‘Nothing else really needs to be said’: Deer Lakes aims to buck history in meeting with Freeport

By: Michael Love
Wednesday, September 11, 2024 | 5:33 PM

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Deer Lakes will attempt to start a season 4-0 for only the second time in school history.

Standing in the Lancers’ way is a Freeport team riding a wave of momentum after its two-day victory over Quaker Valley.

The rivals know all about each other as consistent opponents, both in and out of conference play. Friday’s renewal of pleasantries, set for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Lancers Stadium, is the 53rd meeting between the schools dating to 1969, the first year of Deer Lakes.

“The history between us and Freeport is not in our favor,” said Lancers coach Tim Burk, who referenced Freeport’s 45-7 lead in the all-time series.

Deer Lakes is gunning for wins over Freeport in back-to-back years for just the second time. It first happened in 1993-94.

“Also, it’s just Freeport. Nothing else really needs to be said,” Burk said.

Last year, Deer Lakes defeated Freeport, 35-0, to clinch a spot in the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs and also deny the Yellowjackets a spot in the postseason. The victory ended a 12-game losing streak in the series.

“It was a really good feeling for the kids to get that win and accomplish another goal they had set for themselves,” Burk said.

“Any win you have to cherish, but sometimes you cherish them a little bit more when it is a close school and a good team and program like Freeport.

“But this year’s different, and everything is new. Freeport has a new offensive coordinator, and they are kind of revamped a little bit. It is going to be a tough test. They are going to come hungry. They are back on track with a win. I’ve been telling our kids that they haven’t forgotten about us beating them last year. They didn’t accept that and walk away from it. They are going to come in and play physical. We have to be ready.”

While Deer Lakes rolled past Derry last Friday, 34-12, to remain undefeated and move to No. 2 in the Trib HSSN WPIAL Class 3A rankings, Freeport bounced back from its Week 1 loss to Derry to rout Quaker Valley, 44-12, to move to 2-1 overall leading into this Allegheny 7 Conference opener for both teams.

The Yellowjackets needed an extra day to complete the task as lightning halted the game Friday in the first quarter and postponed it to Saturday.

When play resumed Saturday morning under sunny skies, Freeport made its mark.

The Yellowjackets recorded a safety on the first play, built a 16-0 lead at halftime and put the mercy rule running clock into effect in the fourth quarter.

Junior Amos Glenn was a workhorse in the backfield for Freeport. He finished with 25 carries for 130 yards and a touchdown. He added a 91-yard kickoff return for a score.

Quarterback Drew Ross added a pair of 2-yard scoring runs, and Owen Neistein and Braydon Pomaybo contributed TD runs as the Yellowjackets moved to 5-0 in their all-time series with the Quakers.

Wideout Sean Selinger caught two of Ross’s six completions for 51 yards.

“The kids were ready from the first snap on Saturday,” Gaillot said.

“The loss to Derry really stung because it wasn’t them. They didn’t play, in that game, the way they know they can. They had a chance to redeem themselves and make it right, and they took full advantage of it. I was really happy with how we played. There were a couple of letdowns in the kicking game, but the kids played hard. We’re a young team that is still learning and growing and getting better and better.”

Burk said Freeport’s talents and abilities, led by Glenn’s running, were on full display against Quaker Valley.

“(Glenn’s) a shifty kid,” Burk said. “We have to find a way to keep him contained. If he starts running wild, we’re going to have issues. (Selinger) is another kid we are well aware of, and Drew Ross, their quarterback, is a confident kid. He’s pretty athletic. They have some weapons, for sure.”

Deer Lakes has scored at least 28 points in all three games this season. There was no letdown after the big Week 1 victory over South Park as the Lancers scored first Friday, led Derry, 21-6, at halftime, and added on the second half.

Senior Zier Williams led the way with 145 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries, and senior quarterback Jake Fleischer threw for 75 yards and a touchdown to senior Zach Grant and ran eight times for 91 yards and a score.

Williams, in three games, has tallied 301 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 61 attempts.

“Overall, we played OK,” Burk said. “Derry was a lot better than I thought. They’re big, they’re young and they have talent. They gave us fits. They are a good football team, and they’re going to surprise some people. We were able to get out of there with the win, and now it’s on to Freeport.”

Burk said the heart and soul of the Deer Lakes defense, senior linebacker Sam Guthrie, is expected to return to the lineup Friday after missing the Derry game because of injury.

Gaillot said he’s impressed with what Deer Lakes has to offer as a challenge to his players.

“All aspects of their game are very good,” Gaillot said. “They are 3-0 for a reason. They have so many weapons. They can beat you with the run or the pass. They are very balanced. Zier is such a hard-nosed runner. Then they have two or three receivers out there and a quarterback who is playing with a lot of confidence.

“They have really turned their program around. I have all the respect in the world for them. It’s going to be a pretty tough task on Friday.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Deer Lakes, Freeport