PUP football notebook: A buzz grows around Freeport, which is 4-0 for the first time in a decade

Drew Ross couldn’t have drawn up a much better start to Freeport’s season.

The Yellowjackets are 4-0 for the first time since 2015.

“I’d say it’s the team’s commitment,” said Ross, a senior quarterback-defensive back. “Everybody wants to be successful, and everybody is on the same page.”

So, a year after winning six of their final eight games and reaching the WPIAL quarterfinals, the Yellowjackets have turned the page and have been even better and appear to be one of the strongest teams in a loaded Class 3A.

It has been a perfect start for Freeport, which has won each of its games by at least 28 points and has given up only three touchdowns. The Yellowjackets have outscored opponents, 177-20, giving them the No. 4 scoring offense and No. 2 scoring defense in Class 3A. Against the same opponents the first four games last season, they went 2-2 with a scoring differential of 102-68.

“Our defense is very strong and our offense is scoring a lot more than last year,” Ross said. “Both sides of the ball are doing very well, but there’s obviously still room for improvement.”

Guided by veteran coach John Gaillot, who is in his 18th season, the Yellowjackets will look to keep improving when they take a 1-0 record in Allegheny 7 Conference play into Friday’s game at Burrell (1-3, 0-0).

Ross and senior running back Amos Glenn, close friends since they were just a few years old, give Freeport a terrific duo of playmakers. Ross is 36 of 48 for 411 yards and four touchdowns and has rushed for 205 yards and three touchdowns, while Glenn has rushed for 350 yards and has scored 10 total touchdowns.

“We have this bond,” Ross said. “We met at this preschool when we were 3 and have been friends ever since. He’s always been the running back, and I’ve always been the quarterback. Playing together for so long, we really trust each other.”

Senior Owen Neistein has been the top receiver, hauling in 10 passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns, and Ross praised the play of an offensive line that includes two all-conference players from a season ago in seniors Wade Potocnak and Cole Troutman.

Freeport had quite the all-around performance in last week’s 58-7 win against Deer Lakes. In that game, the Yellowjackets scored four touchdowns on offense, two on defense and two on special teams in addition to registering a safety. Junior Danny King had two pick-6’s while junior Bryson Paga returned a blocked punt for a touchdown and Glenn a punt for a touchdown.

“I think we scored in every way possible,” Ross said.

Senior Dawson Gaillot (nephew of the coach) leads the team with 27 tackles and is tied with King for the team lead with two interceptions.

Ross said there’s a growing buzz around the community and that it has translated to some large crowds early this season. Freeport has never won a WPIAL title, but just three seasons ago the Yellowjackets captured a conference title and advanced to the WPIAL semifinals. Some big tests are ahead — Freeport hosts No. 5 Hopewell on Oct. 10 and travels to No. 2 Imani Christian for the regular-season finale on Oct. 24 —  but Ross said he likes where his team is headed.

“I think we’re in for a great year,” he said. “And come the playoffs, I think we’ll go far. I believe in that 100%.” 

Ringgold on the rise

Ringgold hasn’t had much to celebrate on the football field in recent years. The Rams are just a season removed from snapping a 27-game losing streak and have not finished with a winning record since 2016. But the Rams have shown lots of life this season, and very well could be on the rise under second-year coach Robert Heller.

Ringgold (3-1) is off to its best start since also starting 3-1 in 2016. The Rams went on to finish 8-3 and reach the WPIAL Class 4A semifinals that season but have not finished with more than three wins in a season since. A big reason for the improvement has been the play of an offense that has taken huge strides. Ringgold leads Class 4A in scoring with 38.7 points per game, this after finishing last in 2023 (9.4 ppg) and next to last a season ago (11.2 ppg).

The Rams have been paced by senior running back Amoni Ward, junior quarterback Dennis Hawkins and junior wide receiver Demetri Lowe. In last week’s 33-13 win at Greensburg Salem, Ward collected 261 total yards (163 rushing, 98 receiving) and two touchdowns, Hawkins passed for 220 yards and three touchdowns, and Lowe had six catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns.

Ringgold closes non-conference play Friday with a big matchup at unbeaten Southmoreland (4-0). The Scotties won at Ringgold, 32-15, a season ago. The Rams then host Trinity (1-3) to open Big Six Conference action next week.

Sieg nears records

Breaking records is nothing new for Fort Cherry senior Matt Sieg, who has been smashing them throughout his career. But the Penn State-bound quarterback-defensive back is now on the doorstep of two major WPIAL career records.

Sieg is nearing WPIAL records for touchdowns and total yardage. One record will likely fall Friday and the other could crumble by month’s end. Sieg has scored 115 touchdowns in his career (109 rushing, 4 punt return, 2 interception return), putting him two shy of the record of 117 jointly held by former Clairton stars Tyler Boyd and Lamont Wade. Sieg has also collected 11,060 career total yards (6,440 rushing, 4,620 passing), meaning that another 500 will break the record held by former Sto-Rox star Lenny Williams, who amassed 11,559.

Fort Cherry (4-0), the two-time defending WPIAL Class 1A champion, hosts Monessen (4-0) Friday before hosting Burgettstown (1-2) next week. Sieg has attempted only 23 passes and has just 20 carries across four games as Fort Cherry has spread the ball around in four lopsided wins. But that hasn’t stopped Sieg from accounting for 14 touchdowns. He has completed 15 of 23 passes for 389 yards and eight touchdowns, has 20 carries for 256 yards and five touchdowns, and has also returned an interception for a touchdown.

Cox playing … and excelling

New Castle sophomore Kai Cox received an FBS football offer despite not even playing the sport his freshman year. But Cox is playing this season, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if his outstanding play leads to more offers.

Cox is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound wide receiver-defensive back who has helped New Castle to a 3-1 start in what is his first season of high school football. Cox leads the team in receiving with 11 catches for 218 yards and two touchdowns and returned two punts for touchdowns in last week’s 53-0 win against Yough.

Akron offered Cox in January despite Cox not playing the sport his freshman season. Cox had starred in youth leagues through his eighth grade season, but said he chose not to play last year in order to concentrate on basketball. Cox was an all-section player in basketball, averaging 17.1 points per game for a team that reached the WPIAL Class 6A title game.