How Freeport is embracing underdog role before WPIAL football quarterfinal vs top-seed Avonworth
BUFFALO TWP — Even with Freeport standing in its way, many are probably already penciling Avonworth into the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals.
The Yellowjackets’ Amos Glenn and Drew Ross aren’t confused as to why.
The defending district champion Antelopes have won 15 of their last 16 outings, including all 10 during this regular season. The only loss during that stretch was an overtime loss to Northwestern Lehigh in last year’s PIAA final.
Avonworth has won by an average of 31.5 points this season. Coach Duke Johncour’s squad was good for 40.5 points per game and was only held under 30 one time, earning the top seed in the WPIAL bracket and an automatic berth into the quarterfinal round. It’s seeking its fourth consecutive appearance in the district final.
“You’ve gotta go into the game not caring about any of that,” said Ross, a Freeport senior dual-threat quarterback who’s shown grit during the second half of the campaign.
No. 8 Freeport (8-3) coach John Gaillot has preached for his team “to continue to just do what we do,” he said. “It’s just another game. That’s all.”
“We think we can come out there and win the game,” Glenn said. “It has nothing to do with them being better than us. We know what we’re capable of. We know how good of a football team they are, so we’re not taking them lightly. ... They might’ve been the (state) runners-up last year, but it’s a new year.
“Anything can happen. Anyone can get knocked off (at) any time. If you come to play, then that’s what can happen. That’s kinda how we just shake it off, man. We don’t really like to think about it too much.”
Ross felt like Freeport was underestimated before a 35-27 first-round home win over No. 9 Beaver last week. The ’Jackets entered the postseason having lost three of the previous four after a 6-0 start, their best since winning their first 10 in 1990.
“(Everybody) saw Beaver as big conference, big team,” Ross said. “They thought they were gonna come in and win. We used that as motivation to get ready to go. ... And it showed.”
Glenn, a 1,000-yard rusher and returner extraordinaire, was watching much more film this week as compared to previous ones. He plans on getting his teammates together to make sure everyone’s on the same page.
“We gotta do more than what we’ve been doing,” Glenn said. “We gotta be on cue on all aspects and sides of the ball — offense, defense, special teams — (just like at) the beginning of the year. This is a Cinderella story if we knock them off, and we’re just gonna go out there and play our best.”
Ross has powered through an ankle injury for the better part of seven weeks. He wouldn’t have turned his nose at more rest, but feels there were benefits to being on the field.
“The motto we use is being a train,” Ross said. “A train doesn’t stop until it’s derailed, right? And now that it’s playoffs, there is no more sitting out. You just have to play through it. And they see that, and they’re gonna use the same energy I use.
“Last week, I was getting back into it. I was running the ball a little bit, and it opens up a lot of things.”
Avonworth has more size up front than Gaillot’s team, he said. The Antelopes have rumbled for 230 rushing yards per game and have over 4,100 yards of total offense this year.
But games are played for a reason.
“I love being the underdog, because nobody expects you to do anything, and then we shock everybody,” Gaillot said.
