Pike Trophy returns to Freeport football after Danny King’s lights-out performance vs rival Knoch
BUFFALO TWP — The Pike Trophy has returned to Freeport High School.
The Yellowjackets can thank quarterback Danny King.
The senior had himself quite the night, leading Freeport to a 27-0 win over Knoch in the renewal of the rivalry Friday night at Freeport Stadium. He rushed for 92 yards and threw for 78 yards, adding two passing touchdowns in the process. After the game, King was humble when talking about the night he had.
The rivalry — and trophy — had been on the shelf for the past two years, with Knoch.
“It feels really good for the boys, as they wanted the trophy in the worst way, so it was great to get it back,” Freeport head coach John Gaillot said.
“Today, out of all the games, we were able to establish the run game, and the rushing game opens up the passing game, no matter if you are the runner or not, which is a huge factor,” King said.
Freeport (4-1, 1-1 Allegheny 7 Conference) junior Luke Selinger also had a great night, catching a touchdown, running for another and returning a fumble for a third, which was the icing on the cake to end the game.
Gaillot was impressed with his team’s win and praised the defense for the three fumbles it forced.
“After last week, we had a bad taste in our mouth, and the kids worked really hard all week, which had them flying high for this game,” Gaillot said. “We caused a lot of turnovers, which was just an amazing job by assistant coach Todd Durand, and my offensive coordinator Dylan Henderson does a great job, so I am very blessed to have them.”
On the flip side, the offense for Knoch could not get anything going all night. Senior Knights quarterback Max Wiley threw for just 29 yards. The run game also could not get anything going.
The Knights (3-2, 0-2) fumbled the ball on back-to-back drives in the third quarter and had a fumble returned for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Freeport 6 14 0 7 — 27
Knoch 0 0 0 0 — 0
First Quarter
F — Luke Selinger 50 pass from Danny King (conversion failed), 5:53
Second Quarter
F — Aaron Lovgren 11 pass from King (Judah Thompson kick), 11:12
F — Selinger 14 pass from King (Thompson kick), 5:12
Fourth Quarter
F — Selinger fumble recovery (Thompson kick), 2:51
Individual Statistics
Rushing: Freeport, Danny King 15-92, Braydon Pomaybo 8-33, Luke Selinger 5-23, Chace Flynn 2-9, Aaron Lovgren 2-0. Knoch, Ethan Rouleau 8-19, Carter Beres 4-11, Cameron Lang 3-18, Evan Fink 1-0, Max Wiley 2-19.
Passing: Freeport, Danny King 7-14-78. Knoch, Max Wiley 4-12-29.
Receiving: Freeport, Canon Wisniewski 1-5, Luke Selinger 2-44, Aaron Lovgren 2-17, Chace Flynn 1-12. Knoch, Roman DeFelice 1-2, Ashton Mosby 1-16, Kaeden Myers 1-11.
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Freeport players carry the Pike trophy across the field after defeating Knoch in a football game Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at Freeport Stadium. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport players, including Nick Suder (65) and Aaden Alcorn (21), hoist the Pike trophy after defeating Knoch in a football game Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at Freeport Stadium. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport players pose with the Pike trophy after defeating Knoch in a football game Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at Freeport Stadium. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Danny King (8) lunges for extra yards as Knoch's Cameron Lang (9) drags him down in a football game Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at Freeport Stadium. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch dance team members perform at halftime of a football game Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at Freeport Stadium. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Kaeden Myers (40) runs the ball past Freeport's Aaden Alcorn (21) in a football game Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at Freeport Stadium. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Liam Smith (11) closes in on a Freeport ball carrier in a football game Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at Freeport Stadium. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Danny King (8) runs behind the block of Cameron Manke (56) as Knoch's Blake Montgomery (35) pursues in a football game Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at Freeport Stadium. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Braydon Pomaybo (9) runs the ball as Knoch's Cameron Lang (9) and Cameron Lazor (58) pursue in a football game Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at Freeport Stadium. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Ashton Mosby (10) secures a catch as Freeport's Eli Perroz (25) bears down on him in a football game Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at Freeport Stadium. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Judah Thompson (24) kicks off in a football game Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at Freeport Stadium. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport students wave a flag and phone lights from the student section in a football game Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at Freeport Stadium. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport students throw confetti in the student section in a football game Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at Freeport Stadium. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Nick Suder (65) stands on a ladder facing the band after a football game Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at Freeport Stadium. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Hunter Frantz (26) embraces a coach after a football game Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at Freeport Stadium. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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A Freeport player holds up his helmet after a football game Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at Freeport Stadium. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Nick Suder (65) and Camden Schlegel (14) celebrate in a football game Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at Freeport Stadium. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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A Freeport football player plays saxophone with the band at halftime of a football game Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at Freeport Stadium. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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A Freeport majorette performs with a lit baton at halftime of a football game Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at Freeport Stadium. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
