Thursday, October 1, 2026
After dropping the opener, Freeport football has answered the bell with back-to-back come-from behind wins in Nassau Conference I.
Trailing by six points at halftime last Friday, the Red Devils (2-1) exploded for 21 third quarter points en route to a 28-13 road win at Herricks/Wheatley/Roslyn. The comeback victory came a week after junior running back Christian McCravey's second-half, 12-yard touchdown run propelled Freeport to a 16-13 home triumph against Westbury Sept. 10.
“We are playing one week at a time,” Freeport head coach Jimmy Jones said. “We’re trying to get better week by week.”
McCravey jumpstarted the comeback in the third game with a 71-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter and executed the ensuing two-point conversion to give the Red Devils a 14-13 lead. He then added a 66-yard touchdown run to make it 20-13 before senior running back Dylan Pigott capped the third quarter explosion with a 37-yard score.
Freeport’s defense shut out Herricks/Wheatley/Roslyn in the second half led by seven tackles from freshman defensive back Jaison Gentles.
The versatile McCravey finished the day with 239 yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries. He began the season as a receiver and switched to the backfield due to an injury.
“He’s lightning in a bottle,” said Jones of McCravey, who is also a standout wrestler. “He is tough as nails.”
McCravey stepped up on both sides of the ball and iced the Westbury win with a late strip sack around midfield. He also converted two two-point conversions through the air and on the ground to key the three-point win.
Senior running back Kahli Shaw opened the Freeport scoring against Westbury with an 11-yard touchdown run in the first quarter followed by McCravey two-point conversion pass to Kyle Fernandez that made it 8-0. Shaw went down with an injury in the Westbury game but is expected in Freeport’s next game against Roosevelt Thursday.
The Westbury win marked the first win for Jones since returning as Freeport head coach after missing last season following his 2024 debut replacing the legendary Russ Cellan.
“Getting that first win was huge as now the buy-in from everyone becomes more clear,” Jones said. “We had to battle literally until the last play.”
The opener saw Freeport fall 14-8 at Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK. The Red Devils trailed 14-0 before Shaw returned a kickoff for a touchdown and then rushed for the ensuing two-point conversion.
Freeport will make a quick bus trip to face Roosevelt in a non-league crossover game this Thursday 5 p.m. before hosting Hicksville on Oct. 3 at 5 p.m. The Red Devils will then visit Farmingdale for Friday Night Lights on Oct. 9 and play their final two games at home on Oct. 23 against Syosset and Oct. 31 versus Uniondale.
“We are looking to get better every week and hopefully stockpile enough wins where we are one of the top eight teams and make the playoffs where anything can happen,” Jones said.
