Freedom Edges Easton in Down-to-the-Wire Playoff Thriller, 19-17

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Eoanna Lantinga | November 6, 2026

Freedom hosted Easton Friday night in what turned out to be a nailbiter right down to the final minute, with Freedom holding on 19-17. These two teams met only 15 days before on October 23 in what was another close game, with Freedom winning 38-35.

Easton received the ball to start the game and drove down the field in less than 3 minutes to drop 6 on the board with a 24-yard TD run from Akhir Brown. The extra point by Greyson Baker was good, Easton 7 and Freedom 0 with 9:52 in the 1st quarter. Easton defense held Freedom on their next possession and punted away to the Rovers. Freedom stopped Easton from scoring a touchdown and forced a field goal attempt which went wide right.

Freedom’s Lashawn Johnson and company took possession and went to work marching down field and getting into the end zone with a 20-yard run from Johnson. Putting Freedom on the board with 3:05 in the first quarter but the extra point attempt bounced off the upright. The quarter ended with Easton 7 and Freedom 6.

Easton was able to keep their next drive going with a few scrambles and pass completions from QB Zahviay McGurn, but the Patriots defense put an end to the drive. Freedom put together a few shorts passes and runs of their own to get down to Easton’s 18-yard line when kicker Nathan Stannard came out to hit a field goal with 9:22 in the 2nd quarter, putting the Patriots on top 9-7.

Freedom’s Nathan Stannard with the field goal. 2nd 9:22. Freedom 9 Easton 7.

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— Eoanna Lantinga (@EoannaLantinga) November 7, 2026

The remainder of the 2nd quarter would be a showcase of both teams’ defenses. With 4 seconds left in the half, Easton’s Greyson Baker hit a 35-yard field goal to take the Rovers to 10, Freedom 9 and into the locker rooms.

The second half would prove to be more running from both squads. Freedom’s Jahire Hughes made a 15-yard touchdown run with 7:05 in the 3rd as Freedom regained the lead. Easton’s Akhir Brown who was busy all-night chipping away at the Patriot’s defense, made an 8-yard touchdown run with less than 2 minutes left in the 3rd. Easton took the lead 17, 16. Freedom held possession of the ball closing out the 3rd quarter and had possession for the first 3 and half minutes of the 4th. Patroit’s kicker Nathan Stannard came out on 4th down to hit a 24-yard field goal attempt, making the score Patriots 19, Rovers 17 with 8:49 left.

Freedom’s Nathan Stannard with a 24 yd FG. 4Q 8:46. Freedom 19 Easton 17

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— Eoanna Lantinga (@EoannaLantinga) November 7, 2026

Easton took the ball at the 20-yard line after kickoff but were stopped and punted away. The Rover defense was successful in stopping quarterback Michael Stofanak and crew, as they punted back to Easton. McGurn and Brown put compiled a few runs to get the Rovers down within the red zone. The game ended on a missed 4th down field goal attempt from Easton.

Freedom will meet Nazareth Blue Eagles in the semi-finals next week and Easton will play Philipsburg Stateliners on Thanksgiving morning at Fisher Stadium.

Box Score

Freedom  6    3    7   3     19

Easton      7     3   7   0     17

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