Football – Can the Hornets reverse their fortunes in the post-season facing a familiar foe in Freedom in opening round of District XI playoffs? PREVIEW

Matchup: No. 5 seed Emmaus (5-5) vs No. 4 seed Freedom (6-4), District XI Class 6A Quarterfinals

When/Where: Friday/BASD Stadium

Time:  7 p.m.

Coverage: LIVE Internet webcast: The Eastern Pa. Sports Network (Pregame: 6:30 p.m.)

What’s on the line: Winner advances to the semifinals on Nov. 10 to face either No.1 seed Parkland (10-0) or No. 8 seed Williamsport (5-5)

Coaches: Emmaus: (Harold Fairclough, 8th season); Freedom (Jason Roeder, 19th season)

Last week: Emmaus lost to Parkland 41-17; Freedom defeated Liberty 41-14

Streaks: Emmaus has lost 2 straight; Freedom has won 5 straight

Players to keep an eye on: Emmaus – Sr. QB Josiah Williams (82 of 183, 1,161 yards, 9 TD/8 Int); Soph. QB Jerek Cooper (17 of 31, 264 yards, 2 TD/1 Int), Sr RB Jasiyah Banks (45 car., 268 yards, 7 TD); Sr. RB Riley Guiffre (81 car., 528 yards, 2TD), Sr. OL/DL Mario Landino (87 tackles, 3 sacks); Soph. DL Robert Edwards (65 tackles), Jr. RB/LB Reilly Bechtel (56 tackles, 3 sacks), Sr. LB/TE John Wassel (56 tackles), Jr. WR/S Rafael Terrero (25 rec., 346 yards, 2 TD)

Freedom – Jr. QB Chase Walker (102-214, 1,404 11 TD/7 Int), Sr. RB/DB Noah Pierre (185 car., 1,022 yards, 10 TD), Sr. RB/OLB Jiovanni Richardson (64-340-4), Jr. WR/DB Shacre Colwell (39 rec., 478 yards, 4 TD), Jr. WR/LB Justin Peluso (64 tackles), Sr. DB Xavier Dunbar (48 tackles), Jr. LB Jayden Macon (50 tackles)

Post-season history:

2022 – District XI Semis (Freedom 28-27)

2021 – District XI Finals (Freedom 28-14)

2019 – District XI Quarters (Freedom 42-21)

2018 – District XI Finals (Freedom 49-17)

2017 – District XI Quarters (Freedom 26-15)

2016 – District XI Semis (Freedom 42-12)