16 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2022 • VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
PLENTY TO CELEBRATE IN
FREEPORT’S 100TH SEASON
The Freeport football program
celebrates its 100th anniversary in
2022, and this year’s coaches and
players hope to make it one for the
record books.
With several starters and allstar
performers returning on both
sides of the ball, optimism is high
that Freeport can make a run to
the WPIAL playoffs in Class 3A
and also do some damage in the
postseason.
But veteran coach John Gaillot
knows that putting the right pieces
in place and having those pieces
stay healthy will be key to the
team’s success both in the Allegheny
6 and beyond.
“I am impressed with the work
ethic the guys showed over the
summer to be ready for the season,”
he said. “Having (former
Springdale coach) Dave Leasure
come in as offensive coordinator,
they picked up the offense pretty
well. There is a lot of excitement
with that. Coach Leasure is very
knowledgeable and brings in some
new ideas and a few tweaks to the
offense.”
The Swiss Army knife that is
senior Ben Lane hopes to fuel the
team on both sides of the ball.
Gaillot said the Valley News Dispatch
all-star could line up at every
offensive position except for the
line and will be back at his defensive
back spot where he made 40
tackles in 2021.
With seven starters back on both
sides of the ball and others ready
to step in and step up, Lane said
the team is looking strong as it
heads into its Week Zero matchup
against Class 4A Indiana.
“We have quite a few skill kids,
easily a solid two-deep in our five
or six offensive skill positions,”
Gaillot said. “There are going to
be a lot of kids getting a chance
to carry or catch the ball. We also
have the luxury of having a lot
of versatility to create the best
matchups based on what defenses
give us.”
Seniors Zach Clark (247 rush
yards, five touchdowns) and Brady
Stivenson (20 receptions) again are
expected to figure in prominently
in the offensive system, and
Stivenson also is key in the kick
return game.
Sophomore Sean Sellinger and
senior Gavin Croney both are looking
for time under center.
“I think we are going to cause a
lot of problems for opposing defenses,”
Lane said. “We have athletes
in every position on the offensive
side. Just when they think they
are shutting something down, we
will have something else coming
for them. That is the confidence I
have right now.”
Up front, junior Brady Paga (center),
senior Payton Westendorf
(tackle), and junior Isaac Woods
(guard) are back to fuel the offensive
line.
“All three look really good right
now,” Gaillot said.
Senior Parker Lucas earned
all-conference first-team honors
last year at linebacker after recording
64 tackles, four sacks and
an interception.
In all, four of the top six tacklers
are back, including senior Jacksen
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Reiser (114), junior Colten Otterman
(79) and Clark (54). Otterman
and Reiser added 10 and five sacks,
respectively, while Clark led the
defense with four interceptions.
Freeport finished last year 6-5
overall and 4-1 in conference play
with its only league loss coming
at the hands of WPIAL Class 3A
runner-up North Catholic.
The Yellowjackets are coming
off a run to the WPIAL quarterfinals
where they fell to Elizabeth
Forward, 14-6.
North Catholic no longer is a
thorn in Freeport’s side as the Trojans
made the move up to the Class
4A Greater Allegheny Conference.
After Indiana and four additional
nonconference contests, including
a matchup against Class 4A power
Armstrong and senior standout
quarterback Cadin Olsen, Freeport
kicks off conference play Sept. 30
at Shady Side Academy.
The Yellowjackets also have
conference games against East
Allegheny, Deer Lakes and Valley
and will host rival Knoch on Oct.
14. The Knights, who moved down
from Class 4A, and the Yellowjackets
are conference foes for the first
time since 1976 when they were
members of the Allegheny Interscholastic
Conference.
“I love our depth, and I think we
have the talent to do big things this
season,” Gaillot said. “The veterans
have been right there doing
everything we’ve asked them to
do and are leading the team well.
Again, it comes down to staying
healthy.”
by MICHAEL LOVE
No. Name Pos. Ht/Wt. Cl.
1 Zach Clark HB/DB 5-9/170 Sr.
2 Ben Lane HB/DB 5-9/160 Sr.
3 Taylor King HB/LB 5-9/170 Jr.
4 Gavin Croney QB/DB 5-10/140 Sr.
5 Brady Stivenson WR/DB 5-8/130 Sr.
6 Givonie Fout WR/LB 6-0/170 Jr.
7 Jaxson Ford WR/DB 5-11/139 Sr.
8 Isaac Wetzel P/K 6-2/183 Sr.
9 Parker Lucas WR/DB/K/P 6-0/165 Sr.
10 Brady Sullivan HB/DB 6-0/141 Jr.
11 Drew Ross QB/DB 5-7/130 Fr.
12 Sean Selinger QB/LB 5-11/174 So.
13 Madden Wisniewski WR/DB 5-11/156 Fr.
14 Evan Gasbarro WR/DB 5-8/126 Jr.
15 Carson Kane WR/DB 5-9/130 Fr.
16 Matthew Walisch WR/LB 6-2/191 So.
18 Johnathan Campbell WR/LB 5-9/153 Jr.
20 Owen Neistein WR/DB 5-7/127 Fr.
21 Justin Jack HB/LB 6-0/166 Jr.
22 Jacksen Reiser WR/LB 6-0/185 Sr.
23 Dawson Gaillot HB/LB 5-9/149 Fr.
24 Nash Lucas WR/DB 5-9/123 Fr.
25 Dean Furer WR/OLB 6-1/180 Sr.
26 Colton Otterman HB/OLB 5-10/165 JR.
28 Amos Glenn HB/DB 5-5/123 Fr.
33 Anthony O’Donnell HB/MLB 5-8/133 Fr.
44 Cyprian Selinger WR/DB/K 5-10/144 Jr.
53 Jack Smetak C/T/DL 6-2/190 Sr.
55 Tyson Tresco G/DL 6-2/190 Fr.
56 Isaac Woods G/DL 6-0/260 Jr.
57 Mason Lowes G/DL 6-0/157 Jr.
58 Paul Micelli G/LB 5-7/160 So.
59 Brady Paga T/C/DL 6-2/227 Jr.
64 Jacob Bollinger G/LB 5-9/163 Sr.
67 Sam Austin T/DL 5-10/224 So.
68 Jackson Buterbaugh T/DL 6-0/236 Sr.
70 Payton Westendorf T/DL 6-4/246 Sr.
76 Hunter Lang T/DL 6-1/285 So.
77 Wade Potocnak T/DL 5-11/221 Fr.
ROSTER
Coach: John Gaillot
2021 record: 6-5, 4-1 in
Class 3A Allegheny Seven
Conference
All-time record: 569-386-47
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
8.26 Indiana 7
9.2 at South Allegheny 7
9.9 Quaker Valley 7
9.16 at Armstrong 7
9.23 Mt. Pleasant 7
9.30 at Shady Side Academy* 7
10.7 East Allegheny* 7
10.14 Knoch* 7
10.21 at Valley* 7
10.28 Deer Lakes* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing: Ben Lane
46-101, 464 yards, 3 TDs
Rushing: Lane
102-556, 8 TDs
Receiving: Brady Stivenson
20-217, 1 TD
FAST FACT
• Freeport owns the most alltime
victories of any WPIAL
Class 3A team. The Yellowjackets’
six victories in 2021
give them 569 overall.
ZACH CLARK
GAVIN CRONEY
ALLEGHENY 6 • FREEPORT