FREEPORT — The Freeport Homecoming crowd roared as Wes Gastel crossed the goal line in the waning moments of Freeport’s 37-28 win over Belvidere.

Gastel returned a Belvidere onside kick try 48 yards for a touchdown with 2:14 to play.

Gastel extended the Pretzels lead to nine when he caught the onside kick on a high bounce and had a clear path to end zone.

“I thought about just dropping because of the time situation,” Gastel said. “I just didn’t want to risk not getting the first if there wasn’t enough time.”

A big play by Gastel got the offense going in the first quarter. The Pretzels took a 7-0 lead when Gastel streaked past three defenders, and quarterback Kevin Flack found him for an 85-yard completion on the first offensive play of the game.

But after that play, the offense was slowed until the fourth quarter. The Pretzels led 17-7 at halftime as Belvidere was able to stay close behind its power running attack. Running back Tiras Harris led the way for the Bucs with 177 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries.

Belvidere cut the lead to three when Harris bounced an inside run to the right side and ran untouched for a 9-yard touchdown with 4:33 to play. The Pretzels recovered the onside kick, but quickly faced a third-and-8 with over three minutes to play. Flack then lofted a pass deep to Josh Lewis down the right sideline who was covered well by Bucs defensive back Evan DuBose.

But Lewis jumped over DuBose then broke his tackled and ran the final few yards for a 55-yard touchdown.

While the Pretzels had a two-score lead with 3:26 to play, the game turned out to be far from over. The Bucs cut the lead to three when quarterback James Johnson’s pass was deflected by Gastel right into the waiting arms of halfback Jacob Ortiz-Hansen for a 20-yard touchdown pass with 2:20 left.

Then Gastel took the onside kick to the end zone.

- Jeremy Anders, Gatehouse News Service