Freeport football 2025 preview: What to watch, 3 things to know and schedule
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The Freeport varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Freeport varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Freeport varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Freeport varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Freeport varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Dawson Gaillot works on his footwork during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Dawson Gaillot works on his footwork during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Freeport varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Freeport varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Coach John Gaillot guides players during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Quarterback Drew Ross gives a low five to Edan Henderson, 4, during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Quarterback Drew Ross during 7-on-7 during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Cole Troutman during 7-on-7 during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Dawson Gaillot during 7-on-7 during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Dawson Gaillot during 7-on-7 during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Cole Troutman works on his blocking during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Cole Troutman works on his blocking during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Freeport varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Freeport varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Freeport varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Coach John Gaillot talks to a player during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Quarterback Drew Ross during 7-on-7 during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Freeport’s Anthony O’Donnell during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Freeport’s Anthony O’Donnell during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Freeport’s Owen Neistein during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Freeport’s Owen Neistein during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Making it back-to-back WPIAL playoff appearances will be a tall task for Freeport's football team, which is coming off an 8-4 season. Only the top three of seven teams from the Allegheny 7 Conference will automatically qualify.
"Imani Christian, Deer Lakes and Highlands each look to be strong again," Freeport coach John Gaillot said. "Last year, we got a lot of confidence by winning at Indiana (in the first game), then we go to Derry the next week and lost. We made so many mistakes, penalties. ... We have to avoid that kind of letdown."
Working in the Yellowjackets' favor is that multiple stars return at offensive skill positions, two anchors are back on the offensive line and the defense figures to be staunch.
Freeport's offense has two incredibly strong cornerstones to build around. Quarterback Drew Ross and running back Amos Glenn, both seniors this year, turned in great 2024 campaigns.
Ross threw for 1,372 yards, rushed for 529 and contributed 25 total touchdowns. Glenn, in his first season of varsity football, amassed 1,476 yards from scrimmage and scored 15 times.
"We're happy to have their leadership and production back this season," Gaillot said. "We're just hoping they remain healthy."
Senior Madden Wisniewski returns to lead the receivers. He paced the team with 31 receptions as a junior and gained 249 yards and scored three touchdowns. Owen Neistein, Bryson Paga and Danny King, who combined for 30 catches a year ago, will be options as well.
"Madden and Owen should both be able to stretch the field for us," Gaillot said.
"Drew is not easy to bring down in the pocket," Neistein said of Ross. "He can keep plays alive, and as receivers we have to be aware of that. He and I have good chemistry with each other.
"This is the first time in a number of years that we have the same offensive coordinator back for a second straight season," he said of Dylan Henderson. "We're more in tune with the plays and with what everyone needs to do."
Seniors Wade Potocnak and Cole Troutman, a tackle and guard, respectively, will both start on Freeport's front for the third straight year. Cameron Manke and Karter Kemp should earn starting spots on the line based largely on their ability to play multiple positions.
Gaillot said the offense will show defenses a number of different looks that will include power and wingback formations.
"We will pull our guards and tackles," he said. "We can play the power game, but can also be more finesse when we need to be."
1. Help wanted: Freeport will have two huge holes to fill on defense after the graduation of Sean Selinger and an injury to Camden Schlegel, both linebackers. Selinger paced the 'Jackets in 2024 with 131 tackles while Schlegel made 74 stops, including four sacks. Schlegel suffered an injury while playing lacrosse in the spring that will keep him out of the lineup this fall.
"Not having Cam, that's a huge loss for us. He was a stud last year," Gaillot said.
Taking some of the sting away from losing two stars is the fact defensive tackle Troutman and middle linebacker Dawson Gaillot, both seniors, return after combining for 227 tackles and 10 sacks last year.
2. Setting the tone: Potocnak and Troutman will anchor the defensive line. Both were named All-Allegheny 7 Conference as juniors.
"They're both very intelligent," Gaillot said. "If you're playing on the (defensive) line and hear an audible, you have to know immediately where you need to go. Otherwise, the play's already over before you can react. Wade and Cole are smart and they get to where we need them to be."
The secondary will include returning starters Wisniewski and Neistein at the corners, Ross and King at safety. The quartet combined to intercept eight passes last year while breaking up 12 others.
3. Something to build on: Last year's playoff appearance included a Class 3A first-round victory against Mount Pleasant. The previous year, Freeport missed the postseason with a 3-7 record.
"That losing season motivated us," said senior Anthony O'Donnell, a linebacker who plays on special teams. "We had a fire lit under us, worked hard over that offseason and you could see the improvement. We have a lot of talent this year and just need to keep improving."
- Aug. 22, 7 p.m. — Indiana at Freeport
- Aug. 29, 7 p.m. — Derry at Freeport
- Sept. 5, 7 p.m. — Freeport at Quaker Valley
- Sept. 12, 7 p.m. — Deer Lakes at Freeport*
- Sept. 19, 7 p.m. — Freeport at Burrell*
- Sept. 26, 7 p.m. — Freeport at Valley*
- Oct. 3, 7 p.m. — Highlands at Freeport*
- Oct. 10, 7 p.m. — Hopewell at Freeport
- Oct. 17, 7 p.m. — East Allegheny at Freeport*
- Oct. 24, 7 p.m. — Freeport at Imani Christian*
*Division/section/conference game
