Jack Davenport’s header goal in the 38th minute of Freeport’s matchup with North Yarmouth Academy on Friday afternoon broke open a long deadlock. It put the Falcons up 1-0 and propelled them into the second half, where they eventually tallied two more and secured a 3-0 win over the Panthers – no mean feat.

Freeport head coach Joe Heathco described a few of the positive turns his boys have recently taken:

“We’ve got Callum [Gould, senior midfielder] back,” he said. “He was out for over a week, with a broken nose – his nose is still crooked, but he’s playing. The guys, when he was gone, got to play a little bit, got that experience.

“And we changed our formation a little bit, to try and take advantage of Callum being back, because a lot of the guys have been playing well. So I think positionally, maybe that helped a little bit.

“And just the intensity, and fire; we brought it today. It gave us that little bit of edge. Because DJ [Nicholas, NYA senior] is one of the better players, one of the top goal-scorers in the state, ever.”

The homefield victory is Freeport’s second in a row; they struggled through the early season – or, rather, they didn’t struggle so much as they constantly found themselves thwarted by a mischievous universe, since they typically kept close to even the top teams in B West. But for seven games, they nevertheless failed to nab that critical first W.

Then, last week, came a narrow, 2-1 victory over Lake Region, a game that evidently whet their appetites. While the Lakers are just 1-8 in 2014, and sit below the Falcons in the Heal Point standings, it’s universally unwise to scoff at any challenger.

“Hats off to Lake Region,” Heathco said. “They played a great game. They worked super hard and made it tough. We barely got that one. They actually had a lead.

“I was telling the boys, ‘It’s unreal how nothing’s been easy this year.’ So for this one to end up 3-0, it’s pretty sweet. I’m psyched.”

Asked if the Falcons were finally breaking their season open, Davenport said, “Yeah, I think we are. After that first win, under our belt, we’re just on a roll. We just have to keep playing our game.”

As for NYA, the Panthers are well on the positive side of .500 and a respectable force in Class C. So for Freeport to blank them may indicate, finally, a coming together of the Falcons’ hard work and sharpening skills.

The annual regular-season meeting between Freeport and NYA has carried special significance for more than a decade. Each year, the winner takes home the McDougall Cup, named after Sean McDougall, a former Falcon who went on to be assistant coach at NYA before losing his life at sea in 2000.

The teams traded offensive opportunities through most of the first half, but neither could convert, though NYA came breathtakingly close on an inside, open shot that rolled just high. Then, with time winding down, Davenport forced his way inward on the Panthers’ net and took up a position near the left post – just the perfect spot, it turned out, to leap and get cranial contact on a ball incoming from the far right corner. NYA keeper Clayton Manchester hadn’t nearly enough time to get back across the net, and Davenport’s redirect sailed easily in. 1-0.

Freeport took their slim advantage into the break, where they must’ve nurtured the confidence it’d given them. When they returned, after all, they pulled still further ahead, and put the game away.

Josh Spaulding dealt the Falcons’ second blow – another laser-guided header – with roughly 25 minutes to play. Loitering unmarked mere inches from the Panthers’ right post, he leapt when a rebound sailed his way, turning delicate contact into a surgical strike, an almost-vertically-downward shot that found the bottom corner of the NYA net. 2-0.

“[Josh] couldn’t wait for that to get to him,” Heathco said, chuckling. “I could see him.”

Eight minutes later, Davenport earned his second, this one not simply a display of his dexterity but also of his power. Charging forward, up the middle and in possession, he managed to maintain control even as Panther Colby Mills harassed him mightily. When Manchester emerged from the net to also challenge, Davenport hacked the ball up; it drifted clear of the ensuing collision of bodies and rolled, almost lazily, in. 3-0 the final.

“I’m just helping my team out,” Davenport said. “Mostly doing what I need to do on the soccer field to make a win happen.”

“We’ve seen that we can play with the absolute best teams in the state,” Heathco said. “[Like] Cape and Greely. We knew that we could play; it was just a matter of getting that lead. Hopefully we’ve gotten that monkey off our back, with the zero wins, and can just relax enough.

“I’m hoping that’s the case – because the teams are tough. Our league has gotten better. That’s what we’re seeing, with Lake Region being such a tough game for us. Poland’s better, a lot better. Traip is going to be tough.”

Caleb Abbott, Nate Smail and Kyle Rosado had one assist a piece for Freeport, who advanced to 2-6-1 on the year. They linger in 11th place, outside the playoffs bracketing – but with five games remaining on their schedule, they still have plenty of time to turn heads and capture a berth. Their next matchup is a road game, an Oct. 8 battle with No. 8 Poland (3-6-1). Start time is 3:30 p.m.

“I think we’re going on the right track,” said Davenport. “I think we have a chance to make playoffs this year.”

Freeport’s Josiah Otis and NYA’s Michael Pitts do battle for the ball on their way out of the Falcons’ end Friday afternoon.NYA’s Sam Johnson tries to shoulder back advancing Falcon Quinton Libsack.Freeport senior middie (and Captain) Caleb Abbott squares his chest to an incoming ball, readying himself to settle it and take control.Despite strong interference by Panthers freshman Colby Mills, Freeport junior Jack Davenport manages to loft the ball over advancing NYA keeper Clayton Manchester for his second goal of the afternoon.The Falcons hoist the McDougall Cup, the prize annually up for grabs in their regular-season bout with NYA.