Rivalry Has Meaning Once Again

Jake Holling and Bill DePell are too young to remember the golden days of the Liberty-Freeman football rivalry, but they are the perfect pair to define the next chapter.

Holling was a first-team All-Bi-County League wide receiver for Liberty last year. He has a crucial role as the Lancers, a B-11 semifinalist last season, move up to the Northeast A.

DePell, an All-NEA pass catcher for Freeman, will be a critical factor if the Scotties hope to match last year’s playoff berth.

Both are also team leaders. Both also play defensive back. And both will have younger brothers at quarterback they have to depend on to get the ball.

But like this renewed rivalry that is not quite perfect, they won’t match up perfectly because Holling is moving to running back.

This rivalry dates back to when both schools opened in the early 1960s. Six years ago, when Freeman moved up, the games ended. Two years ago, they resumed as season-opening non-league games.

Now the rivalry has added meaning. Make that double meaning.

Because the Northeast A is a four-team league, the teams play each other twice.

“Football is such an intense sport, the idea of playing someone twice is not a good idea,” veteran Liberty coach Rod Fletcher said.

That’s especially true with the added incentive of a rivalry.

“I’ve heard people who went to school before talk about it; I haven’t been around long enough to know,” Holling said. “I’m pretty sure it will start up.”

“They’re our next door neighbor,” DePell said. “They’re our cousins, our friends. It’s always a rivalry when you have family involved.”

The rivalry resumes Oct. 8 at Liberty and Oct. 29 at Freeman.

“It’s healthy from what I remember from my days as a player and an assistant coach,” first-year Freeman coach Jeff Smith said. “There is a lot of respect. They fight tooth-and-nail, then shake hands. It’s not a real sinister rivalry. It’s a good, competitive rivalry.”

That’s how DePell and Holling could develop, depending on how Hollings’ offensive role shakes out. Fletcher had to move Holling inside for a couple of reasons. One, he said, is because it’s easier for defenses to find and focus on Holling as a wideout. The second is the Lancers run a wishbone offense.

“We may have to break our wishbone more than we have in the past,” Fletcher said, indicating Holling will be in motion before the snap. “He will be more of a primary weapon.”

Smith has a lot of ideas for getting the ball to DePell while keeping him split wide.

“He’s quick, he has good hands and he has football savvy,” Smith said. “We’re going to try to get the ball in his hands” as much as possible.

Both players know their success depends on their teammates and both are working hard providing leadership to younger players who are stepping into key roles.

Until they get into the huddle.

That’s when they have to make the most difficult adjustment as sophomore Jake DePell and junior Ben Holling call plays.

“It’s kind of weird. Being the senior, you’re a leader,” Holling said. “It’s kind of hard to give up that leadership and let your little brother do it because he’s a quarterback. I’m getting used to it.”

DePell said, “It’s tough. When we’re in the huddle, it’s his huddle, not mine. I’m trying to be more mature about it. I’m the kind of guy, it’s my way or the highway… . It’s been a change, but I’ve always wanted a DePell to DePell.”

A Holling could have a say in that.