Saturday night was special for Freedom, QB
Freedom football coach Jason Roeder challenged his players prior to Saturday night’s game against Easton.
“We told them this is your first shot at one of those special games and their first shot at having a special night as a team,” Roeder said.
The Patriots went out and showed they could be special, with a 21-10 win over the state-ranked Red Rovers, rallying from a 10-0 deficit in the process.
Junior quarterback Brian Taylor threw three TDpasses on three consecutive possessions, getting a 23-yard strike to Owen Johnson-McCormick before halftime, and then a pair of scores to AJ Fletcher in the third period.
The rest of the night belonged to the Freedom defense, which held Easton scoreless over the game’s final 35 minutes and kept star Red Rover running back Nahjee Adams from dominating.
But perhaps most encouraging was the play of Taylor, who was just 1-for-7 passing at the outset, but finished 7-for17 for 134 yards, three scores and no interceptions.
He was the biggest question mark entering the season for a Freedom program that had gone 29-10 over three seasons and won the 2018 District 11 6A title with Jared Jenkins at quarterback.
It was just one game, but Taylor showed the poise and arm of someone who can maintain the Patriots lineage at quarterback, which saw Joe Young throw a combined 26 TDpasses in 201516 and then Jenkins toss 73 touchdown passes over the past three seasons.
“Brian is like the other guys in that he’s even-keeled,” Roeder said. “They don’t get flustered. You preach playing four quarters. You preach riding the ups
and downs of an Easton-Freedom football game. For him to actually to go out and do it as a young, teenage kid is not easy, but he went out and did it.”
Taylor credited his receivers for making the plays and for the offensive line to give him a chance to make the throws against a strong Easton defense that allowed just 142 yards in total offense against Liberty the previous week.
“We started off slow, but we kept it going and we fought and fought,” Taylor said. “My teammates did it all tonight. I was confident in my receivers. I just put the ball there and leave it up to them to make a play.”
The offensive line, featuring four returning starters, was supposed to be the strength of the Patriots team and center Marcus Kreidler, guards Frank Cierech, Juan Feliciano and Matt Bogardo and tackles Jacob Schwind and Braelin Moore.
“With the running backs we have and those guys up front, we have to be able to run the ball,” Roeder said. “Easton plays such good run defense, but you always want to be balanced and Brian was able make some big throws and the receivers made some big catches.”
Taylor and the Freedom offense will be challenged Friday night at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium by a Nazareth defense that has carried the Blue Eagles to a 3-0 start. That game figures to be the marquee matchup in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference this weekend.
It’s part of a quirky five-game regular-season schedule for the Patriots that has all five EPC games at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium, even though Easton was technically the home team Saturday night.
“We love being in the game of the week,” Roeder said. “We love having all of the media here and being on the big stage. We’re getting used to it, we’re getting spoiled by it, but we work hard day-by-day to have that opportunity.”
Central shutout
After a two-week break due to a positive coronavirus test, Allentown Central Catholic was back in action Saturday night at J. Birney Crum Stadium and enjoyed its return with a 41-0 win over Allen.
Matt Rauscher threw for 144 yards and three touchdowns and the Vikings had 300 yards rushing in improving to 2-1. Jayden Williams led the ground game with 158 yards and a TD and Leroy Johnson chipped in 73 yards and two scores.
Junior Josh Wynn had three catches for 100 yards and had a 78-yard touchdown reception. Seniors Jack McGorry and Tyler Schifko also had TD receptions.
The Canaries were limited to 75 yards of offense with Jon Marks going 5-for-14 in the air for 38 yards, and Martin Gambino-Amir ran for 37 yards.
Allen will play another Thursday night game this week, visiting Whitehall.
The Vikings have another Saturday night game at Crum Stadium and it’s the biggest one they’ll play in the EPC Lehigh County Division, as they take on Emmaus.
The Green Hornets are 2-0 and outscored Allen and Dieruff 121-0. Emmaus coach Harold Fairclough knows it won’t be nearly that easy against his alma mater and the program he used to lead.
“We know that’s a great program over there,” Fairclough said. “They’re well-coached and it’s going to be a big step up in competition, ability and everything else. Our kids work hard all year round and we’re just happy they get an opportunity to play. We’re playing, we’re practicing. We’re having a good time with it.”