LOWER BURRELL — “Unfinished Business” has been the slogan of the Freeport football team all season long.

After grinding their way to a 7-0 edge through three quarters Friday night, the Yellowjackets stayed true to the rallying cry and finished with a flurry to bury Burrell.

Freeport erupted for three touchdowns in a 4:05 span early in the fourth quarter and downed the previously undefeated Bucs by a 26-7 margin at Burrell High School.

Freeport quarterback Brendan Lynch rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns, passed for another 111 and a score on the way to victory, which puts the Yellowjackets a half game ahead of the Bucs for first place in the Allegheny Conference.

“I’m just proud as can be of all the kids,” said Freeport coach John Gaillot. “That was a very, very good football team they just beat.”

“This is huge,” said Lynch. “Beating a team of that caliber at their stadium is not easy.”

Burrell had to adjust its game plan early in the contest after starting quarterback James Liput left with concussion-like symptoms after absorbing a massive hit to his blind side on the final play of the first quarter. He was 5-of-7 passing for 45 yards before his departure.

“Any time you lose your quarterback, it’s a big loss,” said Burrell coach Kevin Horwatt. “Especially when you’re in an emotional game ... it does throw you for some loops. As a coach, you have to be able to round them all back up and settle them down.”

With Liput on the sideline, the Yellowjackets’ cross hairs shifted squarely on Burrell standout running back Cole Bush, who ran for over 300 yards and six touchdowns last week. Freeport contained Bush to 127 yards and a score on 27 attempts, with 56 of his yards coming on two carries alone.

“That helped us out, not really worrying about the pass as much, because he’s a very good passer,” said Gaillot of Liput. “Burrell coaches, they’re very, very good and my hat’s off to them because that was a hard-fought game.”

After a scoreless first quarter, Lynch busted loose for an 80-yard touchdown on a third-and-5 to give Freeport (5-1, 5-1) a 7-0 advantage with 7:58 to go in the second.

“They were really doing a good job defensively of plugging up the holes,” said Lynch. “I saw a cut backside and I made one move and I just saw open field and I ran until I was in the end zone.

“It felt great. I can’t even describe it,” he added. “It was just awesome seeing the open field like that.”

The Yellowjackets held the Bucs (5-1, 4-1) out of the end zone until late in the game with stellar defense and special teams. After the first play from scrimmage to open the second half, 41 consecutive snaps took place in Burrell territory.

Freeport punter Dustin Koedel pinned the Bucs inside their 5-yard line twice and dropped another at the 10.

“Whoever wins the field-position battle obviously has a better chance at winning the game,” said Koedel.

Eventually, the Yellowjackets took advantage and exploded to put the game away.

Alec Stivers picked off Burrell backup quarterback Cody Wolfe, and on the very next play, Lynch scored on a 38-yard scamper to extend Freeport’s lead to 13-0.

Burrell muffed the ensuing squib kick and Freeport’s Logan Thimons pounced on the loose ball. Mike Teorsky, who racked up 60 yards on four carries, scored seven plays later on a 16-yard jaunt.

On the following play from scrimmage, Wolfe — who finished 1-of-9 for 37 yards — threw his third interception of the night, as Stivers ripped the ball away from a Burrell receiver.

“I’ve never had hands before,” Stivers joked. “I got one (interception), got fired up and just kept going.”

The Yellowjackets went for the jugular on the next play. Lynch connected with Koedel on a 45-yard bomb for a sudden 26-0 cushion with only seven minutes remaining.

“We were just playing great defensive ball,” said Lynch, “and that helped us carry the momentum to offense.”

Bush later scored on a 25-yard run to cut the deficit to 26-7, but the damage was already done.

“You can’t win football games making mistakes,” said Horwatt. “Sometimes, it’s a blessing in disguise when stuff happens this way.

“You never want to lose,” he added, “but sometimes, you get to a point where you have to regroup and it brings you back down to reality and you get set for next week.”

It was a special night for the Yellowjackets, who spoiled homecoming for the Bucs.

“It’s the biggest game of the season,” said Koedel. “Everybody is going to remember this for the rest of their lives.

“We knew what we had to do and everybody came out and played fantastic.”

Notes: Travis Hall also intercepted a pass for the Yellowjackets. ... Freeport running back Damon Smith did not play in the second half, but is expected to return next week.