BUFFALO TWP — Freeport was hurt by Tevin Owen-Cratsenberg’s carries all night.

The last time the Highlands sophomore touched the football Friday night proved to be the most painful to the Yellowjackets.

Owen-Cratsenberg blocked Judah Thompson’s PAT attempt after Freeport scored the apparent tying touchdown in overtime, preserving a 28-27 victory for the Golden Rams and spoiling the Yellowjackets’ homecoming at Freeport Stadium.

“This one’s gonna sting for a while,” Freeport coach John Gaillot said.

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Owen-Cratsenberg carried 40 times for 240 yards and all four touchdowns for Highlands (4-3, 3-1 Allegheny 7). He ran for 143 yards and three scores in the first half against a Freeport defense that had not allowed more than seven points to an opponent all season.

“Owen is a great young back. He had 188 yards last week, so he’s on a roll,” Highlands coach Matt Bonislawski said. “You have to credit his offensive line, too, though.”

Highlands had a 21-7 lead at halftime before Freeport (6-1, 3-1) battled back.

“We knew this game wasn’t over at halftime,” Bonislawski said. “Freeport is too good a football team. They weren’t gonna quit, and they were gonna make adjustments.”

The Yellowjackets held the Rams scoreless in the second half. Offensively, Freeport struck through the passing game. Owen Glenn got behind the secondary, and quarterback Drew Ross hit him in stride for a 73-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.

Ross found Owen Neistein for a 39-yard scoring pass with 6:42 left in regulation, and the game was tied.

“Coach (Todd) Durand made some great defensive adjustments at halftime and those pass plays just opened up for us,” Gaillot said.

After Owen-Cratsenberg broke free for a 55-yard run, it appeared Highands was going to regain the lead. But quarterback Jamarkus Prager lost the football after running inside the Freeport 15, and the Yellowjackets’ Cole Troutman recovered.

Freeport lost a fumble of its own near midfield with 4:07 on the clock, and neither team threatened to score again in regulation.

“We made a lot of mistakes tonight,” Bonislawski said. “A couple of turnovers, we dropped some deep balls, so many penalties. ... Our kids just kept grinding. I’m so proud of their effort tonight.”

Both teams get possession at the opponent’s 10-yard line in high school football overtime. The Rams had possession first, and Owen-Cratsenberg scored his fourth touchdown on a 7-yard run on third down.

Glenn wasted little time in matching the score, taking a handoff and sneaking inside the left pylon for a 10-yard TD run on first down. The blocked PAT ended the contest.

“This was a tough one,” a somber Gaillot said, shaking his head while looking downward.

Glenn had 15 carries for 139 yards to go with his 73-yard touchdown catch for the Yellowjackets. Ross threw for 152 yards and three touchdowns. He was shaken up midway through the fourth quarter and was helped off the field.

He later returned.

“Ross is a great quarterback and a tough kid,” Bonislawski said.

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Highlands was penalized 17 times for 175 yards, 120 of those coming in the second half.

“That’s 33 penalties we’ve taken these past two gaames,” Bonislawski said. “We definitely have to clean things up.”

Freeport stays at home next Friday, hosting Hopewell.

Highlands 14 7 0 0 7 — 28

Freeport 7 0 7 7 6 — 27

First Quarter

H — Tevin Owen-Cratsenberg 2 run (Jackson Babinsack kick), 11:03

F — Chace Flynn 5 pass from Drew Riss (Judah Thjompson kick), 6:50

H — Owen-Cratsenberg 11 run (Babinsack kick), 2:17

Second Quarter

H — Owen-Cratsenberg 13 run (Babinsack kick), :27

Third Quarter

F — Amos Glenn 73 pass from Ross (Thompson kick), 2:45

Fourth Quarter

F — Owen Neistein 39 pass from Ross (Thompson kick), 6:42

Overtime

H — Owen-Cratsenberg 7 run (Babinsack kick)

F — Glenn 10 run (kick blocked)

Individual Statistics

Passing: Highlands, Jamarkus Prager 2-7-61-0. Freeport, Drew Ross 8-13-152-0.

Rushing: Highlands, Tevin Owen-Cratsenberg 30-240, Jamarkus Prager 5-34, TEAM 2-(-7), Taiyvon Partlow 5-15. Freeport, Drew Ross 6-(-5), Amos Glenn 31-139, Danny King 1-12.

Receiving: Highlands, Jahmar Wriught 1-45, Tevin Owen-Cratsenberg 1-16. Freeport, Owen Neistein 3-49, Amos Glenn 1-73, Chace Flynn 1-5, Madden Wisniewski 2-17, Bryson Paga 1-8.