BUFFALO TWP — Experience.

It's what Freeport football coach John Gaillot said made the difference in the Yellowjackets' 37-12 loss to Valley in Friday's season finale for both teams at Freeport Stadium.

“They're a very good football team,” Gaillot said of the Vikings. “They're bigger and stronger than us up front, and my hats are off to them. They had more experience than we did.”

Getting extra practice will serve as a chance for Freeport to build toward the future. The Yellowjackets got some growing pains out of the way throughout this season.

“These young kids getting the repetitions that they've got against high quality teams, you can't simulate that anywhere,” Gaillot said.

Gaillot referenced Freeport's loss to powerhouse Aliquippa in which the Yellowjackets (4-5, 3-4) were behind 3-0 in the third quarter.

He also spoke of the season as a success.

“There's a ton of positives,” he said. “We went beyond the expectations of everybody, winning four games.”

Freeport reached the WPIAL semis last year, but was expected by many to have a poor season while rebuilding.

One player who shined was Austin Romanchak, who never played quarterback before this season. Romanchak finished with 146 yards on 24 carries against Valley.

Despite Romanchak's efforts, the Yellowjackets couldn't stay with the Vikings, despite being down 12-6 in the third quarter.

Valley extended its lead when Tyler Green connected with Nijal Rodgers for a 78-yard touchdown pass. The two-point try failed, and the Vikings (6-3, 5-2) led 18-6 with 2:09 left in the third quarter.

The game was never close after that, with Valley tacking on three more touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Freeport's lone foray into the end zone came on a four-yard run by Conor Selinger with 1:54 to play.

“The first part of the game we hung in there with them, but that lack of experience caught up to us,” Gaillot said.

Valley got on the board midway through the first when Chase Balla broke free for a 30-yard touchdown dash. The extra-point try was blocked, so the Vikings led 6-0.

They made the score 12-0 late in the second quarter when Nijal Rodgers scooped up a punt return off a bounce and ran 35 yards down the right sideline for the touchdown and 12-0 lead.

Freeport kicker Jacob Sarver nailed a 36-yarder as time expired before halftime. He made the score 12-6 with a 32-yard field goal with 7:23 left in the third.

Rodgers finished with two punt returns for touchdowns and three catches for 106 yards and a touchdown.

“He's like lightning,” Valley coach Muzzy Colosimo said. “He's always been a good kick returner. We've been waiting for this day to break out.”

Heading into the game Valley was in contention for a playoff wild card spot. Despite the win, the Vikings didn't make the playoffs. South Park grabbed the final bid with a win over Yough.

Colosimo said there was not a sense of urgency in the locker room.

“Everybody was talking about, 'We need to win by this, we need to do this,'” he said. “All I know is, if you don't win it doesn't matter what happens. So all I talked to them was about winning the game.”

Gaillot spoke of Freeport's seniors.

“They did a great job, for four years most of them,” he said. “We'll surely miss them, but the future's very bright.”