THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

Welcome Back Freedom Football Fans,

RECAP:

Becahi came out real strong in the first bout of the Bethlehem showdown, scoring quick on a nice flew-flicker to put them up by a td. But that was all they had to offer. Freedom then put up 28 unanswered points behind Elliott who had a 40 yard run in the first quarter, followed by a 8 yard run in the second and then a 4 yarder in the third. The offense really came alive when it was called upon, pushing Beca around like rag dolls. Then Rosado capped it off in the forth quarter with a 27 yard run. This score honestly made the game look close, but if you were there you would know... we BLEW them out. The o-line played like champs and it showed with the domination we had on offense. And the defense played real well too, stopping LaLuz.

FREEDOM- 28

Becahi- 7

TBiZ Reportcard:
OFFENSE- A
DEFENSE- A-
SPECIAL TEAMS- A-

STUDENT SECTION- B+


TBiZ Player of the Week:
Eddie Elliott (169 yards and 3 tds, named Mcall Player of the Week)




For the Bethlehem Bowl:

Well it's the time of year Freedom, when we take on our most hated team in the LVC. On a cold afternoon where temperatures are predicted to be only in the upper 40's, we try to take down Liberty, something we haven't done since 2002. Now that's a hard statistic to swallow. Also we haven't won the city championship since 1987... ouch? But with how much we have struggled this year, wouldn't all be forgotten with a win today? You better believe that! I am so hyped for this game and I think the whole student body is right there with me. At the pep rally yesterday they played the highlights of the year and I think it really hit the team hard, knowing this is possibly the last time they may ever step on a football field. And I asked a bunch of my buddies on the team about this game, and the overall response was, "We're gonna remember this... forever."

LIBERTY:

The Canes come into this game on some what of a low note if you ask me, knowing they have no shot at getting into districts. Predicted winner Williamsport fell to Wyoming Valley West 28-7 yesterday, killing Liberty's hopes at a post-season birth. But will this change their "never lose to Freedom" attitude... I don't think so. They come into this game with a tough loss to Easton, 14-7, and out scoring their opponents 263-150. With a overall record of 5-4 and 4-4 in the LVC, Liberty is thinking this is going to be just another win to chalk up for the long lived rivalry in this city. The main player that we are going to have to watch for is Dante Holmes. He is an absolute monster on defense, leading the league in sacks. And if you were at the game last year, you would remember, he completely killed us.(#6) And their dual runningbacks are just as dangerous on offense, leading the league in yards per carry.

KEYS TO THE VICTORY:

OFFENSIVELY- We need to come out quick and early and put up 6 with Elliott. Liberty is the type of team if you hit them early, their going to fall back. But if you let them hit first, it can be a very long day.
DEFENSIVELY- We need to contain this "two headed monster" of a runningback crew. Because if we can stop them, then we will have no problem with their offense, due to their inconsistency in the pass game.

OVERALL-I would say the keys are to make holes for Elliott, maybe even have Giovarelli go off and have a great game. Or I can say our o-line needs to contain Holmes and not allow a sack, or say our defense can't let up serious runs by their dangerous runningbacks. But against Liberty I only have one thing to say, that is bigger than all the things I just listed... and that's play like it's your last game and play together. That's exactly how these kids are going to play because it will be the last time they step on that field together.


TBiZ Predicts:

With all this talk about us having no shot of beating Liberty, I think it's time to shut the critics up! Our team is going to come out this game playing for the person next to the other, because that's what Roeder has been preaching. This is going to be a hard fought game, a game that brings Bethlehem together, only to split them back apart. I see this game coming down to who has more heart and desire to bring the City Championship home, and that's going to be Freedom. We take this one in the fourth quarter and put up our helmets for one final time... TOGETHER... OUR WAY.


FREEDOM- 28
Liberty- 27


 

Battle for Bethlehem Begins

Welcome Back Freedom Football Fans,

RECAP:

Easton came out and put two touchdowns up early on Freedom and then it was a pretty slow game from their offensively. Freedom had their opportunities for sure, but Easton is a great team and stayed put when we challenged them in the red zone. And when we gave turnovers to Easton, they capitalized big time. In the second quarter it was a stand still ending up 21-0 by half time. We had our chances when Rosado picked off two passes and took one of them back to the 4 yard line, but nothing was doing. I thought as a team we looked much better compared to against Nazereth, but we still are struggling strongly on offense.

Easton- 28
FREEDOM- 0

TBiZ Reportcard:
OFFENSE- C
DEFENSE- B
SPECIAL TEAMS- B
STUDENT SECTION- F

TBiZ Player of the Week:
Angel Rosado (2 Ints)

Playing For Pride:

If anybody remembers last years meeting with Becahi, you would know it was the most disappointing loss of the year and possibly longer. We came in WAY to over confident on a cold Sunday afternoon and they took it to us... badly. But this is a new year and it's time for some revenge and what would be better then to get a much needed win in Bethlehem? In order to do so we are going to have to get some sort of passing game going, or else our run game will continue to struggle. You can go up against any team, good or bad, and if they know your going to run, they have a great chance of stopping you. The o-line is going to have to keep working hard to give Gio time, and Eddie is going to need to have a big day.

BECAHI:

Beca is coming into this game struggling and looking for a big win in Bethlehem to stop the bleeding... sound familiar? They have been out scored this year 251-129, losing a huge game to Liberty last week 42-0. They have a great runningback in Martin LaLuz, who is your player to watch. Over the summer he attempted to transfer to Freedom, but was unable to. He is truly their only threat on offense and Beca also has a solid linebacker core. We will have to stop the run game in order to bring a victory home.

Keys to the Victory:
OFFENSIVELY

The guys on the line are the key components here. Because we have by far the bigger, better guys up front and if we can get good push off the ball, our run game will finally take flight once again. The other factory is the pass game, if we can get a few completions early to show we can throw, we can set ourselves up to have a day.
DEFENSIVELY

We need to stop LaLuz early and efficiently. He's the kind of guy that if you let him go early and he breaks off some runs, he will be tough to contain for the rest of the game. He is big time down hill rusher. In order to stop him, it will be on the shoulders of our beat up linebackers, but I think with Santiago and others playing together, we can do it. 

OVERALL
We just need to go out there and understand that we are on the same level as Beca, whether we want to believe it or not. Do we have the better talent? You better believe it. But look what happened last year. So we need to stay confident, but not cocky because we have no right to and come out and give it to Beca and show them we are the BETTER team on their SENIOR NIGHT.

TBiZ Predicts:

I think we come out this game and play our hearts out and dig deep to end this season on a positive note in Bethlehem. I think Eddie has a big day behind our O-line and I think Rene comes out and has some big rushes as well. And we win this one for pride, because I agree with what Cecala says, "City games will last forever."

FREEDOM- 21
Becahi- 13

The Past is the Past

Welcome Freedom Football Fans,

RECAP:

Well it's been a tough week of school after witnessing our worst loss of the year against the Blue Eagles, none the less on homecoming. Freedom came out early and put up the first points of the game with an early field goal... but that's where our Patriot success ended. Then the Blue Eagles went to work. And they went to work hard. Nazereth put up 37 unanswered points with their stud running back Dibilio running all over our defense. If we went into half only down 10-3 maybe it would have kept some momentum on our sides. But when they made it 17-3, it definitely took some wind out of us. And then the rest was history, history Freedom doesn't want to revisit.

FREEDOM- 3

Nazereth- 37

TBiZ Reportcard:

OFFENSE- C

DEFENSE- C

SPECIAL TEAMS- B-

STUDENT SECTION- B-

TBiZ Player of the Week:

Chuck Dibilio

Lets Forget the Past

There's nothing we can do to change what happened the past 7 games, whether it was a a win or loss, it's over. The goal is now to go 3-0. And it starts with Easton. We as a team have been struggling very badly, on both sides of the ball. If we can find a way to get our run game back, we can win this game. And it starts up front with our senior line. Them as a group must put together a strong game tonight in order for us to win. And I think we can do so.

EASTON

This game is going to be a true test of character. Is this Rover team playing better then us? Yes, no question about it with a 6-1 record. Are they positively a better team? I don't believe so. The Rover team is an overall very good team though. With Pacchioli at quarterback and Joe Bisci at wide-reciever, that is their main offense. He will look for Bisci on most ever play and look for him to run some trick plays as well. And on defense... we go up against our fellow teammate, Mason McIntyre. Enough said there.
Keys to the Victory
OFFENSIVELY

We have to get back to having success on the ground. We really lost our threat there, possibly due to us having trouble throwing the ball. But this will have to change in order to beat a team like Easton.
DEFENSIVELY
We will have to contain Bisci, who is leading the league in receptions and receiving yards. And in order to do so we will have to get some pressure on Pacchioli.
OVERALL
We will have to play our best to win this one and I think it is definetely possible. We just have to play the way we know how to and do the basics well.

TBiZ Predicts:

This game is going to be a real tough one. Going into Easton is always really difficult and how hot they are doesn't make it an easier. But were going to hopefully come alive today and play for some pride an give it to the Rovers. I see this game for us as a win as a one point game, with us causing some turnovers to win, as long as we capitalize on them. LETS GO FREEDOM


FREEDOM- 21
Easton- 20

DO OR DIE

Hey FREEDOM FOOTBALL FANS

I'm trying a little something different tonight. Instead of making a big pregame blog, I'm going to have a big post-game one posted tomorrow. A lot to do with me being very busy this week with tons of homecoming stuff and I have a little superstition in me, so maybe this will bring the Patriots a victory. LETS GET NAZARETH TODAY AND WIN IT ON HOMECOMING... REMEMBER WE HAVE TO WIN OUT FOR PLAYOFFS, SO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT EVERY GAME.

TBIZ PREDICTS:

One name and one name only... Dibilio. If we can slow his run game down we will have a chance to start the persute of 4-0 for these next games, we need to take it one game at a time. Lets bring the W home for Homecoming.

FREEDOM-28
Nazereth- 27

LETS RUIN THEIR HOMECOMING

RECAP

Not much of a contest this past Friday. With Freedom destroying Dieruff just like every other team has done this year. I was happy with the way the offense ran, but it's tough to really tell if they are back to clicking considering they played a struggling Husky team. But I think they are and it will show in this upcoming match-up. Well Freedom came into the game off a tough loss, but were ready not to get upset. They went right to work with two huge runs in the first half by Rene and Elliott to put us up 14-0 into the second quarter. Then once again Elliott ran for another huge run paired with a Giovarelli throw & Alozie run. That put the Patriots up 35-0 into halftime. The third quarter was the only let down where our offense couldn't get it moving. But then brought it back for two scores to finish the game. One thing I was really upset about was the Student Section... It was horrible, NO ONE WAS THERE. We got to do better than that.

FREEDOM- 49
Dieruff- 0


TBiZ Reportcard:
OFFENSE- A-

DEFENSE- A
SPECIAL TEAMS- A-

STUDENT SECTION- F


TBiZ Player of the Week:
Sean Wrobel(7 extra points)




 Time To Buckle Down

Well Patriot fans half of our Freedom season is in the books. It's quite sad to hear it, but we only have 5 regular season games left. I REPEAT regular season games. But we have no right to look ahead past tonight. As we head up to Northampton tonight it looks to be a pretty nice night for some football. And this start the track of "Buckling Down" because this game is just as important as the rest. And you know what makes this game so much more fun to play in... it's Northampton's Homecoming! And that makes it so much more of a fun atmosphere to play in and it will also get the players ready to what we will definitly see down the road as far as packed houses come. I say we ruin their Homecoming with a big us getting a big W.
Northampton

The Konkrete Kids come into this game basically the same way we are... with a win over Allen. They are in the same position as we are win and stay in the race. They also have a great run game which is done very well against opposing defenses. So what all does this tell you? They are going to be playing very hard and be playing for their fans for Homecoming. Look for this Northampton football team to play fundamental football. They aren't going to put up a ton of points on you, but they sure aren't going to give you any free ones either. They have a great coach who has alot of confidence in his quarterback Patrick Cook to lead them to victory.
Keys to the Victory
OFFENSIVELY

We are going to need be able pass the ball in this one. As the season goes on more and more teams are going to stack the boxes with more people to stop our explosive run game that Freedom is really starting to build. Now does that mean don't run? No not all, we will have to throw the football to open up the run game so Elliott and company can run all over the field.
DEFENSIVELY
Tonight we are going to have to stop the run game that Northampton is know for. And that is the hard nose type of run game. We are going to have to make them run east and west. Not north and south which is what these Konkrete backs are very good at doing.
OVERALL

We need to stay within ourselves this game and try not to make to many big plays. Because we won't be able to get those back because Northampton is to smart of a team to allow many turnovers. But with Roeder and the crew back at work for this game, I think we should be able to show off our strong offense once again.

TBiZ Predicts:

This game is going to be won in the first quarter in my opinion. We have to come out tonight and show that we are the better team... which I believe we are and give it to them early. There's no need for us to even let them believe they can win this one with Homecoming tonight. I say Giovarelli has a great game tonight and we win this won by double digits.

FREEDOM- 28

Northampton- 17

Rain Gone... FREEDOM GAME ON

Recap

Well a huge heart breaking last week against Emmaus. If you were there... you would understand. Freedom came out very confident and strong driving well to put us up 14-7 with a few minutes left in the first half. Elliott was running well, despite not having his "plow" O'Donnell in front of him clearing up the defense. If O'Donnell or Santiago were in that game... I say it's a different outcome. But were not here to make excuses. None the less... with little time till the end of the half, the strong d-backs of Emmaus pick off Gio to make it 14-14. The first half went back and forth with good performances from both defenses, and then Freedom pinned the Hornets deep into their own 10. But Emmaus drove it all the way down for a TD. And the PAT was blocked! which left hope for our Pates, but our 2 minute drill was stopped short by another INT in the redzone.

FREEDOM- 14
Emmaus-20

TBiZ Reportcard:
OFFENSE- B-
DEFENSE- B
SPECIAL TEAMS- B+
STUDENT SECTION- B+

TBiZ Player of the Week:
Eddy Elliott(88 rushing yards and a td)

LETS GET BACK ON TRACK

With today's game at J. Birney Crum against Dieruff, we should be able to have a bounce back game. I know this sounds familiar... but I think it will work this time because Richard Karb assured me that Roeders going to have the starters play no matter what 3 Quarters to make sure they condition well to get ready for the tough 5 game stretch to end the season. I totally agree with this idea. Because if you think about Freedom has only played 1... Yes 1! meaningful 4th Quarter. And that is something you need to know how to play in if your going to make a run for the LVC.

DIERUFF

Now I don't want to overlook a game, because you should NEVER do so. But I think it's safe to say we are going to handle the Huskies very well. They are a program that has struggled for many years and this year is no different. Dieruff has been outscored this year 176 points to 6 points. Now that's a tough statistic to not overlook. I hear they have descent linebacker, but nothing that can stop our run game, we should run this Dieruff team that looks to try to get out of the deep basement of the LVC.
KEYS TO THE VICTORY
OFFENSIVELY

Run the ball. Plain and simple. I don't like to disrespect teams, that's not what I am here for. But we quite possibly could put up 300 yards rushing no problem as long as the starter are in there for a good portion, although I believe our back-ups would do quite well also.
DEFENSIVELY

With one of our linebackers(Santiago) back this week, we will have no problem stopping the low powered Dieruff offense. But we also can't have big heads either. If we don't let any big plays happen early, the air will deflate quickly, then we can produce those turnovers and keep the ball in the hands of our offense.



OVERALL
Just play together as a team. It shouldn't matter what team your going up against, always play together. And let's get that winning feeling back in our system for the second half of the season.

TBiZ Predicts:

This one is going to be an easy one. But it is also going to be a game of learning. We're going to have to get back to the fundamentals. We win this one by a ton, allowing our Patriots to get back on track and start having fun again.

FREEDOM-56
Dieruff- 6
 

Back to Reality

RECAP... AGAIN

I first want to start off by apologizing about not having a post-game for last week's win against Allen. I had created one, but apparently it had never posted. So I will recap it again quickly. Overall it was a easy game for our Patriots. The offense came out firing behind Lukas as he threw for 3 td's. The score was 41-0 at half, after domination on both sides of the ball, along with Freedom capitalizing on Allen's poor mistakes, it wasn't much of a contest. It was nice to see the back-ups be able to get a whole 16 minutes of Varsity football under their belts as well.
FREEDOM-48
Allen-21

Giovarelli chest bumps with Rosado

TBiZ Reportcard: 
OFFENSE- A
DEFENSE-A
SPECIAL TEAMS-A-
STUDENT SECTION- B+


TBiZ Player of the Week: 
Lukas Giovarelli


Back To Reality

As we return back to BASD Stadium for the second consecutive week, we go up against a much more difficult opponent. With Emmaus coming off a strong win over Parkland, they'll be plenty ready to try and continue their hunt as one of the top teams in the LVC. But I believe Freedom is thinking differently. It's truly back to battle in the extremely hard LVC, after last week's easy win, hopefully we'll bounce right back into full gear. I asked Decker (#83) what they have been going over in practice to take down an underrated Hornets team, he answered with, "We have been harping on reading our keys and doing our job.We can't go out of our way to try and make undisciplined plays and make mistakes, because a team like Emmaus will take advantage of it real quickly. I feel confident thought that our team is ready to get the job done."
THE HORNETS

Decker's statement couldn't have hit it on the nose any better. THEY WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MISTAKES. Emmaus is coming into this game with 6 interceptions in their past 2 games. Now that is impressive. So that means they have a solid line up front that will put pressure on opposing quarterbacks, along with a great set of dbacks to pick the ball off. Offensively they have a solid running game, and will also throw the ball with Nick Fick behind center who was named Western Lehigh Exchange Club's offensive MVP(2 rushing tds) not sure what that is or if it is even meaningful, but it's got to be worth something. And the Hornet's are coached by an enthusiastic Joe Bottiglieri. This Emmaus team is no push over.
KEYS TO THE VICTORY
OFFENSIVELY

Freedom has got to come into this game ready to play and ready to put up TD's. They basically had half a game last week, so they should be ready to rumble. Coming into this game Giovarelli is hot, but I believe us running the ball will win us this game. This is no knock on Lukas, because he's got what it takes to throw on Emmaus, but we are a run first team. And with the strong running game we have, if we can light up the Hornets for some quick big gains on the ground, it will open up the pass game nicely for Luke. Eddie Elliott is coming off a little injury, but he is back to full strength so he will be able to run hard like we all know he can.
DEFENSIVELY

Karb rushing the QB

We need to get lots of pressure on the quarterback(Fick). We struggled greatly against the scrambling quarterback in Nosovitch(Central's quarterback), but he is not nearly as good as that stud. If we can cause Fick to throw unwanted and rushed passes(he has been intercepted often), our secondary should do well.
OVERALL
Freedom needs to get past the problem of missing two starting linebackers(O'Donnell & Santiago). Also if we can keep our turnovers to a minimum and keep Emmaus's strong secondary from making any big plays, We should put ourselves in a great position to do very well in this LVC showdown.


TBiZ Predicts:

First Down

This is going to be a very close game the whole entire 32 minutes of football. I believe Freedom is going to have to keep possession of the ball and keep moving the chains consistently. With two teams that are very even in skill and caliber, the name of the game is TURNOVERS. And I believe Freedom will have less turnovers then Emmaus, and Freedom will capitalize on the Hornets. I see Freedom with a 2-1 LVC record after tonight.


FREEDOM: 24
Emmaus: 20