FREEPORT

It hasn’t been the most ideal season for the Freeport High School football team, which has only dressed 20 players at its maximum.

On Saturday, the Falcons took on Mountain Valley for their Homecoming game at Pownal Road Recreational Field, and Freeport showed perseverance through a 24-18 double overtime victory to grab its second win of the season.

Both teams left the field with 2-5 records. The Falcons host Yarmouth this upcoming Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

After Freeport tied the game at 12 with 3:36 remaining, Mountain Valley drove down the field to the F-10. A pass attempt was made toward the end zone, but Freeport’s Joshua Bushey stepped in and snatched it for the interception at the 3-yard line, giving Freeport another life and forcing overtime.

“That’s a big step for us this year,” Freeport coach Rob Grover said at the end of the game. “We haven’t been able to do those things. It’s a huge step for us. It’s a huge positive for our program.”

Stepping stones

Freeport started the festivities by winning the coin toss and electing to receive, a move that paid off. Just 2:47 into the first quarter, Brady LaFrance took a hand-off from quarterback Eli Fox and ran 35 yards for the first score of the game.

After the 2-point conversion attempt failed, Freeport held a 6-0 lead.

Mountain Valley started with the ball at its own 36-yard line and after a 3:25 drive, the visitors found themselves on the F-36. What seemed like an opportunity to answer on the scoreboard turned the other way when Fox came through for an interception.

Freeport seemed to take the momentum back, but the very next play resulted in a fumble recovered by Mountain Valley, which found itself closer to the goal-line at the F-24.

On third-down-and-five, Mountain Valley quarterback Ian Austin scanned the field in the pocket, but after finding no available receiver he cut left and ran 18 yards to paydirt, tying the game at six.

Mountain Valley went into halftime with a 12-6 lead after Austin dished up a 29-yard pass to Nick Newman with 6:10 remaining.

After a scoreless third quartrer, Freeport drained 6:41 off the clock, running the ball 11 of 12 plays for 44 yards, including a 2-yard rush by Bushey for a TD to tie the game at 12.

In overtime, Freeport had the first chance on offense. After a 5-yard loss to start the drive, Fox took two steps back before lofting a 15-yard pass to LaFrance in the back of the end zone to put the Falcons up 18-12.

Mountain Valley answered on its attempt when Jordan Parent rushed 10 yards to paydirt, tying the game at 18, but a failed kick sent the game into a second OT.

Since Freeport elected to take first possession in the first extra session, Mountain Valley made its attempt to take the lead. After a personal foul put Mountain Valley at secondand 21, Freeport’s defense bore down and stopped the Falcons from advancing.

Freeport’s chance to end it in style occurred on third-andeight when Fox threw a pass to Jake Perry in the back-left side of the end zone, giving the Falcons a 24-18 victory.

“You just have to trust yourself and trust your team,” Perry said about staying focused in the high-pressure situations. “This is what you work hard for.”

Freeport’s defense had its work cut out for itself toward the end of the fourth quarter and LaFrance knew it had to be a team effort to make things work.

“You just try to hit low and take the guys down,” he said. “You hope that your team is there to back you up and help you take care of it.”

Grover says Saturday’s game against Mountain Valley was his proudest moment.

“They didn’t quit,” he said. “They could have very easily because (Mountain Valley) was moving the ball very well on us. Our low numbers and keeping that all together, we’ve survived the season with just 20 kids and to take this away, their Homecoming, especially for the seniors, that was good for them.”