Whether it’s the first one or the last one, when Emmaus and Freedom hook up you can expect a well-played football game. Last Friday night’s season opener was no exception, as the Green Hornets controlled the second half in defeating the Patriots 19-13 at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium.

“It’s always great to get a win against a team like Freedom,” Emmaus coach Harold Fairclough said. “It was exciting to know we’d be playing them.”

During practice Emmaus was sharp, focused on details and mentally and physically ready to battle the team that beat the Hornets in last year’s District 11 championship. The game-winner Friday night came in the fourth quarter when Josiah Williams took it in on a one-yard touchdown run.

“No doubt about it, Josiah is one of our playmakers,” Fairclough said. “We’re looking to get him involved in the offense this year.”

Someone else involved in the offense was running back Tylik Jarvis, who was outstanding in gaining 126 yards on 24 carries. Jarvis’ hard running in the fourth quarter helped wear down Freedom’s defensive line in the final period, allowing the Hornets at a critical time to control the ball and clock.

“Tylik had a great offseason,” Fairclough said. “He wants to be a workhorse runner.”

The Emmaus coaching staff worked with Jarvis on lowering his shoulder pads and finishing runs stronger than last year, when he would typically run straight up. Jarvis hurt the Patriots’ with his cutback ability several times last Friday night.

“He has great vision and patience,” Fairclough said.

Jarvis received a solid performance from the offensive line, who won up front most of the night. Big Ben Mercado and Jonah Miller were two young men who did a fine job pushing and shoving Freedom defenders out of the way.

Defensively the Hornets received good performances from linebackers Aidan Garrett, Tyler Riddick and Reilly Bechtel who collectively picked up the slack for the departed Jared Groller. Freedom’s Jalen Fletcher was controlled most of the night, save for a fine 61-yard touchdown run to put his team up 13-7 in the second period. Otherwise Gang Green stuffed the talented runner for just 25 yards on eight carries.

Emmaus quarterback Jake Fotta got the Hornets on the board first with a 60-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Darville in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead. He ran for the team’s second touchdown from one-yard out for a 13-13 tie heading into halftime.

“Jake had a decent start,” Fairclough said. “He didn’t see a few things in his reads, but it’s going to come.”