FREEPORT — East Allegheny and Freeport trotted onto Swartz Memorial Field on Friday night in need of a victory to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Kyle Whipple led his Wildcats over the top.

The senior quarterback completed 7-of-8 passes for 203 yards in the opening half to spot East Allegheny a 31-0 cushion during a 38-14 victory over Freeport in an Allegheny Conference showdown.

“We came out in the first half and played absolutely outstanding,” said East Allegheny coach Dom Pecora. “The defense was impressive and the offense was tremendous.”

Whipple finished 12-of-18 for 252 yards and a touchdown. He added 16 yards and three touchdowns on six carries.

Whipple scored the opening touchdown on a 3-yard plunge, which was set up by a 49-yard connection to Praise Gainer.

After a botched punt attempt, the Wildcats (3-4, 3-4) took over on the Freeport 8-yard line, but settled for a 25-yard field goal from Vinny Barone for an early 10-0 advantage.

The big blow came after the Yellowjackets pinned East Allegheny at its own 2-yard line following a pooch punt from Andrew Romanchak. The Wildcats went deep and Whipple hit Rocco Dunn in stride for a 98-yard touchdown, pushing the advantage to 17-0 with 1:53 left in the first.

“We hit big plays in the pass game. We have to do that stuff. We have athletes to do that against almost anybody,” said Pecora. “We were having a hard time running the ball. They're solid up front.

“I knew when they pressed Rocco that I was going to take a shot at it. Thank God the kids blocked for it,” he added. “I would say that was the play of the game.”

Taizjon Brown tacked on a 10-yard touchdown jaunt and a Freeport fumble set up an 8-yard scoring scamper from Whipple to make it 31-0.

The Yellowjackets marched down to the EA 14-yard line toward the end of the second quarter, but Gainer picked off Romanchak in the end zone to end the threat.

The loss all but mathematically eliminates Freeport (2-5, 2-5) from postseason contention.

“It's all on me, this whole season. I didn't press the right buttons,” said Freeport coach John Gaillot. “The kids worked their tail off all year and I just can't find the right combination to keep us going. They deserve a lot of credit for working so hard.”

Freeport regrouped in the second half and found the end zone on a 20-yard scamper from Steven Lassinger. The touchdown was set up by a 65-yard fumble return from Brandon Hochbein, who snagged an errant pitch on a fourth-down play.

East Allegheny answered early in the fourth quarter with a 1-yard touchdown from Whipple on a quarterback sneak.

Freeport capped the scoring when Romanchak scooted into the end zone from 2 yards out following a 17-yard run from Mitchell O'Shell. Romanchak hit Josh Brestensky for the two-point conversion.

“They're resilient. They fight constantly,” said Gaillot. “That's all we ask of them.”

Michael Troup, one of eight players recognized before the game for Senior Night, tallied a team-high 73 rushing yards on 12 carries.

“Seniors are unbelievable,” said Gaillot. “They're our heart and soul.

“They're great kids,” he added of his team. “All 58 of them, they're like my sons.”

East Allegheny will need to win its conference finale against Burrell next week to stay alive for the playoffs and hope Summit Academy loses its final three games against Valley, Shady Side Academy and Freeport.

“This helps us stay alive for the playoffs,” said Pecora. “It's a lot easier to practice during the week when you know you have a shot to make the playoffs. That's what the significance of this week is. It's huge.”