Monday, November 10, 2025
After a tough start to the season facing an unusual schedule, the Freeport football team enters the final three games with the wind at its back.
The Red Devils (1-4) got in the win column for the first time this fall with a 42-23 victory against Herricks-Wheatley last Saturday to provide a big confidence boost heading into the home stretch of the schedule. The homecoming victory was held at Long Beach Middle School in the third home game held outside of Freeport due to renovations of the Freeport High School set for completion by the end of October.
“On a lot of fronts it was very gratifying,” first-year Freeport head coach Mike McQueen, who was previously a longtime assistant coach with the Red Devils going back to 2008. “Everybody believed and now they get to see the fruits of their labor.”
Freeport trailed 7-0 after the first quarter before seizing control with a 22-point second quarter en route to a convincing win.
Junior Judah Murchison shined with 101 yards passing and three touchdown passes in just his second varsity start after missing the start of the season with a rib injury. His 5-yard touchdown toss to sophomore wide receiver Cameron Douglass in the fourth quarter to give Freeport a 36-14 lead.
The passing attack was spearheaded by senior wide receiver Andrew Carter, who hauled in five receptions for 82 yards and two touchdowns.
“He's the perfect teammate and very unselfish who blocks well in the run game,” McQueen said of Carter. “When his number is called he gets open and he makes huge plays for us.”
Versatile Jalen Brown also played a large part in the passing game throwing a 37-yard touchdown pass to Carter in the second quarter for a 14-7 lead. Brown's 10-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth capped off a 28-0 scoring run to give Freeport a 42-14 advantage.
The rushing attack was paced by senior Dawud Abdul-Ali, who ran for 73 yards and one touchdown. His 7-yard touchdown in the second quarter followed by a Murchison two point conversion gave Freeport an 8-7 lead.
The defense stepped up big in holding Herriks-Wheatley to just one score in the second half. Senior defensive end Josh Soto led the defensive effort with five tackles and an interception.
McQueen credited his defensive line of David Addo, Malik Groover, Jaren Reeder and Izayah Hankins-Majano with stepping up big to help keep the Herricks-Wheatley offense largely under wraps after the first quarter.
Freeport will look to make it two wins in a row on Friday at Westbury starting at 5 p.m.. After a challenging road game at Oceanside, the Red Devils are scheduled to host Uniondale to close the regular season on Nov. 1 for an 11 a.m. kickoff in an opportunity for Freeport's 14 seniors to end their high school careers on a winning note on Freeport soil.
“Every day in practice we always try and win the day and always get better,” McQueen said.
