BUFFALO TWP — Freeport needed a wake-up call.

Burrell's offense provided it.

The Bucs marched 56 yards in 11 plays, taking 5½ minutes off the first quarter clock, and took an early 6-0 lead on quarterback Alex Arledge's 1-yard sneak in Friday's Allegheny Seven Conference football game.

The early deficit seemed to energize the Yellowjackets on both sides of the ball as they soon took the lead for good in a 38-18 home victory.

Freeport had not played a game since Sept. 25 when it defeated Derry. The team had its next two games canceled due to concerns over exposure to COVID-19.

“We weren't able to come together as a team until this past Monday and that was a concern,” said Freeport coach John Gaillot. “Our emotions were running high before the game tonight, but then we got out there at the start of the game and kind of flat-lined.

“That early score made us hone in on what we needed to do.”

Defensively, that meant getting to Arledge, who was averaging 173 yards passing per game.

The 'Jackets unleashed their front seven on the senior signal caller, sacked him seven times and pressured him on nearly every pass play.

Arledge finished the game completing just eight of 26 passes for 64 yards and was intercepted twice.

One theft was returned 16 yards for a touchdown by Vinny Clark that put Freeport ahead 21-6 in the first minute of the second half.

“Alex Arledge is a great quarterback,” said Gaillot. “If you give him time, he'll pick you apart.”

Freeport's offense, which inserted running back Ben Lane in at quarterback prior to the Derry game, also contributed much to Friday's win.

But unlike his first start at quarterback when he starred on both the ground and through the air, Lane relied almost exclusively on his right arm against the Bucs.

Held to less than one yard per carry, Lane connected on 12 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns.

The first scoring pass came just 56 seconds after Burrell had broken the ice as Lane hit Mario Devivo for a 19-yard strike.

In the second quarter, it was Vinny Clark snagging a 31-yard scoring toss.

“I came into this game with the same mind-set as I had against Derry,” said Lane. “Show up, dominate and win.

“They had three guys spying me tonight, so we knew we had to throw the ball,” he added. “They couldn't cover our receivers.”

Clark, who booted five extra points and a 37-yard field goal in the game, caught seven passes for 126 yards and the touchdown.

Brady Stivenson added a pair of receptions for 38 yards.

“There were times when I thought we should be trying to run the ball more,” said Gaillot, “but the receivers were catching the ball like crazy.

“Devivo and Stivenson both had receptions on toe drags near the sideline and the ball was right where it needed to be.”

Elijah Freeman, Logan Jendrejewski, Colton Otterman and Billy Lyons led the charge against Arledge, each tallying a sack.

Only a Freeport fumble in its own end in the third quarter and a long kickoff return in the fourth set the Bucs (2-4, 2-3) up for their two scores in the second half.

Freeport (3-1, 3-0) faces undefeated North Catholic next Friday.

“We're not a perfect team, but we're young and we continue to grow,” said Gaillot.

Burrell 6 0 6 6 — 18

Freeport 7 7 7 17 — 38

First Quarter

B — Alex Arledge 1 run (kick blocked), 3:54

F — Mario Devivo 19 pass from Ben Lane (Vinny Clark kick), 2:58

Second Quarter

F — Clark 31 pass from Lane (Clark kick), 8:14

Third Quarter

F — Clark 16 interception return (Clark kick), 11:12

B — Arledge 5 run (run failed), 3:52

Fourth Quarter

F — Clark 37 field goal, 10:38

F — Lane 4 run (Clark kick), 4:11

F — Lane 17 punt return (Clark kick), 2:58

B — Ian Durci 1 run (run failed), 2:36

Individual Statistics

Rushing:Burrell, Caden DiCaprio 3-5, Ian Durci 6-35, Alex Arledge 9-(-25), AJ Corrado 19-81. Freeport, Ben Lane 20-12, Vinny Clark 2-4, Brady Stivenson 1-6, Logan Jendrejewski 2-7, TEAM 1-(-13).

Passing:Burrell, Arledge 8-26-64-2. Freeport, Lane 12-20-204-1.

Receiving:Burrell, Durci 3-26, Corrado 3-6, Brayden Callahan 2-32. Freeport, Clark 7-126, Mario Devivo 2-32, Cole Charlton 1-8, Stivenson 2-38.