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Freedom Tops Easton in Last-Second Thriller, 38-35

 
Tagged under: District 11, Gameday Hub, News, pfn

| October 24, 2026

The Freedom Patriots were able to hold off the Easton Rovers in a back and forth battle Friday night, securing a narrow 38–35 victory in the final 2 seconds.

Freedom kicked off to Easton to start the game, as the sunset over the bleachers. The Patriots held the Rovers on their first possession and quickly capitalized with a handoff from QB Mike Stofanak to Lashawn Johnson for a 30-yard touchdown run. With the extra point bouncing off the upright, Freedom took the lead 6-0 in the 1st quarter with 9:48 to go. Easton quickly marched down the field and answered with a QB keeper by Zahviay McGurn to make it 7-6 Easton. With 2:19 still left in the first quarter, Freedom’s Johnson took the ball into to the endzone with a run up the middle, making it Freedom 13 Easton 7.


But the Rovers would have an answer of their own, as McGurn handed the ball to Akhir Brown for a short 2-yard run touchdown with 1:02 on the clock in the second quarter. The half would end with Freedom trailing, 14-13.

Easton’s defense held Freedom’s offense coming out of the half. The Rovers would take over at their own 34-yard line. Easton quickly moved down the field, where McGurn connected with Zack Martenis for a 32-yard touchdown pass with 8:38 left in the 3rd quarter. The extra point would be good, making it Easton 21 Freedom 13.

But Stofanak and the Freedom offense quickly answered as they marched down the field in a minute and twenty seconds. RB Johnson took a handoff for a 13-yard run into the endzone. The Patriots attempted a two point conversion but was met by Easton’s Sean McPeek. Easton held the lead 21-19. Easton’s next drive ended with a turnover on downs, giving Freedom possession. The Patriots capitalized on the opportunity, leaning on Johnson to lead the drive and find the end zone once again. This time the 2 point conversion was successful, taking the Patriots to a 27-21 lead with 1:11 left in the the 3rd quarter.

The 4th quarter proved to be nothing short of exciting, as both teams kept the fans on the edge of their seats. On Easton’s next set of downs, they moved the ball from their own 15-yard line down to the Patriot’s 1-yard line. There, with 9:53 left in the game, McGurn handed the ball off to Brown for another touchdown with the successful extra point putting Easton back in the lead 28-27.

The Patriots, from their own 37-yard line, milked four minutes off the clock as they marched into Rover territory down to the 1-yard line. With 5:19 to go, Freedom turned to Johnson once again as he ran the ball into the endzone for his 5th touchdown of the game. Easton stopped Freedom on the 2 point attempt, but a Rover penalty gave the Patriots a second chance, in which they were successful. Freedom took the lead 35-28.


However, Easton responded back quickly with a 39-yard touchdown pass from McGurn to Amin Fideen. The extra point tied the game at 35 with 4:34 left. Freedom took control of the ball and the clock. From Easton’s 49-yard line, the Patriots used over four minutes to get the ball into the redzone. With :02 left in the game, Freedom’s kicker Nathan Stannard nailed a 23-yard field goal.

Box Score:
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Easton 7 7 7 14 35
Bethlehem 13 0 14 11 38

@eoannalantinga

 
 
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