BUFFALO TWP — Cole Charlton's first interception broke the ice in Freeport's season-opener against Deer Lakes.

His second one helped the Yellowjackets close out a tenth straight win over the Lancers in a 29-7 decision Friday at Freeport Athletic Stadium.

The first four offensive drives for the 'Jackets ended in two punts and two fumbles. The team's defense then took scoring into its own hands.

On the first play of the Lancers' fourth drive of the game, quarterback Derek Burk tried to complete a screen pass, but Charlton picked it off and raced 45 yards for the game's first score.

“I was in coverage, read the quarterback's eyes and knew exactly where he was going,” said Charlton, a junior linebacker who managed a similar effort in the fourth period, minus the touchdown.

That turnover set Freeport up at the Lancer 18 and three plays later, Andrew Sullivan scored on a 6-yard run that gave the 'Jackets a 22-7 lead with under seven minutes to go.

“His first one tonight, the one he scored on, that was just tremendous,” said Freeport coach John Gaillot. “Then he gets another one!

“Cole has turned into a leader and has such a great work ethic.”

Charlton is good friends with Garrett King, a junior who was scheduled to start at quarterback for Freeport this season, but will not play after undergoing surgery for testicular cancer.

“He's been my best friend since Lord knows how long,” Charlton said. “Everything I did tonight, I did it for him.”

With King out, the reins of the offense are now in the hands of sophomore Zach Clark, who completed just two passes for seven yards in the first half.

But he finished the game going 11-for-14 passing for 143 yards, including a swing pass to Ben Lane that the latter turned into a 57-yard scoring play that pushed Freeport's edge to 16-7 late in the third quarter.

“Zach became more comfortable as the game went on and that's why we started to throw the ball more,” Gaillot said. “We just needed him to protect the ball and finish the game healthy.”

Clark out-played Deer Lakes' Derek Burk, a freshman with a live arm.

The Lancers' one scoring drive was sparked by Burk's 76-yard bomb to Seth Sciubba that set up Bruce Allman's 1-yard scoring run on the first drive of the second half.

Otherwise, it was a frustrating night for the Deer Lakes offense.

“It's tough to get over those first-game jitters,” said Lancers coach Tim Burk, who watched his team commit 17 penalties for 154 yards. “With everything that's been going on, I hate to say that we expected it, but we still saw a lot we can build on.”

Freeport began the last two seasons by losing its first three games. Though Gaillot is pleased to start 2020 with a win, he will be looking for improved play as the 'Jackets prepare to host Apollo-Ridge next Friday.

Freeport was flagged 12 times for 110 yards and had five fumbled snaps/handoffs. Paul Sciullo recovered two of the fumbles for Deer Lakes, but neither led to points.

“You can't expect to win games doing that,” Gaillot said. “But I'm still extremely proud of the guys.”

Lane closed the scoring with a 12-yard run late in the fourth quarter and finished the game with 133 yards from scrimmage.

Deer Lakes 0 0 7 0 — 7

Freeport 0 9 7 13 — 29

Second Quarter

F — Cole Charlton 45 interception return (Parker Lucas kick), 9:29

F — Safety, Nate Burke falls on ball in end zone, 8:36

Third Quarter

DL — Bruce Allman 1 run (Burke kick), 8:31

F — Ben Lane 57 pass from Zach Clark (Lucas kick), 2:55

Fourth Quarter

F — Andrew Sullivan 6 run (kick failed), 6:57

F — Lane 12 run (Lucas kick), 1:25

Individual Statistics

Rushing:Deer Lakes, Derek Burk 10-(-20), Bruce Allman 16-46, Nigel Rossman 2-(-3), TEAM 1-(-19); Freeport, Parker Lucas 4-43, Ben Lane 19-68, Andrew Sullivan 7-20, Zach Clark 7-11, Vinnie Clark 2-11, Shane Jack 1-0, Brady Stivenson 1-8.

Passing:Deer Lakes, Burk 11-27-157-2; Freeport, Z. Clark11-14-143-0, Lane 0-1-0-0.

Receiving:Deer Lakes, Jake Thimons 3-16, Rossman 4-35, Seth Sciubba 2-97, Brandon Colledge 1-5, Allman 1-4. Freeport, Sullivan 3-17, Lucas 3-41, Lane 2-65, Stivenson 2-9, Cole Charlton 1-11.