Freeman leads Seton LaSalle past Wash High and to title
By Dave Whipkey
For The Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
DORMONT – After nine games, the Washington Prexies were right where they hoped they would be as fall camp broke, playing for a conference title in the final week of the regular season.
Unfortunately, the Prexies ran into a red-hot Seton LaSalle squad and its do-it-all running back Kymarr Freeman on Friday night at Dormont Memorial Stadium.
Seton LaSalle (6-0, 9-1) rode Freeman and its defense to a Class 2A Century Conference title as the Rebels beat Washington, 27-14.
The Rebels, in all likelihood, earned the first-round bye in the Class 2A playoffs while the Prexies (5-1, 8-2) await their fate but most likely will have a home playoff game next week.
Freeman finished with 281 rushing yards on 27 carries.
Kia Jones, who threw for 129 yards and two scores, electrified the crowd with a 47 yard laser beam pass to Matthew Brodzinski, who found himself open behind the Prexies secondary. Brodzenski strolled in for the score to push the Seton LaSalle lead to 21-7 with nine minutes to go in the third.
Washington got off the canvas and landed a blow of its own when Jahvon Woods plowed in from the one-yard line. The Prexies’ 65-yard drive was highlighted by a 16-yard Tristan Reed scramble. Tyler Crawford’s kick was good, slicing the Rebels lead to 21-14 late in the third quarter.
The Prexies’ defense then made a stand when it stripped Brodzinski of the football at the Washington 17. Trenton Grooms recovered it to give momentum back to the visitors.
That momentum shift lasted two plays as Seton LaSalle forced a turnover. Woods caught a Reed pass on the Prexies’ 30 and was met by three Rebels and fumbled. Seton LaSalle recovered and took possession at the end of the quarter.
Washington’s defense did get a stop and force a punt. It appeared the Prexies were on the move again when Reed found Ameer Nelson for a big gain. But it was nullified by a holding penalty and an unsportsmanlike dead ball foul that forced a Prexies punt. Seton LaSalle took possession near midfield and made a push to clinch the title.
That push resulted in Freeman’s two-yard scoring plunge with 6:24 to go in the contest. Washington blocked the extra-point kick, leaving the deficit at 27-14.
JaQuay Heyman returned the ensuing kickoff to the Rebels’ 43, injecting some life back into the Prexies. Washington was able to move to the Seton LaSalle 23, but faced a fourth-and-13 after a 10-yard loss. Reed heaved a deep ball towards Blaise Naraskivitch, who was interfered with in the end zone, keeping the drive alive.
But the Prexies self-destructed when they were called for a holding, an illegal crackback block and a dead-ball unsportsmanlike foul that pushed them back into a first-and-40 situation. Washington eventually was stopped short of the sticks at the Seton LaSalle 16 with 3:21 to go.
The Rebels made a statement on their opening drive when they marched 96 yards in nine plays. Freeman capped the drive with a five-yard scamper around right end. Freeman carried it six times for 64 yards in the drive.
After forcing a Seton LaSalle punt, the Prexies went on a 53-yard drive to tie it at 7-7. On third down from the 18, Reed found Naraskivitch in the end zone for a score. Tyler Crawford knocked home the extra-point kick.
The Rebels responded on their ensuing possession when they drove 70 yards in nine plays, culminating in a 33-yard Jones to Aaron Loritts touchdown pass for a 14-7 lead.
Seton LaSalle appeared poised to extend the lead before the half when Freeman busted off a 35 yard run down to the Prexies 25, but Jamarie Walker hustling behind the play stripped Freeman to give the ball back to Washington with less than a minute to go before the half.