Freedom drops opener to Amador Valley

by Michael Dixon Thepress.Net

Freedom senior Joe Mixon tries to get around Amador Valleys Anthony Irizarry during the Falcons 35-28 loss last Friday. Photo by Angelo Garcia Jr.

Freedom jumped on the Dons early, scoring two touchdowns in the first three minutes. While Amador Valley eventually got going in the first half, the Falcons led 28-14 at halftime.

Amador Valley made some crucial second-half adjustments, however, and outscored the Falcons 21-0 in the second half to take the victory.

They just outplayed us, Freedom head coach Kevin Hartwig said. They were in better shape than us. We just have to come ready to play and we didnt. Its week one, so weve got nine more games.

The Falcons offense was slowed for much of the second half after Mixon had to leave with cramps. The highly-touted recruit was an all-around monster in the first half, opening the game with a 75-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. Later in the first half, he caught a 15-yard touchdown and returned an interception 23 yards for another. In all, he finished with 198 yards in the game; 157 coming in the first half.

Weve got to realize that were a 33-man team, Hartwig said. Sometimes when you get players like that, people want to sit and watch, and theyve got to make plays.

While every Freedom possession in the second half ended in a turnover or punt, the Dons scored three times once on a 39-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Zeke Burgermeister to senior receiver Collin Blaney and on two runs from senior back Michael White that went for 49 and 63 yards. White also ended any comeback hopes for the Falcons with a 23-yard run on fourth down that kept Freedom from getting the ball back late in the game.

Despite allowing 35 points, the Freedom defense enters week two with plenty to build on, according to senior defensive end Patrick Choujda. Its front, led by Choujda, was consistently in the face of all of Amador Valleys quarterbacks. The Falcons were often burned for big yardage on plays when the Dons offensive line held up.

Monday at practice weve got to work on that, Choujda said. Like me, I know I had a great game, but I know there are things I can work on that will make us play even more positively.

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Freedom drops opener to Amador Valley