Freedom High football team blanks Liberty in Bethlehem battle

Jason Roeder sent Jake Young a text early this week.

The message conveyed from coach to player was simple expect to see the ball a lot against Liberty.

Freedom called Young's number on its first play from scrimmage Saturday. The senior all-purpose threat turned a pass from Jonah Gundrum into a 39-yard gain.

Whether making a touchdown-saving tackle, punting or snagging passes, Young continued hurting the Hurricanes all afternoon. He finished with 236 yards from scrimmage and caught two touchdown passes to lead Freedom to a 29-0 thumping of rival Liberty at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium.

By winning its final EPC South Division game, Freedom (8-2 overall, 6-2 South) secured a home game for the Districts 2-11 Class 4A subregional playoffs. The fourth-seeded Patriots will host No. 5 Whitehall (8-2, 6-2) in a Friday night quarterfinal. It's a rematch of a Week 7 game they won 29-28 in overtime.

For a fifth straight season, Liberty (5-5, 4-4) won't be part of the subregional field. The Hurricanes needed to beat Freedom to nab the final subregional playoff spot. That berth instead went to Pleasant Valley.

Young played a central role in sending Liberty to the Eastern Conference 4A playoffs rather than districts. He caught nine passes for 196 yards and ran three times for 40 yards.

His final catch buried Liberty.

The Patriots already held a 22-0 lead when they called for a reverse pass late in the third quarter. After running back Joe Santos avoided a big loss by flipping the ball to wide receiver Kylon Pretty, Pretty grabbed the ball and fired to an uncovered Young on the right side of the field.

Young snagged the ball and cut back toward his left, racing into the end zone for the final touchdown of the day.

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Freedom High football team blanks Liberty in Bethlehem battle

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