'Jackets shut out Summit
HERMAN — As a running back, Freeport's Damon Smith has shown he doesn't mind getting his hands a little dirty.
On Saturday, he took it one step further.
On a snowy, muddy field, the junior carried 39 times for 200 yards and three touchdowns to power the Yellowjackets to a 27-0 victory over host Summit Academy.
The win allowed Freeport (7-2, 6-1) to join Shady Side Academy as Allegheny Conference champions, although Freeport will get the higher seed since the Yellowjackets defeated the Indians earlier this season.
The Yellowjackets used Smith early and often as he accounted for 21 of the team's 23 first-half carries, and 39 of 49 total offensive plays for the game.
“Damon has been our workhorse all year,” Freeport coach John Gaillot said. “Honestly, we wanted to spread things out (at the start of the season), but he's been a factor.
“We found something and we were going with it. We have other things that can go with it, but we'll run with it while we can,” Gaillot added.
After the Yellowjackets recovered the opening kickoff when the Knights failed to down the ball, Freeport needed just five plays to travel 25 yards, the latter a 17-yarder — all carries by Smith — to take a 7-0 lead.
Both teams exchanged fumbles on the sloppy surface, but the Yellowjackets added to their lead when they went on a 13-play, 77-yard drive, capped by a Smith 9-yard run midway through the second quarter.
Smith toted the ball the first eight plays, then Freeport used a 17-yard pass to Sean Carson from Brendan Lynch, before going back to Smith for the final four plays.
“Being in the slop here definitely was a disadvantage,” Summit Academy coach Steve Sherer said. “Hats off to Freeport. They came prepared and scored.”
Freeport outgained the Knights 128-39 in the first half and came out on another 13-play drive to open the second half. But Smith fumbled on the SA 22 and Alex Rodriguez recovered to give the Knights (3-6, 3-4) the ball.
Freeport would get the ball back three plays later when Carson intercepted Sean McCausland. But Freeport's Brendan Lynch fumbled the handoff three plays later and the Knights recovered at their own 8-yard line.Freeport forced the Knights to punt. Jon Turner blocked McCausland's punt and Levi Negley recovered at the 9-yard line.Smith scored his third touchdown on the ensuing play as Freeport took a 19-0 lead with 11:12 left in the game.Lynch added a 4-yard keeper on Freeport's next possession to close out the scoring.Freeport limited the Knights to 55 total yards while Summit Academy surrendered just 220 yards.“Our defense played well,” Sherer said. “I think that might have been the best our defense played all year. Offensively, we couldn't get the big play ... it was the turnovers that hurt us.”Freeport will now await tonight's WPIAL playoff pairings to determine their first-round opponent.“It didn't matter what happened (Friday night) and doesn't matter if we were first, second or fourth in the conference,” Gaillot said. “In my heart, I thought we'd show up and play as hard as we can. When you do that, good things will happen.“I wish I could turn back the clock to our first scrimmage against Kittanning. These kids were unsure of themselves. Now, they're confident. It's been unbelievable.“I'm happy for how far we've matured. We're playing as well as I thought,” Gaillot added.<B>Notes:</B> The Knights finished the season on a four-game losing streak against all four teams from the conference that are playoff bound. ... The game saw six fumbles, five being lost. ... Freeport has made the playoffs in all four seasons with Gaillot as head coach. ... Smith has now rushed for 1,210 yards and 18 touchdowns on 213 carries.Freeport 27 Summit Academy 0<B></B>Freeport 7 6 0 14 — 27Summit Academy 0 0 0 0 — 0F SA12 First Downs 347-203 Rushes-Yards 30-5517 Passing Yards 01-2-0 Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) 1-3-1220 Total Yards 553-3 Fumbles-Lost 3-26-40 Penalties-Yards 3-12<B>First Quarter</B>F — Damon Smith 17 run (Dave Heidenger kick), time not available —<B>Second Quarter</B>F — Smith 9 run (run failed), no time available<B>Fourth Quarter</B>F — Smith 9 run (kick failed), 11;12F — Brendan Lynch 4 run (Sean Carson pass from Lynch), 4:55<B>Individual StatisticsPassing:</B> Freeport, Brendan Lynch 1-2-17-0. Summit Academy, Sean McCausland 1-2-0-1, Chris Highsmith 0-1-0-0.<B>Rushing:</B> Freeport, Damon Smith 39-200, Brendan Lynch 5-6, Josh Wisniewski 1-0, Team 2-(-3). Summit Academy, Chris Highsmith 13-25, Javon Cooper 2-11, Raymont Bentley 2-7, Yasin Lowman 3-7, Sean McCausland 10-5.<B>Receiving:</B> Freeport, Sean Carson 1-17. Summit Academy, Rashaun Burney 1-0.
