BUFFALO TWP — As a Yellowjacket homecoming crowd waited for a forecasted downpour, so too did Freeport and East Allegheny to put an end to a second-half lull.

Midway through the fourth quarter, the sky opened and a football fell out of it. The Wildcats had been trailing by two scores for much of the contest, but Mike Smith's 37-yard touchdown pass to Tre Jeter gave the visitors newfound hope.

The Yellowjackets didn't allow them to have it for much longer in what ended up being a soggy 17-7 triumph.

After Smith's strike, momentum continued to slip from the Yellowjackets' fingers. The offense went three-and-out. Then, East Allegheny's Mekhi Mector coughed up the football on a pitch play. Zach Clark's recovery allowed for Vincent Clark to seal the deal in a downpour, splitting the uprights on a 37-yard boot.

“(Clark) makes 50-yarders in practice all the time,” Freeport coach John Gaillot said. “That was huge.”

The 'Jackets could only muster 112 yards of total offense. By no means was it a pretty victory. When needed, though, the defense did its job. Andrew Sullivan, Garrett King, and Cole Charlton picked off passes. The unit allowed the Wildcats only 19 rushing yards.

Charlton's interception, which came two plays into the second quarter and was returned for a score, followed a Ben Lane rushing touchdown late in the first period.

The next time Freeport gained possession, it drove 34 yards on nine plays, with help from a pair of Wildcat infractions. However, Vincent Clark pulled his first field goal attempt widfe left.

The Wildcats would have their try blocked by Aidan Lindsay in the waning moments of the first half. After the break, they would march deep into Freeport territory, but King's takeaway thwarted the chance.

The teams traded possession without altering the scoreboard until Smith jolted the contest awake.

“It felt like the game was going on forever,” Gaillot said, water dripping from his camouflage hat. “As long as we get the W, I don't care.”

East Allegheny 0 0 0 7 — 7

Freeport 7 7 0 3 — 17

First Quarter

F — Ben Lane 3 run (Vincent Clark kicjk), :38

Second Quarter

F — Cole Charlton 24 interception retrurn (Clark kick), 11:48

Fourth Quarter

EA — Tre Jeter 37 pass from Mike Smith (Matrt Armenio kick), 6:31

F — Clark 38 field goal, 2:51

Individual Statistics

Rushing: East Allegheny, Mekhi Manor 1-10, Prashaun Gainer 1-6, Steve Robbins 1-5, Mike Smuith 14-4, Kamron Marshall 1-(-5). Freeport, Shane Jack 13-31, Ben Lane 8-24, Garrett King 3-4, Zach Clark 1-3, Brady Stivension 4-(-6).

Passing: East Allegheny, Mike Smith 14-30-164-3, Michael Cahill 0-1-0-0. Freeport, Ben Lane 12-23-56-3, Garrett King 0-1-0-0.

Receiving: East Allegheny, Prashaun Gainer 7-80, Tre Jeter 3-56, Michael Cahill 1-24, Mekhi Manor 4-10. Freeport, Garrett King 34-18, Brady Stivenson 6-15, Cole Charlton 1-8, Vincent Clark 2-7.