Freeport runs over Apollo-Ridge

Freeport found itself in a halftime stalemate but came on strong in the second half to defeat Apollo-Ridge, 35-7.

Yellowjackets senior Jake Campbell had four touchdowns - three rushing before putting the exclamation point on the Allegheny Conference victory with a 99-yard pass interception return with 28 seconds left.

The victory puts Freeport (4-2, 3-1) one step closer to clinching its 24th WPIAL playoff appearance, best among Alle-Kiski Valley high schools.

Campbell opened the scoring with a 2-yard run with 4:46 left in the second quarter, then scored on runs of 45 and 3 yards in the second half before the 99-yard return.

"I jumped for the ball and tipped it to myself and got a couple of great blocks along the way," Campbell said of the interception return.

After Campbell's initial touchdown, Apollo-Ridge drove 80 yards in 10 plays to tie the game.

A leaping, one-handed catch by Kyler Martin and a 42-yard keeper by quarterback Josh Zelonka, helped by a solid block from Eean Smith, were the highlights of the drive. Zelonka fought his way into the end zone with nine seconds left.

But the Vikings couldn't sustain their momentum, and it was all Freeport in the second half.

The initial Yellowjackets possession of the second half resulted in a 74-yard, five-play drive that was aided by two 15-yard Apollo-Ridge penalties. A 45-yard pass from Brendan Lynch to Derek Durand gave Freeport the lead for good.

"I told them at halftime to challenge themselves," Yellowjackets coach John Gaillot said. "We really didn't change anything, but give Apollo-Ridge credit, they stopped us until we got our assignments down."

Apollo-Ridge senior tackle Ryan Mack sustained a knee injury, and Freeport took advantage of his absence.

"When you lose one of your major tackles, they took advantage and kept running up the middle," Vikings coach John Simon said. "We had the momentum, but once we started getting injuries, they hammered us."

A 59-yard punt by Cody McClelland pinned Apollo-Ridge at its 1, and Freeport had a short field after stopping the Vikings. Campbell's third touchdown of the night came with 4:10 remaining.

Freeport will play host to Deer Lakes next Friday, while Apollo-Ridge returns home to battle Shady Side Academy.

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