#5 Freedom (8-4)
Passing: Joe Young: 123-228, 1,575 yards, 14 TDs, 5 INTs
Rushing: Cyrus Thompson: 86 carries, 644 yards, 12 TDs
Receiving: Alec Huertas: 45 catches, 621 yards, 8 TDs
Tackles: Brady Hornbaker: 57 tackles
Sacks: Evan Callahan: 5.5 sacks
Interceptions: Jamal Williamson: 5 INTs
All Conference: Joe Young (QB – 1st), Tijir Bleam (OL – 1st), DeShawn Polk (DL – 1st), Brady Hornbaker (LB – 1st, TE – 2nd), Alec Huertas (DB – 1st, WR – 2nd), Aaron Bowden (OL – 2nd), Jake Petro (DB – 2nd), Steven Rold (P – 2nd)
District Championships: 0
District Finals: 1 (2008)
#3 Parkland (9-3)
Passing: Michael Ruisch: 84-167, 1,147 yards, 9 TDs, 5 INTs
Rushing: Nick Suriel: 1,052 yards, 9 TDs
Receiving: Zach Bross: 28 catches, 373 yards, 2 TDs
Tackles: Jahan Worth – 136 tackles
Sacks: DJ Hohman – 12.5 sacks
Interceptions: Zach Bross: 3 interceptions
Conference Awards: Jahan Worth (Defensive Player of the Year)
All Conference: Jahan Worth (FB/LB – 1st), Patrick Ferry (OL – 1st), DJ Hohman (DL – 1st)
District Championships: 8 (1996, 1998, 2002, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
District Finals: 11 (1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
Last Meeting
Parkland shut out Freedom, 17-0, in a September 23rd win. The Trojans held Freedom to 7 rushing yards on 20 carries, forced 5 turnovers, recorded 5 sacks, and yielded just 3.3 yards per play. Freedom only ran four plays in the first quarter, an incompletion, and interception, and two negative rushes, and Parkland led 10-0 through the first stanza. Freedom drove inside the five early in the second half, but Alec Huertas fumbled in the end zone, and Parkland drove the length of the field to put the game out of reach at 17-0.
Parkland scored on Nick Suriel ran for 103 yards, Michael Ruisch threw for 118 and a TD and completed passes to 8 different receivers. For Freedom, Joe Young finished 19-32 for 169 yards and 2 INTs, and rushed for -20 yards, while 1,000 yard rusher DeShaun Peterson was held to 10 yards on 10 carries.
Freedom Offense
The Patriot offense has been clicking on all cylinders in the playoffs, despite the suspension of EPC leading rusher DeShaun Peterson. Peterson ran for 1,052 yards through the first nine games of the season, but due to disciplinary issues, is no longer with the Freedom football team as of the regular season finale. In his place, Cyrus Thompson has run wild. The 5’8 senior has rushed for 148, 156, and 196 yards in his three starts, and scored 10 TDs in three games. Freedom’s offensive line is much improved in the back half of the season, led by all conference center Tijir Bleam. They have size in Bleam (6’4 260) and tackles Aaron Bowden (6’3 285) and Jaquan Swint (6’3 250) and smaller mobile guard (Hakeem Strickland at 5’8 195 is the smallest starting lineman in the conference, then Joseph Figueroa is 5’10 220). They’ve jelled recently, opening holes for Thompson and keeping quarterback Joe Young upright. Young is the most talented passer in the Lehigh Valley and this could be a showcase. He’s 6’4 205, plus athlete who throws a great ball. He’s being recruited by Patriot League and Ivy League schools (his brother is a wide receiver at Columbia). He’s got a solid receiving corps, led by Alec Huertas, a second team all league pick who is a tremendous athlete and all around receiver. They’re run first, but like to attack over the top when defenses get aggressive. They also will run tons of bubble screens to Huertas, with 6’4 Jamal Williamson stretching the field in case teams start to jump the buble throw.
Parkland Defense
The Trojans have the best defense in the Lehigh Valley. Only Bethlehem Catholic and Emmaus have scored more than 14 points against the Parkland this season, and they have pitched four shutouts and held playoff opponents to 14 points in two games. They’re led by EPC Defensive Player of the Year Jahan Worth, a terror at middle linebacker who already has 136 tackles on the season. He’s 6’1 225, runs a 4.6, and won a state title in powerlifting. He’s an FBS caliber linebacker who is absolutely everywhere (PCL fans may remember his two-sack performance as a defensive tackle last season against LaSalle. He also led Parkland in tackles during the state title game as a sophomore). The other key cogs are defensive ends DJ Hohman and Palmer Kerch, who have combined for 18 sacks. Hohman led the conference in sacks and was the runner up in DPOY voting to his teammate Worth. They’re both slightly undersized (205 and 215) but fly off the ball and have a tendency to run circles around bigger offensive tackles. The whole unit really flies to the football, reminiscient of Tim Moncman’s best defenses at Liberty in the mid-2000s (monster middle linebacker surrounded by really good role players who do their job and swarm to the ball).
Parkland Offense
The Trojans have been more adept at passing the ball in recent weeks with the health and maturation of junior quarterback Michael Ruisch. He threw for a career high 183 yards and 3 touchdowns last week against Easton. But this is a run first unit led by a nasty offensive line. Left tackle Patrick Ferry is a 6’3 315 pound three year starter who can bury guys in run-blocking. They’re not as big in the middle (215-220-240) then have Kobe Thomas at 6’4 275 at right tackle. It’s been an injury riddled line, with Ferry and Thomas missing time during the year, but they’re healthy and firing on all cylinders right now. They block for a pair of excellent backs in Worth and Nick Suriel. Suriel is a 1,000 yard rusher, who is averaging 110 yards and 2 touchdowns in playoff games. Worth was the first team all conference fullback, and while he is used more sparingly on offense to save his energy for his linebacker duties, he averages 7 yards per carry and averages 142 yards per game when he gets at least ten carries. I’d expect his role to increase as the playoffs go on.
Freedom Defense
Jason Roeder gets a lot of credit for switching to a 3-3-5 that has fueled their revival as a program. The defense is designed to stop spreads, by putting an extra defensive back on the field and allowing more fast athletes to cover in space. Where they’ve had trouble is physical run teams (Easton has had their number, for instance) and Parkland certainly is that. They’re led defensively by middle linebacker Brady Hornbaker, who was the EPC Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 and leds Freedom in tackles again. He’s a run stopper, and his collisions with Worth will be old school, violent football. On the line, DeShawn Polk and Bleam give them big bodies in the trenches to take on the Parkland line, then pass rusher Evan Callahan (a Harvard wrestling recruit) leads the team in sacks from his weakside end spot. The secondary is solid, with Huertas being the best defensive back in the conference.
Prediction
Before the season started, I thought Freedom was the favorite. They returned the best quarterback and a ton of experience from teams that made the playoffs in back-to-back years. After a rough start, they’ve rounded into form. Parkland has been the most consistent team in the Valley, and probably has the best player in Worth. Their experience is really hard to bet against, and they have such a culture and expectation of winning. However, I think this is going to be Joe Young’s night to shine. The previous two seasons have been ended early by injuries, so he’s never really shown his stuff in the playoffs. The weather is supposed to be good, and I think he puts the ball in the air early and often and shows us why he’s the best quarterback in District 11. Freedom 21-14.
Passing: Joe Young: 123-228, 1,575 yards, 14 TDs, 5 INTs
Rushing: Cyrus Thompson: 86 carries, 644 yards, 12 TDs
Receiving: Alec Huertas: 45 catches, 621 yards, 8 TDs
Tackles: Brady Hornbaker: 57 tackles
Sacks: Evan Callahan: 5.5 sacks
Interceptions: Jamal Williamson: 5 INTs
All Conference: Joe Young (QB – 1st), Tijir Bleam (OL – 1st), DeShawn Polk (DL – 1st), Brady Hornbaker (LB – 1st, TE – 2nd), Alec Huertas (DB – 1st, WR – 2nd), Aaron Bowden (OL – 2nd), Jake Petro (DB – 2nd), Steven Rold (P – 2nd)
District Championships: 0
District Finals: 1 (2008)
#3 Parkland (9-3)
Passing: Michael Ruisch: 84-167, 1,147 yards, 9 TDs, 5 INTs
Rushing: Nick Suriel: 1,052 yards, 9 TDs
Receiving: Zach Bross: 28 catches, 373 yards, 2 TDs
Tackles: Jahan Worth – 136 tackles
Sacks: DJ Hohman – 12.5 sacks
Interceptions: Zach Bross: 3 interceptions
Conference Awards: Jahan Worth (Defensive Player of the Year)
All Conference: Jahan Worth (FB/LB – 1st), Patrick Ferry (OL – 1st), DJ Hohman (DL – 1st)
District Championships: 8 (1996, 1998, 2002, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
District Finals: 11 (1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
Last Meeting
Parkland shut out Freedom, 17-0, in a September 23rd win. The Trojans held Freedom to 7 rushing yards on 20 carries, forced 5 turnovers, recorded 5 sacks, and yielded just 3.3 yards per play. Freedom only ran four plays in the first quarter, an incompletion, and interception, and two negative rushes, and Parkland led 10-0 through the first stanza. Freedom drove inside the five early in the second half, but Alec Huertas fumbled in the end zone, and Parkland drove the length of the field to put the game out of reach at 17-0.
Parkland scored on Nick Suriel ran for 103 yards, Michael Ruisch threw for 118 and a TD and completed passes to 8 different receivers. For Freedom, Joe Young finished 19-32 for 169 yards and 2 INTs, and rushed for -20 yards, while 1,000 yard rusher DeShaun Peterson was held to 10 yards on 10 carries.
Freedom Offense
The Patriot offense has been clicking on all cylinders in the playoffs, despite the suspension of EPC leading rusher DeShaun Peterson. Peterson ran for 1,052 yards through the first nine games of the season, but due to disciplinary issues, is no longer with the Freedom football team as of the regular season finale. In his place, Cyrus Thompson has run wild. The 5’8 senior has rushed for 148, 156, and 196 yards in his three starts, and scored 10 TDs in three games. Freedom’s offensive line is much improved in the back half of the season, led by all conference center Tijir Bleam. They have size in Bleam (6’4 260) and tackles Aaron Bowden (6’3 285) and Jaquan Swint (6’3 250) and smaller mobile guard (Hakeem Strickland at 5’8 195 is the smallest starting lineman in the conference, then Joseph Figueroa is 5’10 220). They’ve jelled recently, opening holes for Thompson and keeping quarterback Joe Young upright. Young is the most talented passer in the Lehigh Valley and this could be a showcase. He’s 6’4 205, plus athlete who throws a great ball. He’s being recruited by Patriot League and Ivy League schools (his brother is a wide receiver at Columbia). He’s got a solid receiving corps, led by Alec Huertas, a second team all league pick who is a tremendous athlete and all around receiver. They’re run first, but like to attack over the top when defenses get aggressive. They also will run tons of bubble screens to Huertas, with 6’4 Jamal Williamson stretching the field in case teams start to jump the buble throw.
Parkland Defense
The Trojans have the best defense in the Lehigh Valley. Only Bethlehem Catholic and Emmaus have scored more than 14 points against the Parkland this season, and they have pitched four shutouts and held playoff opponents to 14 points in two games. They’re led by EPC Defensive Player of the Year Jahan Worth, a terror at middle linebacker who already has 136 tackles on the season. He’s 6’1 225, runs a 4.6, and won a state title in powerlifting. He’s an FBS caliber linebacker who is absolutely everywhere (PCL fans may remember his two-sack performance as a defensive tackle last season against LaSalle. He also led Parkland in tackles during the state title game as a sophomore). The other key cogs are defensive ends DJ Hohman and Palmer Kerch, who have combined for 18 sacks. Hohman led the conference in sacks and was the runner up in DPOY voting to his teammate Worth. They’re both slightly undersized (205 and 215) but fly off the ball and have a tendency to run circles around bigger offensive tackles. The whole unit really flies to the football, reminiscient of Tim Moncman’s best defenses at Liberty in the mid-2000s (monster middle linebacker surrounded by really good role players who do their job and swarm to the ball).
Parkland Offense
The Trojans have been more adept at passing the ball in recent weeks with the health and maturation of junior quarterback Michael Ruisch. He threw for a career high 183 yards and 3 touchdowns last week against Easton. But this is a run first unit led by a nasty offensive line. Left tackle Patrick Ferry is a 6’3 315 pound three year starter who can bury guys in run-blocking. They’re not as big in the middle (215-220-240) then have Kobe Thomas at 6’4 275 at right tackle. It’s been an injury riddled line, with Ferry and Thomas missing time during the year, but they’re healthy and firing on all cylinders right now. They block for a pair of excellent backs in Worth and Nick Suriel. Suriel is a 1,000 yard rusher, who is averaging 110 yards and 2 touchdowns in playoff games. Worth was the first team all conference fullback, and while he is used more sparingly on offense to save his energy for his linebacker duties, he averages 7 yards per carry and averages 142 yards per game when he gets at least ten carries. I’d expect his role to increase as the playoffs go on.
Freedom Defense
Jason Roeder gets a lot of credit for switching to a 3-3-5 that has fueled their revival as a program. The defense is designed to stop spreads, by putting an extra defensive back on the field and allowing more fast athletes to cover in space. Where they’ve had trouble is physical run teams (Easton has had their number, for instance) and Parkland certainly is that. They’re led defensively by middle linebacker Brady Hornbaker, who was the EPC Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 and leds Freedom in tackles again. He’s a run stopper, and his collisions with Worth will be old school, violent football. On the line, DeShawn Polk and Bleam give them big bodies in the trenches to take on the Parkland line, then pass rusher Evan Callahan (a Harvard wrestling recruit) leads the team in sacks from his weakside end spot. The secondary is solid, with Huertas being the best defensive back in the conference.
Prediction
Before the season started, I thought Freedom was the favorite. They returned the best quarterback and a ton of experience from teams that made the playoffs in back-to-back years. After a rough start, they’ve rounded into form. Parkland has been the most consistent team in the Valley, and probably has the best player in Worth. Their experience is really hard to bet against, and they have such a culture and expectation of winning. However, I think this is going to be Joe Young’s night to shine. The previous two seasons have been ended early by injuries, so he’s never really shown his stuff in the playoffs. The weather is supposed to be good, and I think he puts the ball in the air early and often and shows us why he’s the best quarterback in District 11. Freedom 21-14.
