SARVER — In high school football, late-game gamblers are either the heroes or the goats.

Freeport fell into the category of “hero” Friday when Austin Romanchak's 1-yard dive into the end zone on 4th down led to the Yellowjackets' 24-17 win over Shady Side Academy in a nonconference game at Freeport High School.

Romanchak had been stopped short on the previous play, and with the score tied at 17, Freeport coach John Gaillot called timeout with 2:21 left in the game.

“(Romanchak and Conor Selinger) said, 'Just give it to one and the other one's going to block,'” Gaillot said. “I said, 'It's on you then. It's your team.'”

Romanchak dove into the end zone, and Jacob Sarver's point-after attempt put Freeport (3-1) up 24-17.

Shady Side (2-2) began at its own 30-yard line, and made its way to the Freeport 28 with a little more than a minute to play.

However, tight coverage by the Yellowjackets led to three incomplete passes.

On 4th and 10, Shady Side quarterback Skyy Moore found no one open down field and tucked the ball to run, but was met by Austin Kemp at the line of scrimmage.

Freeport took over on downs and knelt its way to victory.

“Our kids are so driven, they do well and they honestly believe in each other,” Gaillot said. “That's what I love about this group. They're always facing adversity, but they find a way.”

The Yellowjackets were down 17-7 in the third quarter after Moore found Mike Tomlin Jr. open over the middle for a 29-yard touchdown pass.

That's when Freeport went to work, putting together a 12-play drive that lasted nearly five minutes and ended with Sarver's 26-yard boot through the uprights to come within one score of the Indians.

Freeport evened the score at 17 on the first play of the fourth quarter when Romanchak ran in the ball from three yards out.

Romanchak finished with 73 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries, while Selinger rushed 19 times for 96 yards.

“(Freeport) did a nice job of getting the ball to (Selinger), and their offensive line did a nice job getting some holes opened up for them,” said Shady Side coach Chuck DiNardo.

Shady Side was the first to strike, scoring in the first quarter on an 89-yard pass from Moore to Tomlin Jr.

The Yellowjackets evened the score at 7 in the second quarter when Romanchak scored from five yards out.

Just before halftime, Shady Side's Connor Leemhuis nailed a 30-yard field goal, and the Indians took a 10-7 lead into the locker room.

DiNardo commented on Freeport's improved play in the second half.

“Freeport did a nice job making some adjustments,” he said. “They changed up their fronts a little bit, did a nice job, and they started winning 1-on-1 battles.”

Shady Side 7 3 7 0 — 17

Freeport 0 7 3 14 — 24

First Quarter

SS — Tomlin Jr. 89 pass from Moore (Leemhuis kick), 2:07

Second Quarter

F — Romanchak 5 run (Sarver kick), 4:51

SS — Leemhuis 30 field goal,: 04

Third Quarter

SS — Tomlin Jr. 29 pass from Moore (Leemhuis kick), 9:53

Fourth Quarter

F — Romanchak 3 run (Sarver kick), 11:55

F — Romanchak 1 run (Sarver kick), 2:17

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Shady Side, Moore 25-131, Mi. Tomlin Jr. 1-(minus-1), Mason Tomlin 1-(minus-5). Freeport, Selinger 19-96, Romanchak 26-73, Sarver 2-3.

Passing: Shady Side, Moore 8-19-186-0. Freeport, Romanchak 5-7-65-1.

Receiving: Shady Side, Mi. Tomlin Jr. 7-176, Ma. Tomlin 1-10. Freeport, Isiah Bauman 3-72, Evan McCrea 1-2, Sarver 1-(minus-9).