Editor's note: Each week during the regular season, Stephen Miller will examine four Eastern Pennsylvania Conference football items in this space. Here is his look back at Week 2 and ahead to Week 3.

1. Freedom starts fast. Four EPC South Division teams head into this week 2-0. None of them needed the quick start more than Freedom.

The division's other unbeaten teams Parkland, Whitehall and Easton have spent the last two years contending for championships. Freedom, meanwhile, went 2-8 last season and struggled to score.

The current Patriots have already piled up 102 points in beating East Stroudsburg South and Nazareth. Freedom only scored 111 points in 10 games a year ago.

Freedom has executed well in all three phases so far. Three players Roberto Diez, Joe Santos and Joe Young have rushed for at least 100 yards, while Young has also completed 80 percent of his passes.

The Patriots have blocked four kicks and scored several special-teams touchdowns. Their rushing defense has limited opponents to 2.25 yards per carry.

"We're doing things right," Freedom coach Jason Roeder said. "The kids are eager to get better. We're playing with a lot of energy. We're playing with a lot of emotion. We're playing as a team.

"We know there's tougher days ahead; we understand that. That's why our focus continues to be to stick to our plan of building every day. Our kids have bought into that."

Freedom faces its best opponent to date Friday when it travels to Emmaus. Freedom's run defense will have to remain stout to keep the Patriots rolling. Emmaus seniors Wyl Miller and Andy Davidson have already combined for 467 rushing yards.

2. Parkland seeks a test. Dieruff and Northampton both have collected a win in the season's first two weeks. Neither program is ready to compete with Parkland yet.

Originally posted here:

Freedom football team off to needed fast start