RUSSELLTON — One might say it was like watching an under-matched boxer fighting the champ on artificial turf.

It wasn't far from it.

Freeport blew out Deer Lakes by playing shut-down defense and rushing for 295 yards, winning 30-0 in high school football action Friday night.

Deer Lakes (1-6) couldn't overcome the Yellowjackets' powerful defense, finishing with negative 16 total yards and zero first downs in the game.

“They overwhelmed us tonight with their athleticism and size,” Lancers coach Todd Hazlett said. “They're definitely one of the most physical teams we've seen this year.”

Freeport's Damon Smith started the game by running seven straight times, but lost a fumble on his eighth attempt. That didn't slow him down as he finished the game with 159 yards on 35 carries.

Freeport (5-2-0) scored on a Smith two-yard touchdown run with 6:29 left in the first half. Dave Heidenger converted on the extra point, and the score was 7-0 at halftime.

Freeport started the second half on defense, but scored two points when Jon Turner and Smith make a tackle in the end zone for a safety.

Running back Josh Wisniewski added 107 rushing yards and two touchdowns for the ‘Jackets. He run one in from 46 yards with 3:16 left in the third quarter and had a fumble return when Lancers' quarterback Josh Plocki fumbled with 4:19 left in the game. Plocki finished with two complete passes for 8 yards and negative 30 rushing yards.

“We came out slow in the first half,” Freeport coach John Galliot said. “In the second half we were a totally different team.

“We played physical football. That's the hardest I've seen the group here hit in one half. We've got to do that for 48 minutes, though.”

Freeport quarterback Brendan Lynch relied mostly on his running backs, throwing three competed passes on five attempts for 70 yards and a one-yard rushing touchdown with 4:37 left in the game.

Even with two lost fumbles in the first half — four fumbles total — the Lancers couldn't take advantage.

“Turnovers are one thing, points are a whole different story,” Hazlett said. “That's an opportunity we have to seize.”