FREEPORT — Offense? Who needs offense?

The Freeport football team certainly didn't require much of it.

The Yellowjackets mustered only seven first downs and 147 total yards against an aggressive and hard-hitting Summit Academy defense.

But touchdowns on defense and special teams made up for a cold offense on a very cold Friday night as Freeport downed the Knights 27-14.

"They are starting to believe in themselves, that there are other ways to get points on the board," said Freeport coach John Gaillot.

The Yellowjackets (6-3, 5-2) needed every break they could get.

That was because Summit Academy (3-6, 2-5) stifled the Freeport offense on nearly every possession.

It took the Yellowjackets more than a quarter to get their initial first down. Freeport quarterback Brendan Lynch capped that first sustained drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.

Freeport extended its lead late in the first half when Alec Stivers intercepted an errant pass by Summit Academy quarterback Andre Williams and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown.

The Knights, though, responded, scoring on a 10-yard pass from Williams to Rashaun Barney with five seconds remaining. Williams scampered into the end zone on a quarterback draw on the conversion attempt to close the score to 14-8 at halftime.

With the Freeport offense still struggling in the second half, Sean Liberto gave the Yellowjackets a much-needed lift with a dazzling 59-yard punt return.

Liberto fielded the punt on one bounce, broke three tackles and raced down the right sideline, receiving two key blocks en route to the end zone.

"We didn't break down," said Summit Academy coach Steve Sherer. "There were times we tackled well and times we didn't tackle well. We have to be more consistent."

Summit Academy, though, answered again when Williams found Richard Hitch in the back of the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown pass to close the gap to 21-14.

Williams finished 8-of-12 passing for 99 yards and two touchdowns. He did this playing with a badly injured thumb on his throwing hand.

"He's had a bad thumb for about four weeks," Sherer said. "He gets right back up and goes in. He comes out for a bit, but he's a playmaker."

While Williams was battling injuries, his teammates were dishing them out.

The Knights pounded Freeport all night, knocking receiver Derek Durand out of the game late in the first half on a ferocious hit down field.

Durand didn't return, but Gaillot said his leading receiver should be back for the playoffs next week.

Freeport senior running back Jake Campbell, who was held in check for most of the night, capped the scoring with an 18-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.

Campbell finished with 59 yards rushing on 19 carries.

Freeport will be the third-place team out of the Allegheny Conference in WPIAL Class AA.

That means the Yellowjackets will hit the road for the playoff opener, most likely against Beaver Falls, Jeannette or Seton-LaSalle, depending on how the WPIAL seeds the teams Monday.

"We're all 0-0," Gaillot said. "That's the way we are going into it."