FREEPORT - After Friday night's high school football game, Shady Side Academy was left to wonder what might have been.

Shady Side took a 12-7 lead into the second quarter on the road against Freeport before big plays doomed the Indians.

The Yellowjackets (3-4, 2-3) jumped on top at halftime, 28-12, before holding on for a 28-14 win in Allegheny Conference action.

Shady Side (2-5, 1-4) couldn't capitalize on three chances inside Freeport's 15-yard line in the fourth quarter.

"A lot of this is my fault," said Shady Side head coach Dave Havern, whose team threw an interception and turned the ball over on downs twice in the red zone. "I made a couple calls that I probably shouldn't have made."

"They did a good job," Freeport coach Bill Dillen said of his team's defense. "We made a couple adjustments and put a couple of other kids in there. They came through."

After the second failed attempt in Freeport territory, the Indians caused a fumble but couldn't produce a turnover. The only points Shady Side could muster after a productive first quarter was a safety, thanks to a botched fake punt attempt.

"Shady Side doesn't have a lot of kids, but Dave Havern and his defensive coordinator do a tremendous job," Dillen said. "Their kids are always in the right spot. Their kids are tough, they just don't have a lot of numbers."

Turnovers and special teams errors ultimately cost Shady Side as Freeport began two drives just outside the red zone.

Thanks to the errors, the game turned quickly in the Yellowjackets' favor.

With the Indians leading, Shady Side running back Terrel Andrews fumbled, leading to the go-ahead Freeport touchdown.

After a quick three and out by the Indians, Freeport running back A.J. Vidra returned a punt 57 yards for a touchdown and a 21-12 Yellowjackets advantage.

"That got us a little momentum," Dillen said. "That turns things around when you get a special teams play like that."

The Indians defense was put in a hole again on the next possession as Josh Schrecengost returned an interception 49-yards to the Shady Side 21-yard line.

Three plays later, Bryan Zimmerman, who finished with 110 passing yards and two touchdowns, found Schrecengost in the corner of the end zone.

Schrecengost led Freeport with five catches for 82 yards and two touchdowns.

Andrews, who led Shady Side with 122 rushing yards, broke a 70-yard touchdown run on the game's second play from scrimmage for a 6-0 Indians' advantage.

Two series later, Schrecengost dove for a 31-yard touchdown pass from Zimmerman for a 7-6 Freeport lead.

Both teams continue conference play next week as Freeport travels to conference-leading Valley Friday while Shady Side hosts once-beaten Burrell Saturday.