HEMPFIELD TWP — Underestimated. Overlooked. Disregarded.

The Freeport High School football team has been all of those things this season.

And the Yellowjackets kind of like it.

It put a fire in their bellies like the furnace of a train's steam engine and galvanized a team that had won just seven games in the two seasons leading into 2015.

And it has led them down the track to the WPIAL Class AA semifinals after an upset win over Washington at Hempfield High School Friday night.

The score read 24-14 Freeport, but it wasn't that close. The Yellowjackets defense was smothering and they took advantage of two Prexies' turnovers in the first half for a 17-0 lead.

Freeport (10-1) led 24-0 midway through the fourth quarter before two Wash High touchdowns closed the margin to 10 points.

“It's always fun playing as the underdog,” said Freeport defensive tackle Logan Thimons, a West Virginia University recruit who again made life miserable for the opposition. “I like wanting to prove everyone wrong. Playing for your teammates and playing your heart out to show your team deserves to move on.”

Freeport did its homework during the week on defense.

And it paid off.

The Yellowjackets held Washington's vaunted running game, which had piled up nearly 3,000 yards in 10 games this season, to a mere 89.

The Prexies had just two first downs in the first half.

Justin Brestensky had three of Freeport's seven sacks of Wash High quarterback Markel Pulliam.

The key was reading a key that tipped the Prexies' plays.

Wash High runs a lot of misdirection; Freeport, though, wasn't confused.

“Our coaches told us, 'If you follow (Washington running back Jordan West), he'll take you to where the ball is going,'” Brestensky said.

Freeport coach John Gaillot said that was the key to stopping the Prexies.

“Countless hours of work went into that game plan,” Gaillot said. “And the kids executed it perfectly.”

After a scoreless quarter and a half, Freeport dented the scoreboard when quarterback Ryan Weigold scrambled and found Josh Beale in the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown.

Jake Sarver tacked on a field goal after a Washington fumble and then with a little more than a minute remaining in the half, Freeport took advantage of another Prexies' turnover for a 2-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal by Ian Miller for a 17-0 lead.

Freeport began the second half with a touchdown drive, capped by a 31-yard scoring connection from Weigold to Dylan Hochbein.

Wash High added late touchdowns on a 14-yard run by Pulliam and a 26-yard pass from Pulliam to Isaiah Johnson, but it was far too late.

“I'll take our 11 playing hard against anyone's 11 playing hard,” Gaillot said. “I admire and love this team.”

Freeport, which is making its first WPIAL semifinal appearance since 1990, will face another stiff challenge next week when it will square off against Aliquippa at a site and time to be determined.

Doubting the Yellowjackets, though, is a risky proposition.

“We don't worry about outside our circle,” Gaillot said. “We concentrate on the people inside our four walls, and that's our players and coaching staff. Negativity actually motivates us more. I'm just so proud. Fifty-four strong kids who believe.”

Freeport 24, Washington 14

Freeport 0 17 7 0 — 24

Washington 0 0 0 14 — 14

F W

8 First Downs 7

31-66 Rushes-Yards 37-89

172 Passing Yards 84

15-26-1 Comp.-Att.-Int 4-9-1

238 Total Yards 173

2-1 Fumbles-Lost 1-1

5-50 Penalty Yards 10-58

Second Quarter

F — Josh Beale 11 pass from Ryan Weigold (Jake Sarver kick), 7:26

F — Sarver 25 field goal, 4:11

F — Ian Miller 2 run (Sarver kick), 1:05

Third Quarter

F — Dylan Hochbein 31 pass from Weigold (Sarver kick), 9:00

Fourth Quarter

W — Markel Pulliam 14 run (pass failed), 3:44

W — Isaiah Robinson 26 pass from Pulliam (West pass from Pulliam), 2:11

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Freeport, Ian Miller 19-70, Brandon Hochbein 3-8, Ryan Weigold 9-(-12). Washington, Kurt Adkins 11-50, Jordan West 12-31, Markel Pulliam 14-8.

Passing: Freeport, Ryan Weigold 15-26-172-1. Washington, Markel Pulliam 4-9-84-1.

Receiving: Freeport, Josh Beale 6-53, Dylan Hochbein 3-73, Ian Miller 2-17, Justin Brestensky 2-16, Brandon Hochbein 2-14 Washington, Nate Swart 2-55, Isaiah Robinson 2-29.