Freshman vs Meridian High School (6 - 14) Loss Freeland Freshman Football Battle Mustangs in Hard-Fought Road Contest Thursday, October 8, 2026 | Sanford, MI Final Score: Sanford Meridian 14, Freeland 6 The Freeland Falcons Freshman Football Team traveled to Sanford on Thursday evening to take on the Meridian Mustangs in a hard-fought contest that featured a strong second-half defensive performance by the Falcons. Despite a determined effort on both sides of the ball, Freeland came up just short, falling to the Mustangs 14-6. The Mustangs struck first with 2:22 remaining in the opening quarter on a 16-yard touchdown pass. The successful extra point gave Meridian an early 7-0 advantage. The Mustangs extended their lead with 7:41 remaining in the second quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run, followed by another successful extra point, making the score 14-0. With time winding down in the first half, the Falcons put together a scoring drive to get themselves back into the game. With just three seconds remaining before halftime, Matteo Aimar powered his way into the end zone on a 2-yard touchdown run, putting Freeland on the scoreboard. The two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, sending the Falcons into the locker room trailing 14-6. The second half turned into a defensive battle, with both teams fighting for every yard. The Falcon defense rose to the occasion, shutting out the Mustang offense for the entire second half and giving Freeland opportunities to battle back. The Falcons moved the football offensively but were unable to find the end zone for a second time. Defensively, Riley Blohm led the Falcons with an impressive 12 tackles, setting the tone with his physical play. Justin Eberhart added 6 tackles, while Connor Wismer recorded 5 tackles and a quarterback sack. The entire Falcon defensive unit stepped up in the second half, refusing to allow the Mustangs to add to their lead. On the offensive side of the ball, Riley Blohm carried the workload for Freeland, rushing 30 times for 125 yards. Blohm's tough, determined running helped keep the Falcon offense moving throughout the contest. Although the final score favored the Mustangs, the Falcons showed tremendous fight, determination, and resilience. After falling behind 14-0, Freeland responded with a late first-half touchdown and a second-half defensive effort that kept the game within reach until the final whistle. The Falcons will return to action on Thursday, October 15, when they travel to Beal City to take on the JV Aggies. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. GO FALCONS! ��