Moving on up?
After getting back in the win column last Friday against Northgate, Freeport is now looking to make its way up the Allegheny Conference standings.
The Yellowjackets (2-2, 2-2) snapped a two-game losing streak by knocking off undefeated Northgate, 7-6, last week, the lone score coming on a 2-yard run by Brian Zimmerman in the first quarter.
Freeport will face host Burrell, (2-2, 2-1), who is coming off a 36-13 win over Deer Lakes last week, at 7:30 p.m Friday.
Jordan Pisano rushed for 102 yards on eight carries and scored two touchdowns — including an 80-yarder — and and Dave Stonage ran for 115 yards on eight carries for Burrell.
Frank Gigler tacked on 87 more yards on the ground, including a 41-yard touchdown run and quarterback Seth Napierkowski added a 54-yard scoring run, yet Burrell lost.
"All their runners are slashers ... and (Napierkowski) is back from last year and he threw for over 1,000 yards. He's got the experience and played in the playoffs. He's a veteran with good presence.
"We have to defend both," Dillen added.
Freeport and Burrell are tied for fifth in the conference.
Freeport has already played three of the top four teams, Kittanning, Northgate and Valley. It will face conference leader Ford City in the regular-season finale Oct. 27.
"No question, the winner of this game will get a little of the upperhand (in moving up)," Dillen added.
Grove City (2-2, 1-1) at Hickory (2-2, 1-1), Friday, 7 p.m. — After scoring just six points in its previous eight quarters, Grove City scored 33 points in a shutout home win against Reynolds last week.The Eagles scored 30 of those points in the first half."We definitely needed it," said Grove City coach Jeff Bell.The stage is now set for a huge region clash against Hickory. The Eagles will hit the road for the first time this season to play the Hornets.Hickory is coming off a 21-7 win over Northwestern."This is a big, big game," Bell said. "The team that wins this one is not in the driver's seat, but is in a pretty good position. If you do lose this game, buddy, be ready to win out."This game is crucial for us."Grove City is no stranger to big mid-season games. For the past three seasons, the Eagles have found themselves in playoff mode in September.That may be a benefit to the Eagles as big games dot the schedule for the rest of the season.Hickory will pose a challenge because of the unorthodox offense it runs.The Hornets run a single-wing attack with the quarterback taking every snap from the shotgun.Nick Erdesky runs the show for Hickory this season. He has completed 12 of 28 passes for 208 yards and a touchdown.Erdesky didn't play last week in against Northwestern.The Hornets do have a powerful running game. Rashad Campbell has gained 614 yards on the ground and has scored eight touchdowns already this season. Josh Peagler has rushed for 211 yards and is averaging more than 10 yards per attempt."It's a tough offense to prepare against," Bell said. "The hardest thing to do is simulate it in practice. You can't get the speed and timing down that you are going to see in the game."
Union (1-3, 0-3) at Clarion (2-2, 1-2), Friday, 7 p.m. —How different is perception?Union has won just one game and is winless in the conference, yet the season is perceived as a good one for the Knights, who broke a 30-game losing streak earlier this season.Clarion is at .500 and although it is 1-2 in the KSAC, very much has playoff hopes, yet the season is being viewed as an early bust.Redbank Valley was the latest team to derail KSAC preseason favorite Clarion, 35-20.Brad Rapp rushed for 91 yards for Clarion in the loss.Union trailed Moniteau by just 11 points at halftime before the Warriors poured it on in the second half to win 42-3.Despite the lopsided loss, it shows the Knights are making progress.Nate Boltz led Union with 72 yards on 13 carries and also had three receptions for 31 yards in the defeat.
Summit Academy (3-1, 3-0) at Laurel (3-1, 3-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m. — The Knights find themselves in first place in the Tri-County North following last Saturday's 12-6 overtime upset over Mohawk.Now, Summit Academy will receive another stiff test in the Spartans, who knocked off Neshannock 26-7. Quarterback Corey Collins tossed a pair of touchdown passes to Ryan Forbes to spearhead the win.Laurel, Riverside and Mohawk are all 3-1 in the conference and Mars is 2-1.For Summit, Leonard Brown played the hero's role on Saturday, catching two touchdown passes from Stephen Grandison and intercepting a pass in overtime to clinch the win.
