ROCKFORD — Freeport’s offense got into the end zone three times against Boylan on Friday at Titans Stadium.
But it wasn’t nearly enough to get past the Titans, who ended up taking a 56-20 NIC-10 victory.
Wes Gastel, the reigning NIC-10 offensive MVP, returned the opening kickoff 88 yards for a Pretzels’ TD.
The Titans marched down field in a span of two minutes and scored on Will Sahlstrom’s 8-yard run.
With the score tied 7-7, Boylan quarterback Zach Lane, who went 8-of-16 for 88 yards with one interception, ran in the Titans’ third score and followed it with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Conner Martensen to go up 21-7.
“We got gassed right away,” Freeport coach Terry Werntz said. “By the time of the second quarter, our starters were gassed. We have about eight starters who go both ways. I told our guys, we are an OK team with the potential to be a good team, but we played a good team with the potential to be a great team.”
Lane at times appeared to be a running back, more so than a quarterback. The senior led his team in rushing with 158 yards on 17 carries with two running TDs.
“It’s good to have Zach Lane back there. Sometimes there are a couple plays where there is no where to go,” Boylan coach Dan Appino said.
“He’s like having a tailback back there. He really makes our guys look good.”
Lane gave credit to the entire team.
“I think we had a good overall team performance,” Lane said. “The offensive line blocked well and our defense is new. We are still making improvements on it, but they did a job today.”
With the Titans’ leading 42-7 midway through the third quarter, the Pretzels’ offense came to life.
Quarterback Kevin Flack’s 10-yard pass to Josh Lewis capped off the Pretzels’ most successful offensive drive in the game.
The Titans, who racked up more than 500 rushing yards, responded again on Michael Morman’s 2-yard run to go up 49-14.
Freeport scored late again in the fourth on Andy McClain’s 20 yards run.
Titans junior Antawan Robertson scored on a 4-yard touchdown with 1:27 left.
-- Staff writer Brenda Young can be reached at 815-987-1388 or
byoung@rrstar.com.
