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Bethlehem Freedom stays unbeaten with quick strike efficiency against East Stroudsburg South

Tagged under: District 11, Gameday Hub, News, pfn

| September 28, 2024

Freedom’s quick strikes capabilities doom East Stroudsburg South in EPC showdown.

EAST STROUDSBURG- The Freedom Patriots only ran 16 plays on offense Friday night at Ed Christian Memorial Stadium, also known as the “Purple Pit”, but the Patriots made the most of their opportunities, scoring five times en route to a convincing 40-14 victory over the Cavaliers before a packed house despite off and on rain showers throughout the contest.

The Patriots wasted little time on the opening drive as Amare DuBoise was on the receiving end of a 46 yard pass play from quarterback Chase Walker to setup the visitors inside the 15 yard line, from the DuBoise made a sliding six yard reception in the end zone giving Freedom a 7-0 lead with 9:46 left in the quarter after Nathan Stannard connecting on the point-after.

On the Cavaliers first drive, they went three-and-out and a blocked punt by Freedom’s Welmans Joseph gave the Patriots the ball at the East Stroudsburg 20. Running back Aaron Beete proceeded to move the ball inside the five. Walker capped off the drive with a one dive dive and making the score 14-0 with 7:07 left in the quarter.

It took just one play on Freedom’s next possession as Walker connected with a wide open Xavier DeJesus for a 64 yard score, this time the PAT was no good making the score 20-0 still in the first quarter. Walker threw for 232 yards on the night and with the two touchdowns brought his season total to 13. He has thrown over 1,200 yards in the six games and topping the 220-yard mark for the fifth time in 2014.

“When you have the type of offense we do it is fun playing with these guys. I have so many options in the passing game and the line is giving me great protection to find these dudes open.” Walker stated

The Cavaliers did manage to move the ball consistently on the Patriot defense throughout the game, but could not capitalize on scoring opportunities in the red zone as the East Stroudsburg South offense racked up 377 yards but had three key turnovers at crucial times to thwart the efforts to put points on the board. Besides the blocked punt, Freedom blocked a field goal chance right before half and a failed fourth down attempt stopped any momentum the home team had in the first twenty-four minutes.

Freedom scored twice more in the second quarter as running back Aaron Beete cashed in a score from six yards out at the 9:26 mark of the quarter and teammate Rodney Vazquez dove in from eight yards out with under four minutes left before intermission to make 33-0 at the half.

Beete rushed eleven times for 133 yards on the night for Freedom while DuBoise was the leading receiver with 85 yards on just three receptions on the one touchdown.

The Cavaliers did manage two second half touchdowns by running back Charles Capers who rushed for over 150 yards on the night. Capers now has 14 touchdowns on the season and averaged ten yards per carry Friday night. Quarterback Ivan Laubach completed 11-of-17 passes for 164 yards and gained an additional 48 yards on the ground.

Lashawn Johnson closed out the scoring for Freedom on a four yard score. The Patriots are now 6-0 for first time in six seasons and Coach Jason Roeder feels this may be his most talented teams in his tenure at the Bethlehem school.

Freedom (6-0) will host one of their city rivals in Bethlehem Catholic (4-2) next week at BASD Stadium. The Golden Hawks dropped Pocono Mountain East Friday 41-7. East Stroudsburg South (4-2) will be back at home next Friday against Pocono Mountain East (0-6)

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