OAKLEY -- Senior running back Sean Pinson had 162 yards and two touchdowns on the ground to lead the Falcons past the visiting Mustangs.

Pinson scored twice within four minutes early in the third quarter as Freedom built a 27-14 lead. Monte Vista sophomore quarterback Jake Haener rallied his team, though, twice closing the gap to within a touchdown.

Haener found Alex Brown for a 44-yard touchdown on third-and-25 to draw the Mustangs within 27-21 with three minutes left in the third. After a Sebastian Correia 1-yard run boosted the Falcons' lead back to 12 points, Haener connected with Traehome Banda for a diving 18-yard touchdown, narrowing the deficit again, this time to five points.

Haener drove the Mustangs inside the Freedom 10-yard line with under two minutes remaining and a chance to win the game, but a holding penalty was followed by two incompletions and a sack to end the game. Haener finished 32 of 50 for 376 yards and four touchdowns, including two to Brown. Banda had 16 catches for 198 yards and a score.

-- Nate Smith, correspondent

Freedom 33, Monte Vista 28

Monte Vista 7 7 7 7-- 28

Freedom 0 13 14 6-- 33

MV -- Brown 31 pass from Haener (Henry kick)

F -- Fauolo 5 pass from Sweeney (kick failed)

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NCS playoffs: Freedom 33, Monte Vista 28