Freeport's Ben Lane carries the ball past Armstrong's Jaxson Crissman during a game at Freeport Stadium on Friday.

BUFFALO TWP — Freeport kept up as best it could.

At home, the Yellowjackets clashed with Armstrong for the first time in the two programs' histories. Armstrong used a 34-point second quarter to come away with a 48-14 victory.

Following a scoreless first period, both teams finally found the endzone in the second.

Armstrong running back Alex Patton capped off a short, four-play, 28-yard possession with a six-yard rushing score on the first play of the quarter. Freeport's Ben Lane fielded the ensuing kickoff and raced 94 yards for a touchdown.

Later in the period, after a Yellowjackets fumble recovered by Caleb Retzer, the Riverhawks' Jaxon Crissman muscled his only carry of the night across the goal-line.

Garrett King pulled the hosts back even a little over two minutes later, with a touchdown pass to Jacksen Reiser.

Then, the Yellowjackets downshifted and Armstrong pulled away. Over the next four minutes, junior signal-caller Cadin Olsen bookended Freeport's three-and-out with a pair of touchdown strikes, one to senior Connor Cigola and another to senior Noah Shuttleworth. With five seconds to spare before the intermission, he threw another to Dozick Zablocki.

Combined with the humid weather, not having as deep of a roster as Armstrong played a big part in the loss, Freeport coach John Gaillot said.

“We got some pressure on (Olsen), but we just ran out of gas, basically,” Gaillot said. “When they have 68 on one side and we have 30, trying to stay fresh, we just got worn down ... The kids played hard. I mean, they cramp up, get off for two plays, come back for three, cramp up again. It's just not having the depth that hurt us.”

In total, Olsen tossed three scores, but the Riverhawks attack was by no means one-dimensional. Patton, a sophomore, hit paydirt three times, including twice in the second half.

Gaillot wonders how fond the football gods are of him and his squad, but sees the loss as a lesson.

“It opens up our eyes,” Gaillot said. “We've just got to work harder ... We've got a really tough schedule starting out.”

Armstrong 0 34 7 7 — 48 Freeport 0 14 0 0 — 14 Second Quarter

A — Alex Patton 6 run (Hunter Reed kick), 11:55

F — Ben Lane 94 kick return (Vincent Clark kick), 11:40

A — Jaxon Crissman 3 run (Hunter Reed kick), 9:11

F — Jacksen Reiser 24 pass from Garrett King (Vincent Clark kick), 6:54

A — Connor Cigola 16 pass from Cadin Olsen (Run failed), 4:34

A — Noah Shuttleworth 50 pass from Cadin Olsen (Hunter Reed kick), 2:26

A — Dozick Zablocki 14 pass from Cadin Olsen (Hunter Reed kick), :05

Third Quarter

A — Alex Patton 2 run (Hunter Reed kick), 8:39

Fourth Quarter

A — Alex Patton 17 run (Hunter Reed kick), 10:44

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Armstrong, Alex Patton 13-78, Caleb Retzer 7-38, Kyan Kline 2-21 Jaxon Crissman 1-3, Hunter Wagner 1-(-3), Cadin Olsen 5-(-28) Freeport, Zach Clark 3-29, Ben Lane 7-26, Sean Selinger 1-(-4), Brady Sullivan 1-(-5), Garrett King 10-(-27).

Passing: Armstrong, Cadin Olsen 16-29-248-0 Freeport, Garrett King 7-22-74-1, Sean Selinger 1-2-14-0.

Receiving: Armstrong, Noah Shuttleworth 5-156, Dozick Zablocki 2-32, Connor Cigola 3-28. Freeport, Jacksen Reiser 4-56, Brady Stivenson 1-34, Taylor King 1-14, Vincent Clark 1-8, Brady Sullivan 1-5, Gavin Croney 1-5.

Freeport’ (7) Vincent Clark breaks a tackle from Armstrong (48) Layne Hepner during a game at Freeport Stadium on Friday. Jason Swanson/SPECIAL TO THE EAGLE

Freeport #8 Garrett King receives instructions during a game against Armstrong at Freeport Stadium on Friday Jason Swanson/SPECIAL TO THE EAGLE

Freeport (22) Jacksen Reiser and (9) Parker Lucas sack Armstrong #4 Cadin Olsen during a game at Freeport Stadium on Friday. Jason Swanson/SPECIAL TO THE EAGLE