Freeport hopes to heal quickly
ELIZABETH — Freeport wants to avoid a second consecutive 0-3 start.
Only the Yellowjackets are unsure who's going to be on the field for them to secure that first victory when they visit Elizabeth-Forward for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday.
“We are really banged up,” Freeport coach John Gaillot said. “We had nine starters missing from practice Tuesday. I'm not sure how many of them are gonna be available to play.
“Regardless of who suits up, we're going down there to win. We play to win.”
For the second straight year, Freeport is opening the season against the strongest trio of teams in the Big East Conference. The Yellowjackets dropped a 35-27 decision at Derry in Week 1 and a 28-20 game at home to North Catholic last week.
Garret Schaffhauser has been a bright spot at quarterback, completing 35 of 57 passes for 440 yards and four touchdowns. Brodey Woods has 14 pass receptions in two games.
Ricky Hunter rushed 13 times for 75 yards against North Catholic. Luke Miller returned an interception 65 yards for a score last week.
“I just don't know who we're going to have available this week,” Gaillot said. “I'll say this ... Our younger kids have stepped it up in practice. They're not afraid.
“We had a freshman, Parker Lucas, step in at safety for his first varsity game last week against a great team like North Catholic and he played well. We've got gritty kids.”
Elizabeth-Forward is coming off an 8-2 season — losing only to North Catholic in conference play — but has graduated 32 seniors over the past two years. The Warriors opened this season with wins of 15-7 over Deer Lakes and 34-26 over Burrell.
Nico Mrvos is replacing a three-year starter at quarterback. He has 6-foot-4 receiver Chase Watton to throw to and two productive running backs in Evan Lewis and Nick Hunnell.
“Their quarterback is very athletic and No. 1 (Lewis) is a scat-back for them,” Gaillot said. “Their line looks solid on film, but our line is competitive with theirs.
Our kids are competitors. We don't have any fear. We'll see what happens.”
Elizabeth-Forward won the first-ever football meeting between the schools last year, 27-21.
7 p.m., Friday Mars Athletic ComplexCentral Valley defeated Beaver Falls last week, 21-6. North Catholic survived a 28-20 decision at Freeport.Central Valley rebounded from an 0-4 start last season to make the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs. The Warriors returned eight starters on both sides of the ball from that squad.Among them is junior QB Ameer Dudley, who has passed for 387 yds. with 4 TDs and an INT. He has also rushed for 104 yds. and two scores.Eamon Straub leads a host of capable Trojan RBs with 25 carries for 203 yds. and 2 TDs. Fellow RB Anthony Serventi is a threat in the passing game and has 5 catches for 113 yds. and a TD in two games.The Trojans edged Central Valley last year, 14-13.
7 p.m. FridayThe Rockets have had a lot of practice defending against potent passing games.Two weeks ago it was Reynolds and Bryce McCloskey. Last week it was District 10 career passing leader Ian Haynes.Now it's Sharon's Lane Voytik, who has thrown for 561 yards and eight TDs and just one INT.Slippery Rock gave up 259 yards passing to Franklin's Haynes last week in a 35-6 win, but held the Knights out of the end zone.Meanwhile, Slippery Rock's offense continues to be dangerous with its three primary weapons.Quarterback Vito Pilosi has thrown for 333 yards and three TDs and has also rushed for 193 yards and two scores. Nathan Hyatt has gained 317 yards on the ground and scored six TDs and has also caught six passes for 81 yards and a score. David Duffalo has 168 yards rushing and 109 yards receiving and is also the Rockets' leading tackler.
7 p.m., Friday RimersburgBoth teams recorded shut-out victories last week. While Otto-Eldred beat Cameron County, 38-0, Union/A-C Valley blanked Curwensville, 24-0.Terrors' junior QB Cole Sebastian has thrown for 827 yards and 9 TDs in three games. ... WR Ethan Smith has caught 14 passes for 265 yds. and 5 TDs.Otto-Eldred's defense has been susceptible to the run, but Union/A-C Valley is averaging just 94 yards per game on the ground.Union/A-C Valley sophomore RB/WR Caden Rainey leads the team in receptions (14), receiving yds. (176) and has scored a TD.Otto-Eldred won last year's meeting with the Falcon Knights, 47-25.
12:30 p.m., SaturdayThe Blue Devils have just 19 players listed on their roster, but they have rolled to two big wins this season, outscoring their opponents 78-8.Cyle Conley scored three touchdowns last week for Burgettstown in a 42-0 win over Fort Cherry last week. Conley scored on runs of 48, 1 and 1.Summit Academy is 0-3 and has been outscored 140-38. QB Camer Warrington-Curry threw for 131 yards and a touchdown in a 58-16 loss to Washington.
