FREEPORT — The Freeport football team wanted to put last week's disappointing 9-8 loss to Valley in the rear-view mirror.

The Yellowjackets needed only 11 seconds to get back on track.

Travis Hall took the opening kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown to jump-start Freeport, before Brendan Lynch racked up 302 yards of total offense en route to a 28-14 Allegheny Conference victory over Shady Side Academy on homecoming Friday night at James E. Swartz Memorial Stadium.

“My blockers were perfect on that one. They just opened up a gap and I started going,” said Hall of the kick return. “It was such a momentum boost for us. It set the tone of the game.”

Freeport coach John Gaillot was happy to see his team put forth a well-rounded effort, as the Yellowjackets (4-1) outrushed the Indians (3-2) by a 275-89 margin and forced three Shady Side turnovers.

“All the kids rebounded and responded. Valley is in the past,” said Gaillot. “We were all disappointed about that; pretty much shocked.”

“We said have fun, don't be so tight,” he added. “We're just a normal, average team and we're going to play like we played growing up — just have fun.”

Lynch enjoyed a massive individual performance. The senior quarterback rushed for 181 yards on 20 carries, completed 5-of-6 passes for 121 yards and had two interceptions on defense.

“I like to play the same way on both sides; 100 percent every play and see what can happen,” said Lynch. “Tonight, everything went my way.”

The Indians bounced back from the Hall kickoff return with a 10-play, 59-yard drive, capped by a 2-yard scoring plunge from Dennis Briggs to even the game at 7-7 with 2:14 to go in the first quarter.

“That's no way to start against Freeport. We've had some problems covering kicks,” said Shady Side coach Dave Havern. “I was real pleased we battled back.”

It didn't take long for the Yellowjackets to answer.

Lynch connected with Mike Teorsky downfield on a third-and-6 and the senior outran the defense for a 71-yard touchdown.

“We really set it up early with outside sweeps and runs inside,” said Lynch. “They all came up and he went free, so I just hit him and he made a great catch and run. That was a real spark for us.”

The second quarter went scoreless, although the Yellowjackets marched to the Shady Side 5-yard line as the half came to a close. Freeport tried to spike the ball with five seconds to play, but the snap came before the referee's whistle, which drew a delay of game penalty and ended the threat.

However, Freeport seized control early in the third quarter.

Shady Side lost a fumble on the second half's first play from scrimmage. Three plays later, Lynch broke free, tip-toed the sideline and sprinted into the end zone on a 43-yard scamper. He ran in the two-point conversion to extend Freeport's lead to 21-7.

“I've been saying this all week, 'We're just not going to lose. We refuse to lose,'” said Lynch. “The game was pretty close still and I felt if my number was called I had to make a big play to try and help the team out and I was fortunate enough to do that. It was great.”

The Indians kept the pressure on, though.

Shady Side quarterback Mike Granato delivered a beautiful pass to Tyril Hill for a 27-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-10 and cut the deficit to 21-14 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Indians tried to mount a game-tying drive, but Lynch picked off Granato to give Freeport possession at the SSA 31-yard line.

Facing a third-and-11, Lynch kept the drive alive with a 10-yard pass to Josh Brestensky and a 2-yard QB sneak on a fourth-and-1.

Dustin Koedel scored from 18 yards out on the following play, rumbling through tacklers en route to the end zone.

Later, Lynch intercepted his second pass of the night to seal the victory.

“You can't turn the ball over against a team like Freeport and expect to beat them,” said Havern. “They're too good of a football team. They played well.”

“It was a great team game,” said Lynch. “Everybody played as one and we really executed and collaborated so well as a team.”

It was exactly the kind of performance Gaillot wanted to see.

“I'm just very proud of Freeport kids in general. They're hard working and blue collar,” said the coach. “I love it here.”