***Article by Josh Longstreth
The Freeland Falcons come into the 2023 playoffs making their 16th straight appearance. Coming in at 8-1 on the year after a thrilling finish to the regular season, Freeland has all the tools to make a deep playoff run. The Lake Fenton Blue Devils would look to pose a threat to the Falcons heading into the first round of the playoffs. Lake Fenton would head in at 6-3 and made their way through the season by facing four playoff teams that have real shots at making a run in the playoffs. This one would start and end with the Falcons controlling the game led by their ground game.
Lake Fenton would put together the first when Sophomore Camden Fray scored on a 1-yard dive. The drive consisted of 10 plays for 80 yards and the Blue Devils found themselves up 7-0. Freeland would bounce right back on a quick 2-play drive. Sam Talaga would score on an 8-yard run. After a successful two-point try the Falcons held an 8-7 lead. Talaga would reach the endzone again shortly after on a 7-yard run. Freeland would hold a 16-7 after another good two-point attempt and that’s where things would stand after one quarter of play.
The Falcons defense would get involved in the second quarter. This time Talaga would snag an interception that he would take all the way back from 37-yards away. Freeland had some big time momentum at this point with a 24-7 lead. Sam Talaga was a man possessed in this one. He would pick up his 4th touchdown of the first half, this time on a 1-yard run to put Lake Fenton on the ropes. It was all Falcons after one half of play, 32-7.
Freeland would strike first in the second half as Brayden Petre took one to the house from 41-yard away. Another good two-point try gave the Falcons a 40-7 advantage. They would hang on to that lead heading to the final quarter.
The Blue Devils were finally able to reach the endzone again in the final quarter. Bryce Fogle would find his way in on a 1-yard run that would cut the Freeland lead to 40-13. That’s as close as they would get. Freeland wins this one going away, 40-13.
The Freeland defense woke up after the first drive in this one. There wasn’t much that the Lake Fenton offense could get going for a majority of the game after they opened up the scoring. Freelands defense picked up 5 sacks on the night and was led by Ethan Fowler who had 2 of his own.
Freeland head coach Kevin Townsend said earlier in the week that he knew his team would have to get back to establishing their ground game if they were to be successful in this one. The Falcons did just that. The Freeland ground game racked up 335 yards on the ground led by Ty Fournier who ran for 102 yards. Sam Talaga finished with 75 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns (3 rushing, and 1 defensive). Brayden Petre helped out with 61 rushing yards of his own.
Freeland moves on with the chance to play for a district title next week. They will take on the Goodrich Martians who knocked off Freeland by one point in the district final last season. Goodrich finished the regular season at 8-1. The Martians knocked off Frankenmuth in week one and went on to have their only loss come at the hands of undefeated Corunna. The Goodrich defense has been stout all season aside from two games. Their offense posts 37.3 points per game. Freelands offense churns out 44.7 points per game and set the tone early in the playoffs. The defense has been solid all season. Something will have to give when these two teams meet with a title on the line next week. Freeland will look to exact some revenge that lingered from 2022.
