BUFFALO TWP — Freeport did special things on special teams.

A blocked punt and another Amos Glenn punt return for a touchdown made the difference in the Yellowjackets’ 35-27 WPIAL Class 3A football first-round playoff victory over Beaver on Friday night at Freeport Stadium.

“The game kinda went back and forth a bit. Those plays they made in the kicking game. ... Yeah, that’s what did it,” Beaver coach Cort Rowse said.

The Yellowjackets advance to play at No. 1-seed Avonworth next week in the quarterfinals.

Right after Beaver (5-6) tied the game at 7-7 midway through the first quarter, the Yellowjackets (8-3) quickly regained the lead. Amos Glenn returned the ensuing kickoff 65 yards to the Bobcats’ 30. Five plays later, Glenn scored on an 8-yard run.

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Freeport seemed ready to take a 10-point lead, but Judah Thompson’s 32-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left with 5:58 left in the first half. The Bobcats marched 85 yards in 14 plays, with Philip Marino catching a 15-yard touchdown pass on third down to knot the game at 14-14 with 16 seconds left on the clock.

Beaver took the lead by taking the second-half kickoff and marching 60 yards in 12 plays. Quarterback Travis Clear scored on a 4-yard run.

After the Bobcats’ next drive stalled, Paga broke through and blocked a Beaver punt, giving Freeport a first down at the Bobcats’ 31. Dawson Gaillot scored on a 3-yard run four plays later to knot the game at 21 with 3:05 left in the third quarter.

“We needed a momentum changer,” Glenn said. “Those things are so important, and Bryson (Paga) gave us one.”

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“They were setting up their blocking to the right,” Paga said of the punt play. “I remember telling Luke Selinger, who lined up next to me, to blow up the blocker so I could get in. He did, and I got a clear shot at the ball.”

Beaver went three-and-out and punted on its next possession. Glenn came up to catch the short kick at his own 44, darted to the left sideline and raced to the end zone for a 56-yard score. It marked his ninth kick or punt return touchdown of the season and put the Yellowjackets ahead for good.

“None of those returns happen without our blocking,” Glenn said. “I was told to run up on everything (on special teams) and catch the ball. I had to run way up to catch that one, but I caught it with a lot of momentum and the seam was there along the sideline.”

Ty Cosky booted field goals of 35 and 45 yards to keep Beaver close in the second half, but Gaillot got loose for a 45-yard touchdown run with 9:25 left in the contest, hiking Freeport’s lead to 35-24 at the time.

Gaillot replaced Glenn in the Yellowjacket backfield early in the fourth quarter.

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“He (Glenn) just tweaked something, and we didn’t want to take any chances,” Freeport coach John Gaillot said. “It was a safety thing, that’s all.”

Glenn rushed for 88 yards, giving him 1,023 for the season. His two touchdowns Friday night give him 29 touchdowns for the season.

Danny King deflected a pass Paga intercepted near midfield in the second quarter. Ross interecepted another pass in the fourth period.

Besides those plays, Clear picked up plenty of yardage for Beaver. He rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns, threw for 184 yards and a score. The senior is headed to Shippensburg University.

“We’ve been playing football here (Beaver) since 1899, and Travis has piled up more yardage than any quarterback who’s played here,” Rowse said. “I’m so proud of him.”

Beaver piled up 373 yards of offense to Freeport’s 259. But the Yellowjackets shut the door when they had to.

“This is a huge win for us,” Coach Gaillot said. “These kids faced a lot of adversity the last few weeks. They responded tonight. I’m proud of them.”

Beaver 7 7 10 3 — 27

Freeport 14 0 24 7 — 35

First Quarter

F — Drew Ross 2 run (Judah Thompson kick), 8:58

B — Travis Clear 50 run (Ty Cosky kick), 6:18

F — Amos Glenn 8 run (Thompson kick), 3:46

Second Quarter

B — Philip Marino 15 pass from Clear (Cosky kick), :16

Third Quarter

B — Clear 4 run (Cosky kick), 7:31

F — Dawson Gaillot 3 run (Thompson kick), 3:05

F — Glenn 56 punt return (Thompson kick), 1:51

B — Cosky 35 field goal, :08

Fourth Quarter

F — Gaillot 45 run (Thompson kick), 9:25

B — Cosky 26 field goal, 4:25

Individual Statistics

Passing: Beaver, Travis Clear 14-32-184-2. Freeport, Drew Ross 5-12-90-0.

Rushing: Beaver, Travis Clear 15-115, Jonah Justice 18-72, Philip Marino 1-1, Jax Weiss 1-1. Freeport, Drew Ross 9-32, Amos Glenn 14-88. Chace Flynn 2-(-4), Danny King 1-2, Dawson Gaillot 8-58, Paxton Cene 1-0, TEAM 1-(-7).

Receiving: Beaver, Mich Pupi 2-24, Philip Marino 5-75, Jonah Justice 3-35, Sincere Sly 1-33, Avery Scales 3-27. Freeport, Owen Neistein 2-43, Bryson Paga 1-1, Chace Flynn 2-32, Amos Glenn 1-15.