug. 24,
and, like all of the other teams in the WPIAL,
is moving forward to a season that looks
different from just a month ago.
“We have a lot of young guys, but everyone
is hungry and ready to make plays to get
us as far as we can go,” said junior Garrett
King, who will take over at quarterback for
the graduated Garrett Schaffhauser.
“Everyone’s been doing whatever they can
to prepare, and we have to really focus and
take advantage of preseason camp.”
King served as a backup to Schaffhauser
last year.
“Garrett is an intelligent kid and a hard
worker,” Gaillot said. “Two years ago, when
(starting quarterback) Austin Romanchak
went down against Derry, we put him right
in, and he took complete control of the
offense for a couple of series. He showed a
lot of poise. I have all the confidence in the
world in him.”
King started at safety last year and finished
second on the team in tackles with 54 to go
along with a forced fumble and a fumble
recovery.
Ben Lane, a sophomore, is expected to return
as a starter at cornerback (28 tackles).
He also is the top returning rusher (11 carries,
62 yards, one touchdown) and receiver
(11-142, one TD).
Sophomore Jackson Reiser saw starting
time last year at inside linebacker and was
third on the team in tackles (51).
Senior Logan Manke (guard) and junior
Elijah Freeman (guard) return to anchor the
offensive line.
Gaillot said he is happy to have Vinnie
Clark back in the fold. Clark is a junior who
got experience as a freshman but didn’t play
last year.
Also hoping to make an impact this season
are seniors Dennis Daugherty (offensive/
FREEPORT • ALLEGHENY
defensive line), Gavin Stehman (H-back) and
Mario DeVivo (wide receiver); juniors Cole
Charlton (tight end/outside linebacker) and
Shane Jack (H-back); and sophomores Andrew
Sullivan (outside linebacker) and Parker Lucas
(wide receiver/defensive back).
“They’ve experienced that varsity speed, so
we’re hoping they can build off that and make
the jump this season and continue to grow,”
Gaillot said.
“There is so much potential for this whole
group. They just have to believe in themselves.”
Freeport went 3-5 in conference play last year.
One of its wins came against Deer Lakes, 40-21,
in Week 6.
The Yellowjackets also will take on Derry,
Burrell, Valley, East Allegheny and North
Catholic in conference play.
“I really like the conference,” Gaillot said.
“We know a number of the teams and the
coaching staffs. We have to be ready to play
each night.”