Danny King throws for 2 TDs, runs for 2 more as Freeport football keeps WPIAL playoffs within reach
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Freeport's Karter Kemp (60) and Nick Suder (65) get ready for the ball to be snapped by Deer Lakes in a football game Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at Freeport High School. Brandon Croney/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Danny King (8) splits Deer Lakes defenders on his way to the end zone in a football game Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at Freeport High School. Brandon Croney/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Danny King (8) throws the ball in the rain against Deer Lakes in a football game Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at Freeport High School. Brandon Croney/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Chace Flynn (7) celebrates with his coach after a touchdown against Deer Lakes in a football game Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at Freeport High School. Brandon Croney/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Chace Flynn (7), Cameron Manke (52), Bryson Paga (2) and Danny King (8) join arms and walk out for the coin toss before facing Deer Lakes in a football game Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at Freeport High School. Brandon Croney/Special to the Eagle
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Freeports Chace Flynn (7) stretches across the goal line for a touch down in a football game Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at Freeport High School. Brandon Croney/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Bryson Paga comes off the field against Deer Lakes in a football game Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at Freeport High School. Brandon Croney/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Camden Schlegel (14) records a strip sack against Deer Lakes in a football game Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at Freeport High School. Brandon Croney/Special to the Eagle
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Freeports Camden Schlegel (14) makes defenders miss in a football game Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at Freeport High School. Brandon Croney/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Chace Flynn (7) celebrates after a big play against Deer Lakes in a football game Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at Freeport High School. Brandon Croney/Special to the Eagle
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Nick Suder (65) celebrates after Freeport's touchdown against Deer Lakes in a football game Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at Freeport High School. Brandon Croney/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport cheerleaders do the Jacket Rumble in their rain gear in a football game Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at Freeport High School. Brandon Croney/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's student section celebrates after a touchdown in a football game Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at Freeport High School. Brandon Croney/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's band performs during halftime in a football game Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at Freeport High School. Brandon Croney/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's band performs during halftime in a football game Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at Freeport High School. Brandon Croney/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's band performs during halftime in a football game Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at Freeport High School. Brandon Croney/Special to the Eagle
BUFFALO TWP — Freeport is chasing two teams atop the Allegheny 7 Conference and may have to earn a wildcard spot to make the WPIAL Class 3A football playoffs.
The Yellowjackets made yet another point they deserve to be in after an impressive 38-7 homecoming win Friday night at Deer Lakes. Their fourth straight win keeps them in third in the conference behind North Catholic and Highlands with two weeks to play.
“This is probably the best win as a group (this season),” Freeport head coach John Gaillot said. “They just worked their tails off for each other.”
The WPIAL takes the top two teams from each 3A conference, then two wildcard teams will be selected.
Freeport quarterback Danny King finished 10 of 14 for 170 yards and two touchdowns, while also running for 57 yards and two more touchdowns. In total, the ’Jackets (7-1, 3-1) picked up 141 rushing yards on 40 carries against Deer Lakes, with those yards coming from seven different ball carriers.
Deer Lakes’ Wildcat formation caught Freeport’s defense flat-footed to start the game, as Lancers running back Roman Smith capped a 70-yard opening drive with a 16-yard touchdown run.
Smith finished the game with 130 yards rushing on 23 carries.
“We noticed that they started out in Wildcat. We weren’t really expecting that from the start, so they kind of marched down the field on us,” said Freeport running back/safety Braydon Pomaybo, who scored a touchdown. “After that first drive, we made some adjustments.”
Indeed, Deer Lakes’ opening drive was the only time it enjoyed a lead all game, as Freeport answered with 38 unanswered points.
The ’Jackets wasted no time responding with one of their own scores, as King led an 8-play, 60-yard drive that ended in his 10-yard touchdown run to tie the game. Late in the second quarter, they took the lead for good with a 15-yard touchdown pass from King to Chace Flynn.
Bryson Paga finished with 123 yards receiving on six catches, while Flynn caught both of King’s touchdown passes.
The Lancers (2-6, 1-3) nearly put a scare into Freeport on the final play of the second half.
Holding the ball near midfield while trailing 21-7 with four seconds left in the half, quarterback Ryan Irvin threw a short pass to Evan Moore, who avoided Yellowjacket tacklers and nearly made it to the end zone. However, one defender managed to shove Moore out of bounds at the 4-yard line with the clock at zero.
Deer Lakes never came any closer to scoring.
Freeport’s win sets up a highly anticipated road matchup with Highlands in Week 9. Both teams are on identical 7-1 records, with Highlands winning their game on Friday night over the Burrell Bucs, 34-6.
“We’re going to do the same thing we do every week,” Pomaybo said. “We take every week seriously, and we’re going to stop the run next week.”
Deer Lakes 7 0 0 0 — 7
Freeport 7 14 14 3 — 38
1st Quarter
DL — Roman Smith 16 run (Connor Moore kick), 8:19
F — Danny King 10 run (Judah Thompson kick), 5:25
2nd Quarter
F — Chace Flynn 15 pass from King (Thompson kick), 3:58
F — Flynn 12 pass from King (Thompson kick), 0:44
3rd Quarter
F — Braydon Pomaybo 9 run (Thompson kick), 6:36
F — King 10 run (Thompson kick), 1:01
4th Quarter
F — Thompson 36 field goal, 1:52
Individual Statistics
Rushing: Deer Lakes, Roman Smith 23-130, Ryan Irvin 3-14, Evan Moore 1-(-4), Landen French 2-(-1), Jax Domyslawski 1-0. Freeport, Danny King 12-57, Braydon Pomaybo 11-25, Luke Selinger 7-13, Chace Flynn 5-10, Bryson Paga 2-14, Luca Pollino 2-10, Aeden Alcorn 1-12.
Passing: Deer Lakes, Ryan Irvin 5-15-72-0, Ben Shurina 0-1-0-0, Nino Spagnolo 0-1-0-0. Freeport, Danny King 10-14-170-0, Luke Selinger 0-1-0-0.
Receiving: Deer Lakes, Charlie Cook 3-34, Evan Moore 1-38, Roman Smith 1-0. Freeport, Bryson Paga 6-123, Chace Flynn 2-27, Camden Schlegel 2-17, Braydon Pomaybo 1-11.
