But, the Seagulls showed why they were 3-1 coming into this contest, using a 20- point second quarter and a solid defensive effort in the second half en route to a 30-26 Campbell Conference victory, handing Freeport (2-3) its third straight loss.
The Falcons visit winless Telstar this upcoming Saturday before finishing the regular season at home against Winthrop and Yarmouth.
“They made the plays when they needed to and we didn’t, which is the difference today,” said Freeport coach Rob Grover of the 4-1 Seagulls.
“Old Orchard has a great tradition, state championships in the past, and it is tough because we are surrounded by Class A schools, with five starters at TA (Thornton Academy) and others at Cheverus,” said Seagulls coach Dean Plante.
Falcons strong
Freeport took advantage of a pass interference call to continue its first drive of the afternoon, which ended with running back Dan Burke darting outside and rumbling into the endzone on a 21-yard run for a 6-0 lead.
A bad snap on an OOB punt set Freeport up near midfield, but Devin Trumpler turned the tide toward the Seagulls when he intercepted a James Purdy pass and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown. The point-after kick gave OOB a 7- 6 lead.
Joe Nixon returned the ensuing kickoff 45 yards, and two plays later Burke scored again, this time on a 36-yard run. Purdy’s throw to Burke for the 2-point conversion gave the Falcons a 14-7 lead after a quarter, with Freeport owning a 107-40 yardage advantage.
But, the Seagulls answered with an 11-play, five-minute drive, culminating in a Bryan Roberts to Joe Gildard halfback pass for a touchdown, followed by Roberts rushing in the 2-point try for a 15-14 OOB advantage.
OOB’s defense held, forcing a punt, and Gildard broke offtackle for a 57-yard gain to the F-15. Gildard finished the quick drive three plays later on a 1-yard TD run for a 21-14 lead.
Another big kickoff return, this one by Burke for 52 yards, gave the Falcons good field position. Burke’s 6-yard run completed a three-minute march. The 2-point conversion try failed, leaving Freeport down 21-20 with 1:12 remaining until halftime.
No knee taken
The Seagulls decided to not take a knee and run out the first half clock, instead handing the ball to Quincy Grace, who found a large opening on the left side of Freeport’s defense, going 61 yards for a score and a 27-20 OOB lead at the half.
“Their offensive line was much better than I thought, dominating us throughout, and our defense had a hard time adjusting to that,” said Grover after his defense allowed 226 yards in the first half.
After 47 combined points in the first half, both defenses stiffened in the second. The Seagulls held the ball for five minutes to begin the half, but a Nixon interception ended the march.
However, the Falcons returned the favor, as a Purdy pass was picked off by Gildard.
Again, OOB used the clock, eating up nearly six minutes before Jim Strohm booted a 27-yard field goal for a 30-20 Seagulls lead with 9:49 remaining.
Freeport refused to quit, driving 56 yards in six minutes, with Ben MacMillan darting into the endzone with 3:15 remaining to get the Falcons to within 30-26.
The Freeport defense held, forcing a Seagulls punt.
Beginning at their own 13- yard line, the Falcons drove to F-43. But, a fumbled snap recovered by OOB linebacker Zach Demers put an end to the drive and preserved the Seagulls’ victory.
“These close games, you have to win to make the playoffs, but these kids never quit, something I love about this team,” said Grover. “I wish we could have gotten more offensively, and those are the things we will have to do better as we move forward.”
Burke had a game-high 126 yards on the ground on 16 carries, with Purdy chipping in 37 yards rushing and 49 yards passing (4-of-10, 49 yards, two interceptions). Burke led the Freeport defense with 15 tackles. The Falcons held a 14-10 edge in first downs and led in time of possession, 26:30- 21:30.
OOB held a slight 228-222 rushing advantage, led by Gildard’s 110 yards on 14 carries. Roberts chipped in 50 yards on the ground, while quarterback Matt Parker was 7-of-10 in the air for 107 yards. Grace paced the Seagulls defense with nine tackles, with Trumpler making eight stops.
OOB 30,
Freeport 26
At Pownal Recreation Field
OOB—72003—30
Freeport—14606—26
First quarter
F — Dan Burke 21 run (kick blocked),
6:13.
OOB — Devin Trumpler 60 interception
return (Jim Strohm kick), 2:55.
F — Dan Burke 36 run (Dan Burke pass
from James Purdy), 1:56.
Second quarter
OOB — Joe Gildard 3 pass from Bryan
Roberts (Bryan Roberts run), 9:04.
OOB — Joe Gildard 1 run (pass failed),
4:33.
F — Dan Burke 6 run (pass failed), 1:12.
OOB — Quincy Grave 61 run (pass
failed), :56.
Fourth quarter
OOB — Jim Strohm 27 FG, 9:49.
F — Ben MacMillan 5 run (pass failed),
3:15.
Records — OOB 4-1, Freeport 2-3.
Next for the Falcons — Saturday at Telstar, 1:30 p.m.
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