Football

FREEMAN RUNS FOR 400 YARDS, SIX TD

Outlaws make Metgot statement in battle of 3-0 teams

by
GSPN
June 30, 2024

By Nick Akimoto

In the sweltering heat, the red hot Faha Outlaws put together a 41-12 win in the Metgot division matchup against the Guahan Eagles. Both teams were undefeated coming in, but the Outlaws’ spotless record would survive thanks to the efforts of Nekhi Freeman. Freeman recorded an insane statline of 400 yards on the day. The 11-year-old also tacked on six touchdowns to give him a ludicrous 25 touchdowns in four weeks of GNYFF action.

Freeman never left the field, kicking the ball after his long touchdowns and setting up deep as safety. Freeman’s impact could be felt as he made a couple touchdown-saving tackles, but the Outlaws’ defensive battle mostly occurred up front against a powerful Eagles run crew.

At noseguard, Jahrence Torres wouldn’t make it easy for Kymani Cruz and Xander Brub, the bruising Eagles fullbacks. Clogging up the inside, Jahrence made sure his linebackers, Brysin Tenorio and Talen San Nicolas had the time to meet runningbacks close to the line of scrimmage. Outside the tackles, Makaria Chlarson and Willis Nickepwi would seal off the edge, making the Eagles fight to get around on the outside.

Wendy’s Players of the Game Outlaws Jahrence Torres Willis Nickepwi and Nekhi Freeman

“I’m looking to make tackles [and to] help our team win.” said Nickepwi. “It’s thanks to our coaches and team for making us work hard this season.”

Head coach of the Outlaws Dwayne Duenas, proud of his squad, recognized that there’s still more to work on with this young team.

“It feels great. It’s always great to win no matter where you’re at, but it’s a testament to the team. The coaching staff works hard to try and prepare these kids the best way we can, but there’s still so many things to teach them. So much to learn, but these kids are coachable, and that’s all I ask,”

TONE SETTER

Teams often want to score in a game quickly to set the tone for the rest of the game. That first possession is often indicative of how prepared a team is coming into the game and foreshadows what adjustments need to be made later in the game.

It took Freeman and the Outlaws two plays to make it clear what they wanted to say: “Keep up”.

After a 14 yard set up play, Freeman bounced out on an inside run for a 41 yard touchdown to put the team up 6-0.

The Eagles needed an answer, and how they responded was crystal clear. They were going to try to run straight through the Outlaws. Handoffs to Kymani Cruz and Xander Brub shook a fairly shorthanded Outlaws defense, as they pounded their way down the field, inviting contact wherever it would come. Cruz trucked in a one yard score, and let their opponent know they would not go down quietly.

Freeman wouldn’t let his team hang their heads for long, however, as he immediately blazed past the Eagles defense in one fell swoop for a 71 yard touchdown. 13-6.

The Eagles sought to answer back again with some deep runs of their own. Runs to the outside by Jeremiah Frank Diaz II would set up his team nicely for a couple QB power runs by the Eagles’ Talan Ray Babauta to get his team back in the red zone. There, Babauta would make the lone pass completion of the day as he rolled out to the right and hit receiver Maverick Elliot for a touchdown to end the first quarter 13-12.

NEKHI FREEMAN!

The young Metgot Outlaws have rarely found themselves in this position this season, where their opponent seemed to be matching pace with them. The Outlaws seemed to find an answer to that scenario today and it was “give the ball to Nekhi.”

Fresh off a 70-yard touchdown, Freeman went ahead and did it again on his first touch after an Eagles score. 20-12. From there, the touchdowns would keep coming, as Nekhi would get out one more 44 yard touchdown just before the end of the half. 27-12.

After the halftime break, the Eagles would march down the field once more, but failed to find the endzone. The Outlaws would slow down a bit, in the sense that it took Freeman four plays this time before he went off for a 51-yard touchdown. 34-12.

With all the attention that Freeman was drawing, the Eagles were ill-prepared for contributions of the rest of the Outlaws offense. The Outlaws offensive line was crucial throughout the day, peeling open daylight for Freeman, but as well as for a few runs by Nickepwi at quarterback. Freeman wasn’t the only one taking advantage of the wide open space as Talan San Nicolas would go the distance as well. San Nicolas broke out for what would have been another Outlaws 70 yard touchdown, but it was called back due to an offensive penalty.

Freeman would get payback for San Nicolas, however, in the form of a 75 yard touchdown. The fourth 70+ yard run of the game would be Freeman’s sixth touchdown of the day, putting Freeman’s season total touchdowns at 25.

With such a major accomplishment, Freeman had one word to describe how he was feeling: “Tired.”