Making a Run Freeport keeps surging with potent ground game
BUFFALO TWP — Freeport coach John Gaillot saw on film how successful Burrell was last week in running the football against Deer Lakes.
The Yellowjackets followed that blueprint.
Perfectly.
Ricky Hunter ran for 122 yards and two touchdowns and quarterback Garret Schaffhauser also surpassed 100 yards on the ground and scored three times as Freeport seized control early on the way to a 40-21 home run over the Lancers Friday night.
“The kid's having a great year,” Gaillot said of Hunter. “Very proud of him. Very proud of all of the kids. He's a special ballplayer. He works constantly.”
Freeport (3-3, 3-3) rolled up 360 yards on the ground against Deer Lakes (3-4, 3-3).
The strong running game also kept the Lancers' potent offense off the field — especially in the second half.
Aris Hasley did most of his damage against an aggressive Yellowjackets' defense in the first half, throwing for 203 yards and two touchdowns in the first two quarters.
But Freeport, with a 28-14 lead at the break, controlled the clock and Deer Lakes in the second half. Hasley had just 26 yards passing in the final two quarters.
“Our gameplan was having two high safeties and let nothing behind us,” said Schaffhauser, who is also a linebacker. “And that's what we did.”
Freeport also had a penchant for knocking passes down.
The Yellowjackets have a great volleyball team and it looked like the defensive lineman were taking pointers. They knocked down seven passes at the line of scrimmage.
“It's just kind of like a natural instinct,” Schaffhauser said, smiling. “If you're not going to get there, put your hands up. We did that.”
Freeport cracked the scoreboard first on a 98-yard drive when Schaffhauser found Brodey Woods on a deep cross for a 29-yard score.
Later in the quarter, the Yellowjackets scored on a 1-yard drive following a bad snap on a wildcat play by Deer Lakes.
In all, Freeport scored four touchdowns on 1-yard runs — Schaffhauser had three of them.
The Yellowjackets used a jumbo backfield at times with Hunter, 235-pound back Jewlius Barnes and 245-pound offensive lineman Pierce Craven lined up at fullback.
Schaffhauser said the play up front is what made the difference against Deer Lakes.
“It goes on our line,” Schaffhauser said. “Our line bodied them the whole game. It goes on our line.”
After an 0-3 start, Freeport has won three straight and has scored 56, 50 and 40 in those trio of victories.
“The senior leadership here, they're major contributors and three-year starters,” Gaillot said. “They said, 'We're not losing again.' They are a focused group of young men.”
Deer Lakes 0 14 0 7 — 21Freeport 14 14 6 6 — 40First QuarterF — Brodey Woods 29 pass from Garret Schaffhauser (Ricky Hunter kick), 2:44F — Schaffhauser 1 run (Hunter kick), 1:48Second QuarterF — Hunter 1 run (Hunter kick), 7:13DL — Jack Hollibaugh 19 pass from Aris Hasley (AJ Dorman kick), 4:55F — Hunter 56 pass from Schaffhauser (Hunter kick), 2:27DL — Zac Herbinko 38 pass from Hasley (Dorman kick), 1:39Third QuarterF — Schaffhauser 1 run (kick failed), 2:55Fourth QuarterF — Schaffhauser 1 run (kick failed), 8:57DL — Hollibaugh 14 pass from Hasley (Dorman kick), 4:31Individual StatisticsRushing:Deer Lakes, Aris Hasley 12-57, Isaiah Yoder 5-28, Jack Hollibaugh 1-4, Trey Darrah 1-0, TEAM 2-(-17). Freeport, Ricky Hunter 18-122, Garret Schaffhauser 22-110, Brodey Woods 10-80, Jewlius Barnes 6-48, Ben Lane 1-2, TEAM 2-(-2).Passing:Deer Lakes, Aris Hasley 14-33-229-0. Freeport, Garret Schaffhauser 4-7-110-2.Receiving:Deer Lakes, Jack Hollibaugh 6-84, Zac Herbinko 4-74, Trey Darrah 2-50, Adam Rejniak 2-21. Freeport, Brodey Woods 2-23, Ricky Hunter 1-56, Matt Aulicino 1-31, Ben Lane 1-10
