The Friday night lights shine in the night sky as you watch your school’s football team put their all into winning the game. As the time goes on, the game gets more intense and both teams pick up the pace. You’re now on the edge of your seat as you wait for the time to go by. With only minutes left you watch the quarterback throw a pass. The receiver makes their way down the field and they have just scored a touchdown. The crowd goes wild and cheering fills the stadium.

The Freedom Bulldogs have put up a record of 5-3, which is better than many of their past seasons. After the team’s September games, the season started off very strong. Their record was 4-1 after the game on Sept. 22.
The team played the Riverside Panthers on Sept. 29. In the first quarter, junior Noah Yeck scored the first touchdown and Senior Carson Gilarno made the extra point setting a lead of 7-0 early in the game.

The fourth quarter was the most difficult for the Bulldogs because of the aggression between both teams. Flags were continuously thrown as the game drew to a close and many arguments were voiced between the bulldogs and panthers. With less than two minutes in the game left, junior Zachary Rosa got ejected from the game due to unsportsmanlike conduct leaving Freedom without their starting quarterback.
Freshman Cole Beck would become the starting quarterback for the Bulldogs while Rosa was suspended.

On Oct. 17 the team played the South Side Rams. This was the homecoming game which brought a large crowd and made a win important to the Bulldogs.

“I knew that my teammates had my back and that they would do their best for me and that I would do my best for them,” Beck said.

Beck explained that during the game he was confident because the offensive line played well and that the plays were made more simple for him.

The Bulldogs beat the Rams that night with a score of 21-14 making their record 5-2. However, since the game ended, Rosa would start as quarterback the next game.

“Now that Zach is back practices will return back to normal,” Beck said. With few section games left the Bulldogs would have to avoid any conflicts such as Rosa’s suspension.

“My goal is to possibly be playing in that position next year as an actual starter,” Beck explained.  

With Rosa back for the Bulldogs, the team played the Mohawk Warriors on Oct. 13. The line-up was back to normal and all of the original tactics were exercised. During the beginning of the game, both teams gained points however, Mohawk managed to gain an keep a lead. With this defeat, the Bulldogs would need to prepare for their next game against Neshannock.

During the game against Neshannock on Oct. 20, the Bulldogs not only faced defeat, they lost two of their skill players. Rosa, the starting quarterback and Kyle Bormann, the starting running back are both out with knee injuries. The Bulldogs still have a high mountain to climb and with these injuries, the season would change compared to the beginning.