BUFFALO TWP — Halfway through the schedule, the gridiron season essentially starts anew for Freeport Friday night as it hosts Allegheny 6 Conference foe Shady Side Academy.
Entering the campaign, Yellowjackets coach John Gaillot expected his young team to receive a baptism by fire. There have been peaks — decisive wins over South Allegheny and Quaker Valley — and most recently, in consecutive losses, there have been valleys.
“The kids are starting to get schemes and stuff like that,” Gaillot said. “It’s starting to come towards us. We’ve just got to finish a complete game. Last week, we were up and we let that one slip away.
“We’ve just got to learn to finish. That’s the big thing.”
Freeport had a 13-point third-quarter lead over host Mount Pleasant last week before the Vikings scored on five consecutive possessions to end matters in a 45-23 result.
The week prior, the ‘Jackets conceded 52 points in a home defeat to Armstrong. The 97 combined points over the past two weeks are the most Freeport has allowed in such a stretch since giving up 105 in such a stretch since giving up 105 in losses to Kittanning and Highlands in 2014.
“Our big problem is we don’t have the depth that everybody else has,” Gaillot said. “We play everybody tough, but then we get worn down because they have a second platoon and we don’t. Our second platoon normally would be our starters now — most of them.
“They’re freshmen and sophomores.”
Shady Side Academy (3-2) bucked a two-game losing streak with a 57-14 home victory over South Allegheny last week. The Bulldogs opened the year with wins over Summit Academy (55-0) and North Catholic (34-28).
“We’ve got to do our assignments,” Gaillot said. “We just need to focus on their job and what their assignment is for that play. ... They just have speed — a ton of speed — at all positions.”
On offense, sophomore quarterback Drew Ross’ progression is ahead of Gaillot’s forecast. Ross completed 16 of his 30 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown last week. He also rushed for a score.
“Three weeks in, I said he’d done better than what I expected,” Gaillot said. “He just continues to make some great plays. He’s maturing, too.”
Senior Brady Sullivan has been a stalwart for the ‘Jackets. Classmates Ickey Woods and Brady Paga have been constants on the offensive line.
Freeport went undefeated in conference play a season ago — a run of success that began with a hard-fought 12-7 road win over the Bulldogs.
“We always take it one game at a time,” Gaillot stressed. “We’ve just got to make ourselves better than we were last week. Hopefully, we can grow very fast by week, because every team that we have to play is very good.
“It’s going to be a huge challenge for us.”
Armstrong (3-2)
at North Catholic (3-2)
J.C. Stone Field
7 p.m., Friday
Armstrong lost to Hampton last week, 32-27; North Catholic defeated Kiski Area 28-7.
The River Hawks have used two QBs in every game — Colt Sprankle and Jaydon Oliver. The duo has combined for 1,241 yards, 15 TDs and 2 INTs. ... In Armstrong’s three wins (vs. Valley, New Castle and Freeport), the River Hawks have outscored their opponents 150-51.
Trojans’ RB Jack Fennell ranks 8th in the WPIAL in rushing yards with 596 and has reached 100 yards in four of five games. ... After allowing 109 points in its first three games, North has given up a total of seven points in the last two contests, including a 19-0 shutout of Highlands two weeks ago. ... Trojans’ junior TE Brady O’Hara has made a verbal commitment to play at Penn State.
Last year, Armstrong defeated North 35-19.
Central Clarion (5-0)
at Karns City (3-2)
7 p.m., Friday
Central Clarion crushed Bradford last week, 86-0; KC defeated Moniteau 48-15.
Central Clarion junior QB Jase Ferguson has passed for 1,119 yards, 20 TDs and just 1 INT. ... The Wildcats include players from three different high schools — Clarion Area, Clarion-Limestone and North Clarion.
During their current 3-game winning streak (against Ridgway, Saint Marys and Moniteau), the Gremlins are averaging 262 rushing yards per game. ... Junior DE Troy Nagel has made 8 tackles for a loss, including 4.5 sacks.
Central Clarion defeated the Gremlins 26-20 in overtime last year.
Redbank Valley (5-0)
at Union/A-C Valley (3-2)
in Rimersburg
7 p.m., Friday
Redbank Valley earned a 65-6 win over Ridgway last week; Union/A-C Valley won 40-0 at Kane.
The Bulldogs are averaging 447 yards of offense per game (269 passing, 178 rushing). ... Junior RB Drew Byers has gained 424yards and scored 5 TDs on the ground to go with a 7.1-yards-per-carry average. ... Senior Mason Clouse leads a dangerous group of receivers with 23 catches for 527 yards and 8 TDs.
Falcon Knight RBs Logan Skibinski and Owen Bish have rushed for 76 percent of the team’s output on the ground (518 yards out of 684). ... Senior LB Luke Wilson leads Union/A-C Valley’s defense with 53 tackles.
The Bulldogs beat Union/A-C Valley 38-8 last year.
Hickory (3-2)
at Slippery Rock (1-4)
7 p.m., Friday
The Rockets bowed to arch rival Grove City, 47-14, at home last week; Hickory was blanked in a 12-0 loss at Wilmington.
Slippery Rock is still working to find offensive consistency, but senior QB Eli Anderson has been a solid centerpiece. ... Anderson totaled almost 300 all-purpose yards and found pay dirt on a 78-yard run against the Eagles.
Hornets QB Zander Telesz has passed for 653 yards and 9 TDs. ... Freshman RB Kelvin Morrison adds a threat on the ground, having gone for 11.9 yards per tote. ... Hickory’s average reception is good for 15.6 yards.
Slippery Rock beat Hickory twice last year — a 23-20 regular season outcome and a 28-0 playoff meeting.
Moniteau (1-4)
at Bradford (2-3)
7 p.m., Friday
The Warriors visited Karns City and left on the wrong side of a 48-15 score last Friday; Bradford lost big to Central Clarion, 86-0.
Moniteau allowed the Gremlins 342 yards on the ground in its sixth consecutive loss to its neighbors. ... QB Trent Beachem passed for 146 yards and a score in the loss, while Brendin Sankey also threw for a TD.
Owls QB Talan Reese has thrown for 846 yards and 6 TDs in an attack that leans toward the pass. ... Bradford entered the season on a 29-game losing streak, but has notched two wins this go-round.
Moniteau won last year’s matchup between the 2 teams, 29-19.
Summit Academy (0-5)
at South Side (5-0)
7 p.m., Friday
The Knights stayed within 1 score for the first time this season, but lost to Northgate, 28-20, last Friday; South Side beat Quaker Valley, 41-7.
Summit Academy scored 20 points for the 3rd time this year last week, showing signs of improvement on offense. ... The last time the Knights got to 20 points in 3 or more contests in 1 season was 2017.
The Rams have 2 rushers that have totaled more than 400 yards this go-round. ... Ryan Navarra has carried the ball 53 times for 511 yards and 7 TDs. AC Corfield has gotten 37 gives for 412 yards and 5 TDs.
South Side won last year’s encounter, 49-0.
