Butch Harmon
Sports Scene
To say the Freeland football
team is poised for a breakout post
season run this season is a bit of an
understatement.
If any team in the state is due
for a breakout come playoff time
it’s the Falcons. A host of talented
players return this season for
Freeland from a team that went 9-2
overall last season. Freeland went
8-1 in the regular season and 5-1
in the conference with the lone
loss coming by one point against
eventual Division 5 state finalist
Frankenmuth.
In the playoffs, Freeland
reached the second round where
it dropped a 27-21 struggle to
eventual Division 4 state champion
Goodrich. The loss marked the
third straight season the Falcons
fell to Goodrich in the second
round of the playoffs and the
three losses came by a combined
total of just eight points leaving
the Falcons determined to break
through this season with a power
packed roster to work with.
“We have 28 seniors coming
back so I’m pretty excited about
the group we have,” said Freeland
coach Kevin Townsend. “Our jv
team was 7-2 so we have a nice
junior class that is going to come
in and complement those kids as
well.”
Offensively, Freeland will feature
what can be a dominant running
game mixed in with an effective
passing option.
Taking over at quarterback is
senior Max Heyn (6-1, 200). A
running back last year who led
the team in rushing, Heyn played
quarterback his freshman and
sophomore seasons. Heyn gives
the team an explosive look at the
position as he set the school record
in the 100-meter dash last spring
with a time of 11.01.
“We have a new offense this year
and that’s exciting,” Heyn said.
“We have some great receivers and
backs and a great line so I think we
will do a lot on offense this season.”
A trio of seniors will handle the
bulk of the duties at running back.
Keenan Cooper (5-9, 180), Kellen
East (5-7, 180) and Parker Lentner
(5-8 190) give the team plenty of
versatility and depth at running
back.
The Falcons also feature some
talented receivers and tight ends.
Senior Wilson Huckeby (6-4,
192) will be playing basketball in
college at Saginaw Valley while
Zander Wheatley (6-3, 175) set the
school record in the 110 hurdles
last spring and placed second at
state in the 300 hurdles. At tight
end Mason Kozumplik (6-1, 205)
and Ross Farrell (6-1, 200) are
strong blockers and sure-handed
receivers.
Paving the way for the offense is
a big, talented and deep offensive
line. Senior Tristan Comer (6-7,
280), a Michigan State recruit,
anchors the line at left tackle.
Senior Nevan Malacara (6-2, 205)
will be a right tackle with Bryon
Lynch back at center. Brody Geth
(6-0, 230) is back at a guard after
starting as a sophomore with
Gage Somers looking to step in at
the other guard spot. Zack Clark
and Brigham Smith are a pair of
veteran linemen back after missing
last year with injuries.
“As always our goal is a state
championship,” Comer said. “I
think our defense will be a strong
point. I think our offense will be
nothing to shy at this year either.”
Many of the offensive
contributors will also be logging
extensive minutes on the defensive
side of the ball. Comer and
Kozumplik are back at defensive
end spots. Clark and Smith will see
plenty of snaps along the defensive
front along with junior Garrett
Kain (6-3, 250) who started up
front as a freshman.
Freeland is replacing both
starting inside linebackers but
senior Keenan Cooper is ready to
step up as is junior Ryan Watkins
who started on both sides of the
ball on the junior varsity last
season.
“We are looking good on both
sides of the ball,” Cooper said,
“both offense and defense. I’m
very confident with our defense
this season because we performed
really well on defense last season.”
At cornerback, the Falcons
return Wheatley who has offers
from Cornell, Saginaw Valley and
Northwood. Senior Karson Worth
also returns at cornerback where
he earned all-conference honors
last season. Huckeby returns as a
starter at safety.
“We have a lot of next-level kids
all over the place,” Townsend said.
“Not necessarily football kids but
they are just talented athletes that
we can move all over the field.”
Menu