***Article by Josh Longstreth
The Freeland Falcons bounced back in a big way in week eight. They were able to cruise past Bay City John Glenn, 45-12. This week the Falcons would be right back at it taking on a very good Cros-Lex team. In one of the more anticipated matchups of week nine, this one would stand second to none.
Both teams have shown this season that their defenses can do big things and they both showed that amid a feeling out process early on in this one. That would lead to a scoreless first quarter but the fireworks would ensue short after.
Cros-Lex would be the first to notch points in this one when Braylon Day took one into the endzone from 3-yards out. This gave the Pioneers 7-0 lead after a quick scoring drive. It wouldn’t take long for Freeland to bounce back on a 14-yard touchdown run from Harvard commit, Sam Talaga. The extra point would be denied but this closed the gap to 6-7. The momentum would shift to Cros-Lex as they put together another impressive drive that was capped off when signal caller Gavin Espinosa connected with James Gumtow from 29-yards away. The Pioneers were feeling alright heading into the half with a 14-6 advantage.
The Pioneers continued to build on to that coming out of the half. Espinosa, this time, would do it himself as he would take the opening kickoff all the way back for a 95-yard touchdown. Cros-Lex would hold a 20-6 lead after the missed PAT to that point. Things would start out in nightmare fashion for the Falcons. Cros-Lex would strike again to take full command in the third. Bruising running back Belly Groppi did some damage on a 7-yard touchdown scamper to give his team a 26-6 lead. Groppi wasn’t done in the quarter. The next scoring drive for the Pioneers would take just one play, Groppi all the way to paydirt from 81-yards away. All Cros-Lex after three, 32-6.
Freeland would finally get a bit of a sigh of relief in the fourth quarter. Speedster Ty Fournier found his first score of the night on an 11-yard scamper. Falcons still with some work to do but the lead would be cut to 32-12. The Falcons decided to get busy in a hurry shortly after, Fournier again would give his team some life. He’d find his way right back into the endzone on a 37-yard run. All of a sudden we had an interesting one at 32-18, Pioneers. Freeland didn’t have much life early in the second half but would that change in a hurry here late. The Falcons would strike again. Talaga would do some work here on a 53-yard touchdown run. The two-point try would be good and we had ourselves a 32-26 ball game. If you didn’t think the comeback was on, now would have been a good time to second guess that. Freeland would creep a little closer here. Cros-Lex using some strategy late, would opt to intentionally take a safety to limit any hopes of a blocked punt. But this cut their lead to 32-28. If you didn’t hear the football game taking place in Freeland tonight, you surely would after this one. With just .48 seconds on the clock, the Falcons did some big time damage. Quarterback Jake Metiva would find Fournier, and he would do the rest. Fournier would take it all the way on a 95-yard house call. The Freeland defense wouldn’t allow any miracles from the Pioneers and Freeland, in an absolute stunner, comes back to knock off Cros-Lex 35-32.
This turned out to be a nightmare scenario for Cros-Lex. The Pioneers completely dominated much of this game until the final quarter. The loss will push them to 7-2 on the season. They’ll look to see if they can turn the page in a hurry as they are a team that could be in for a deep playoff run when districts start next week. Expect Espinosa and Groppi to get the Pioneers back on track next week.
Freeland will improve to 8-1 on the season after this thrilling win. The Falcons didn’t have much throughout three quarters but when you find something late that’s all that matters and it showed tonight. This is a Freeland team that has all the ability in the world to start the playoffs next week and make a long journey throughout November. Look for the Falcons to come out with a faster start next week.
