Freedom played six games before running into one of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference's elite football programs.

The Patriots' Week 7 effort put them into the power-team conversation for this season.

A 29-28 overtime win against Whitehall last week has this group of Pates in uncharted territory. Freedom (7-0 overall, 5-0 South Division) is tied for the South Division lead with Easton. The current players head into a Friday matchup with Parkland (5-2, 3-2) owning a better record than the Trojans, something they have never had in previous meetings.

Freedom hasn't won the championships coach Jason Roeder talks about wanting to compete for year after year just yet. The Patriots have plenty of challenges ahead.

But after winning six games total over the last two seasons, Freedom's seniors have enjoyed watching the work that started in the offseason lead to game-night success.

"Once we started in the weight room over the summer, it was all about getting money and putting it in the bank," senior center and nose guard Ryan Mullen said. "We take it back out on the field and withdraw it on Friday nights."

Mullen, Jake Young, Joe Santos, John Callahan and Bryant Connor are among the senior leaders that have set the tone for the Patriots. Some of them provide words to keep Freedom on task. Others deliver quiet on-field performance.

Their collaborative efforts have helped Freedom rebound from two down years despite having one of the smaller varsity rosters in the South. The seniors and their teammates bought into the overhauled weight program instituted by former Liberty standout linebacker Andres Morales after last season. Improved conditioning has helped the Patriots play well late in games.

Last week against Whitehall, Freedom drove 90-plus yards for touchdowns three times in the second half. The Patriots then won the game in overtime with a touchdown and two-point conversion.

Freedom will need its seniors more than ever this week. Sophomore quarterback Joe Young is out for the season with a fractured hip socket suffered last week against Whitehall. Junior Jonah Gundrum, who started several games at quarterback last season, will replace Young.

Continued here:

Freedom High football team's seniors leading turnaround