BELLEVUE — It only took a week for the other shoe to drop.

In the wake of its 15-14 loss to Valley, Freeport came out swinging in its Allegheny Conference clash with Northgate at Alumni Stadium on Friday.

The only problem was the Yellowjackets let Northgate hit back in a 7-6 Freeport win.

"It feels good, but I thought in the first half we should have put another one or two (touchdowns) in," Freeport coach Bill Dillen said.

The Yellowjackets penetrated Northgate territory four times in the opening half, but came away with only a 7-0 lead, despite limiting the Flames (3-1, 3-1) to eight offensive yards.

"We kind of shot ourselves in the foot with those penalties," Dillen said.

You could say that. Freeport (2-2, 2-2) racked up 60 penalty yards compared to Northgate's 15.

But in the end, Freeport kicker John Bercik's extra point was the difference. Quarterback Brian Zimmerman ran for a 2-yard touchdown in the first quarter before Bercik's kick.

"It was great," said Zimmerman, who set up his touchdown with a 17-yard interception return to the Northgate 18 yard line. "That was the highlight of the game for me."

There wasn't much else to choose from. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior tossed two interceptions, the second immediately after separating his nonthrowing shoulder.

"I hit the middle linebacker on a sneak the second to last play in the first half," Zimmerman said. "It's only a grade two (separation), so Ishould be able to play next week."

Freeport needs Zimmerman under center as it travels to Burrell for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday.

But if not for a little luck, Freeport would be making that trip on a three-game losing streak.

Northgate's Layton Burkes pushed the extra point wide right moments after Flames running back Curtis Howard found the end zone from 12 yards out early in the fourth quarter.

"Now Northgate knows how we felt last week," Zimmerman said.

The Yellowjackets bounced back, but can the Flames?

"I won't let that happen," Northgate coach Rich Hurley said of his team suffering a mental lull next week at Ford City. "That's my job to get (the team) back up. The season isn't over."