BUFFALO TWP — One … two … three … fou —

“Set, hut!”

Seated in the bleachers at Freeport’s road football game against Shady Side Academy earlier this season, Yellowjackets boys basketball coach Sean Devinney was in a race against the snap of the ball.

He rushed to count out the number of players that also compete on the hardwood — to no avail.

“There was a lot, we’ll put it that way,” Devinney said. “A lot of basketball players on the field and obviously making plays.”

They don’t just make plays on the gridiron, either. Freeport rosters 40 players — all except for 10 are multi-sport athletes.

“We’re a smaller school with the number of athletes that we have,” ‘Jackets football coach John Gaillot said. “It’s nice that everybody works together … I see the dedication the whole way through. Whether it’s basketball, soccer, lacrosse. It’s just nice to see that there are a lot of kids that are out.”

A sense of familiarity was a big factor in Freeport’s 9-1 regular season record. That schedule was capped off by a 42-10 victory over Deer Lakes, which put a bow on the Allegheny Six Conference title.

It was Freeport’s best effort through 10 games since 1992, when the team also went 9-1, under coach Gary Kepple, and won the Greater Allegheny Conference.

“You can just tell that the bonds that we’ve had from playing all these sports together, it’s just there,” said senior running back-linebacker Zach Clark. “Our chemistry on the field has shown.”

Clark, who also plays baseball and basketball, is one of 15 Freeport players that makes time for three sports in a calendar year. The time spent in other athletic avenues has prepared him and his team for the historic run they’ve made.

In a funny sort of way, the jam-packed schedules make things easier. The constant workload keeps stamina steady.

“It’s non-stop,” senior wide receiver-defensive back Brady Stivenson said. “I feel like I’m always in shape. At the beginning of the season, I’m always ready to go.”

“All year round, I’m going from one to the next, so it keeps me in shape,” Clark said. “With those three different sports, you’re doing a lot of different things. You’re working out different body parts and muscles, so you stay athletic all year.”

Each sport sharpens abilities that are important come fall time.

“Each sport works dominant muscles,” Gaillot said. “With basketball, it’s that shifty cutting. You look at (Brady) Stivenson and Parker Lucas when they run routes, it’s just like a waterbug.

“That multi-sport (aspect), a lot of college recruiters look for that.”

Senior running back-defensive back Ben Lane, the team’s leading rusher each of the past three years, has had success on the ground thanks in part to the lower-body exercise he gets in the football off-season.

“The changing of directions in basketball helps with my hip mobility,” he said. “Track, I’m working with my power and my drive.”

Having spent countless hours together throughout youth, middle school, and high school sports campaigns, the teammates have developed quite a fellowship.

“We’ve all been playing the same sports with each other since we were little,” Lane said. “Our bond just grows, it doesn’t matter what sport we’re in. That really contributes to the season we’re having.”

“It doesn’t feel like it’s just a friends thing,” Stivenson said. “I feel like we’re closer than that. I feel like we’re all brothers and we’re a true family.

“Being close has helped us go farther than what people expect us to go.”

Devinney works as a full-time firefighter for the City of Pittsburgh and follows game streams on his iPad when he can’t make it in person. Though he’s excited about the upcoming basketball season, he’s enjoying the chance to watch the team fight for a WPIAL crown.

That journey will begin after the ‘Jackets’ playoff bye. In the Class 3A quarterfinals on Nov. 11, they’ll host the winner of Friday’s first-round tilt between West Mifflin and Southmoreland.

“I’m sure, knowing how resilient they are and just how much they love to compete, I know that they’ll be able to transition smoothly right into basketball season — hopefully after they’re done doing some big things on the football field,” Devinney said.

“I can’t wait to have them, but at the same time, I want them to go as far as they can, extend this football season, and make a big run.”

Below is a list of the Freeport football team’s multi-sport athletes.

Seniors

Jacob Bollinger, track and field, lacrosse; Jackson Buterbaugh, track and field, lacrosse; Zach Clark, baseball, basketball; Gavin Croney, basketball; Dean Furer, basketball, track and field; Carson Kosecki, basketball, track and field; Ben Lane, basketball, track and field; Parker Lucas, basketball, track and field; Jacksen Reiser, basketball; Jack Smetak, baseball; Brady Stivenson, baseball, basketball; Payton Westendorf, basketball, track and field; Isaac Wetzel, track and field, soccer

Juniors

Justin Jack, lacrosse; Taylor King, lacrosse; Mason Lowes, lacrosse; Brady Paga, basketball, lacrosse; Cyprian Selinger, basketball, lacrosse; Brady Sullivan, basketball

Sophomores

Paul Micelli, lacrosse; Sean Selinger, basketball; Matt Wallisch, basketball

Freshmen

Dawson Gaillot, basketball, track and field; Amos Glenn, baseball, basketball; Carson Kane, baseball, basketball; Nash Lucas, basketball, track and field, sprint car racing; Anthony O’Donnell, track and field; Wade Potocnak, lacrosse; Drew Ross, lacrosse; Madden Wisniewski, basketball, track and field