ELIZABETH TWP, Allegheny County — Freeport sophomore receiver Brady Stivenson didn't feel the urge to fold Friday night at Warriors Stadium.

The Yellowjackets were in a 27-point halftime deficit and facing an Elizabeth Forward team desperate to relieve 20 years of frustration.

The undefeated, third-seeded Warriors had never won a WPIAL playoff game at home in their history and hadn't won a playoff game at all since 2000. A stout rushing game and crushing defense allowed Elizabeth Forward to score a 34-20 win.

The sixth-seeded Jackets (3-3) never quit battling, scoring all of their points after halftime.

“We had to believe in ourselves, take control of the game,” said Stivenson, who led Freeport with 74 receiving yards on four receptions. “It starts with offense and defense. Get three-and-outs on defense and getting the ball downfield on offense.”

Freeport, trailing 27-0, scored on its first possession after halftime by creating an opportunity on defense. The Jackets punched the ball free from Kyle Flournoy and pounced on the fumble.

On the next play, Freeport quarterback Ben Lane found Stivenson for a 31-yard touchdown.

“It really was to try and get momentum on our side,” Stivenson said. “Get the game rolling for us and it worked.”

While Lane would throw two more touchdown passes — to Mario Devivo and Colton Otterman — in the fourth, the Jackets ultimately had too much ground to make up from the first half.

Elizabeth Forward (7-0) went ahead on its first possession, scoring on a 45-yard run by DaVontay Brownfield with 8:55 left in the first quarter. The Warriors squibbed the ensuing kick-off, which bounced off the Jackets front line and was recovered by Elizabeth Forward.

Warriors coach Mike Collodi didn't want to let Vincent Clark or Lane return kicks for Freeport.

“We were avoiding No. 2 and No. 7 all night,” Collodi said. “I know they ran back quite a few punts and kickoffs this year. That's something we didn't want them to do.”

Getting a turnover off one of the kicks was a bonus.

The Warriors then marched 51 yards in seven plays, doubling their lead on a 1-yard touchdown run by Nico Mrvos.

Freeport coach John Gaillot thought Elizabeth Forward would go that direction.

“We knew they were going to do it,” Gaillot said. “We saw it on film. All year when people squibbed it we fielded them. That second one is what cost us.”

Elizabeth Forward scored four rushing touchdowns in the first half and had a balanced run attack. Kyle Flournoy, who scored twice, led the Warriors with 163 yards on 31 carries, but Mrvos also had 68 yards and scored twice.

Elizabeth Forward rushed for 318 yards on 58 carries.

Collodi said it was the best first half his team played all season.

“We put it together. The team was ready to play tonight.”

The Jackets recorded only one first down in the first half, on a 12-yard run by Lane.

Despite the slow start, Gaillot was proud of how the team rallied. Otterman's 29-yard grab cut the lead to 14 with 7:35 remaining, but Elizabeth Forward was able to grind out the clock and seal the victory.

“We had to settle down and play our style of defense,” Gaillot said. “We have a young team. We were supposed to win one game all year, that's what everyone predicted.

“We had to make some moves and to win three games, I'll take that any time. I'll take my kids over anybody.”

Freeport 0 0 6 14 — 20

Eliz.-Forward 14 13 0 7 — 34

First Quarter

E — DaVontay Brown 45 run (Andrew Smith kick), 8:55

E — Nico Mrvos 1 run (Smith kick), 5:55

Second Quarter

E — Kyle Flournoy 8 run (kick blocked), 6:35

E — Mrvos 2 run (Smith kick), :38

Third Quarter

F — Brady Stivenson 31 pass from Ben Lane (kick blocked), 10:39

Fourth Quarter

E — Flournoy 13 run (Smith kick), 10:37

F — Mario Devivo 19 pass from Lane (pass failed), 9:20

F — Colton Otterman 29 pass from Lane (Cole Charlton pass from Lane), 7:35

Individual Statistics

Rushing:Freeport, Ben Lane 8-10, Vincent Clark 1-2. Elizabeth-Forward, Kyle Flournoy 31-163, DeVontay Brownfield 9-79, Nico Mrvos 9-68, Zach Boyd 3-32, Zion White 6-(-24).

Passing:Freeport, Ben Lane 12-19-145-1. Elizabeth-Forward, Zion White 4-5-68-0, Nico Mrvos 2-2-8-0.

Receiving:Freeport, Brady Stivenson 4-74, Mario Devivo 5-42, Colton Otterman 1-29, Vinnie Clark 1-11, Zach Clark 1-6. Elizabeth-Forward, Nico Mrvos 1-42, Vernon Settles 1-17, DaVontay Brownfield 3-13, Zach Boyd 1-4.