Freedom senior Joe Santos sprinted through a huge hole created by the left side of his offensive line and into the end zone.

The touchdown run Santos' third of the contest came with 2:38 remaining in Friday night's Eastern Pennsylvania Conference football game, and it was a power play that perfectly capped the Patriots' dominant second-half performance.

Freedom, indeed, made a statement with its third straight win to start the season. This one was a 35-14 road triumph over Emmaus.

"Let's face it," Freedom coach Jason Roeder said, "there were a lot of question marks about our team even after the 2-0 start. And I'm definitely not saying we answered them all, but it was an opportunity for us to prove ourselves, and I think we did that."

After beating East Stroudsburg South and Nazareth by a combined 102-41 in their first two games, Roeder's Patriots outscored an Emmaus team that was picked in the preseason as a contender in the EPC's South Division by 21-0 in the second half.

They did it with a ball-control offense and by corralling the Green Hornets' explosive Wyl Miller on defense.

Miller, who went for 130 rushing yards and an 85-yard touchdown in the opening half, was limited to 35 yards after intermission. Freedom held Emmaus without a second-half first down until less than a minute remained.

"We just wanted to come out and play tougher," Patriots sophomore linebacker Brady Hornbaker said. "Our coaches made a couple adjustments but it was all about playing Freedom football. Stop the run. Stop the run. That was the big adjustment. We did a much better job at it in the second half."

Tied at 14, the Patriots emerged from the locker room and immediately seized control of the third quarter.

Jake Young's 36-yard kickoff return set up Freedom at midfield. A 14-yard pass play from sophomore quarterback Joe Young a first-year starter who continues to play well to wideout Alkiohn Dunkins on third-and-8 keyed the drive. The Patriots capped it as Young threw a quick pass out to Dunkins, who cut upfield and went 20 yards along the Patriots' sideline for the touchdown.

Originally posted here:

Unbeaten Freedom tops Emmaus in EPC football, 35-14