Week 1 Team of the Week: Freedom

FREEDOM - Last season Freedom returned to the postseason for the first time since 2004 and despite losing in Level 1 to eventual Division 4 state champ Wrightstown, expectations are higher in 2012.

In Week 1 of the football season, the Irish under a new coach, certainly met those expectations as it crushed Berlin, 52-7, in an Eastern Valley Conference game. That performance has made Freedom the FOX 11 Team of the Week.

The 52 points were the most scored by Freedom since the 2010 season finale, when Freedom scored 60 points in a win over Berlin.

Its surprising we put so many points up, but its not in a way, coach Clint Kriewaldt said. The way our kids are working together, they want to learn. They want to soak in knowledge.

Kriewaldt is a big reason for Freedoms optimism. The Shiocton High School graduate was part of the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl XL team as a linebacker and he also played for the Detroit Lions.

Having a guy like that who knows that much about football, its great to have running back Bo Casper said.

Casper was part of Freedoms onslaught Friday, rushing for 174 yards on six carries and scored three touchdowns. Casper was pleased with the first game.

Youre always coming in not quite sure how that first games going to go, Casper said. Were happy with the outcome of the game.

Added lineman Reed Ambrosis: It was a good game. We were projected to lose by 21 points, but we came out and showed the conference what we were going to do.

Freedom is confident it can compete in the Eastern Valley with usual penthouse teams Xavier and Waupaca. Xavier has won or shared the last three titles.

Follow this link:
Week 1 Team of the Week: Freedom