Late fumble recovery helps Freedom hold off Burgettstown

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, November 9, 2018 | 11:21 PM

Freedom linebacker Cody Ross saw the football rolling on the ground just in front on him, and, after a moment of disbelief, his instincts took over.

“I felt like my eyes were as big as the sun,” Ross said. “I saw that ball laying there, and I said to myself that I had to get it. We weren’t losing tonight.”

With Burgettstown driving to setup a potential winning field goal in the final minute-and-a-half of regulation, a miscommunication between quarterback Jake Lounder and running back Cycle Conley led to a fumble, and Ross was there to pounce on it.

It was the final signature moment in a night of defense, and No. 7 Freedom held on to top No. 2 Burgettstown, 7-6, in the WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinals Friday night at Central Valley.

Ross scored the lone touchdown on a 1-yard run on fourth-and-goal on the opening possession of the game.

“We have a great senior group,” Ross said. “They lead by example. I couldn’t ask for a better group to lead this team with. We’re going to celebrate tonight. That was one heck of a game. Everyone was on their feet. It was 7-6. I mean, what more can you ask for?”

The Bulldogs (11-1) advanced to the semifinals for the first time in 15 years and will play No. 3 Steel Valley next Friday at a site and time to be announced. Burgettstown, which saw its bid to reach the semifinals for the first time since 1977 fall short, finished 10-1.

The Blue Devils had one last opportunity from their own 38 with 48 seconds remaining, but four straight incompletions — the last on a deflected pass that Seth Phillis caught out of bounds — ended their hopes.

Freedom interim coach John Rosa said he was proud of the way his team rallied. They are one win away from making the first WPIAL finals appearance in program history.

“These kids have gone through a lot of adversity,” Rosa said. “They’ve had four head coaches in four years, and two of them left midseason. We’ve had some ups and downs with these kids, but they are very mature. They are a band of brothers, and I’m proud of them.

“We have to keep our eye on the prize. They did that tonight, and, hopefully, they can do that again next week.”

Burgettstown already had two field goals from Phillis — one from 20 yards in the first and the other from 36 yards against a strong wind in the second — before it started the drive that ended in the fumble late in the fourth. The Blue Devils drove from their own 20 and got assistance from a roughing-the-passer penalty on a fourth down from their own 42.

The fumble, however, negated an opportunity for Phillis to cap a memorable game. Aside from his two field goals, he intercepted a pass, caught a 39 yard reception and had two kickoffs for touchbacks.

“We knew we needed to get a bit closer to give Seth Phillis another shot (at a field goal), and, unfortunately, we had a miscommunication, and the ball bounced out,” Burgettstown coach Mark Druga said. “No finger pointing though. We had some other opportunities that we didn’t execute.”

Another miscue, a holding penalty in the third quarter, negated a 51-yard touchdown run for Phillis on an end around.

Freedom held an opponent without a touchdown for the fourth time this season and held a team to seven or fewer points for the eighth time. It was the ninth time this season Burgettstown held an opponent to seven or fewer points.

“Hats off to Burgettstown. They proved their worth being undefeated and all, but tonight we showed we can compete with anyone in the WPIAL no matter who we are put up against,” Ross said. “I’m proud of my guys. They worked their tails off. Burgettstown was ranked the No. 1 defense, but I think tonight we showed that we are No. 1.”

Jake Pail had 132 yards on 23 carries for the Bulldogs. Lounder finished with 125 yards on 19 carries for Burgettstown.

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer.

Tags: Burgettstown, Freedom