FORD CITY — With a dominating defense and a potent rushing attack, Ford City shut out Freeport 20-0 Friday night to take the lead in the Allegheny Conference.

Freeport (3-2, 2-1) was coming off an impressive win last week over Burrell.

But Ford City (5-0, 3-0) showed why it is undefeated.

With the Sabers looking to exact revenge after a 6-0 loss to the Yellowjackets last season, Ford City stuffed Freeport's usually effective rushing offense.

Senior running back Jake Campbell, who came into the game with 318 yards and five touchdowns through four games, was ineffective. Campbell managed only 39 yards on 11 carries.

That forced Freeport coach John Gaillot to go to the air.

Brendan Lynch, Freeport's 5-foot-10 sophomore quarterback, had to scramble from the relentless Ford City pass rush, but he remained poised.

"He's a heck of a player," Gaillot said. "Even though he's only a sophomore, Brendan is playing for us like an upperclassman."

Lynch was 9 for 20 for 135 yards, with long completions of 35, 29, and 23 yards — the final two going to his favorite target, senior wide receiver Derek Durand.

Durand caught six passes for 90 yards, but the Sabers kept the Yellowjackets off the scoreboard.

Despite an early 14-0 deficit, Freeport had a chance near the end of the first half to put some points on the board.

On two consecutive drives, the Yellowjackets moved inside the Ford City 20 only to stall near the goal line.

On the first drive, three consecutive incompletions from the 14 were followed by a sack for a turnover on downs.

On the second drive, with less than a minute in the half, Freeport spiked the ball on first down and followed that with three incompletions to end the half.

Asked why he didn't go to Campbell, near the goal line, Gaillot said, "We thought we had some mismatches down there. They're a very good team."

Ford City's run-pass ratio was 32-6, with the handoffs going to a platoon of running backs.

Leading the way was senior Kent Commodore, who finished with 92 yards and a 63-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

"Our backs would get no yards without our offensive line," Ford City quarterback Cody Gispanski said. "They're the main key to our running game."

After the loss, Gaillot said he is going to hit the reset button: the season starts next week.

"I need to make some changes," Gaillot said. "We need to pound the ball more."