Freedom has gone through a rough three week stretch of EPC South action, but last week’s 35-34 loss to Central Catholic was the toughest pill to swallow in their current three-game losing streak.

The Patriots (1-3) jumped out to a 21-0 lead, only to see it be slowly chiseled at with the Vikings walking off BASD Stadium with one of the season’s biggest wins.

“This is a tough loss, but we have to bounce back,” said Freedom head coach Jason Roeder. “We knew it was going to be a four quarter game. You knew Central was going to come back and you have to give them credit. They battled and it’s all about the next play and we came up a little short.”

It was a dream start for the Patriots, as Noah Pierre got things going with a six-yard rushing score, followed by quarterback Chase Walker finding Justin Peluso on a 29-yard TD strike, capped off by a one-yard plunge by Jiovanni Richardson to build the 21-0 lead in the opening frame.

From there, Central just kept chipping away with a pair of second quarter touchdowns to cut the lead to a one score game. The Pates stole momentum back just before halftime with a 21-yard touchdown run on a reverse by Shacre Colwell with 1:23 left in the second quarter, which was set up by one of three interceptions the Pates registered on Central quarterback Antonio Fontanez.

The second half saw Central grab the game back, scoring three straight times, with a backbreaking 91-yard blocked field goal return by Jareel Calhoun with 1:12 left in the third quarter to even the game.

From there, Central took a35-28 lead in the fourth quarter following an eight-yard TD run by Nathan Schultz with 4:45 to play.

Freedom marched right back down the field on their ensuing possession when Chase Walker connected on a 14-yard score to Colwell with just over two minutes to play.

Freedom elected the two-point conversion and Walker found Colwell in the endzone, only to have the ball ripped out of his hands by Calhoun and keep Central ahead by a point.

“We struggled with our kicking game and we were down some guys at the end,” said Roeder on going for two. “No excuses. We had one play and had a shot to win it there.”

Walker finished the day 10-of-22 for 182 yards and two touchdowns along with an interception. Colwell caught four balls for 35 yards and a score, while Pierre added 116 yards on the ground and a score.

Next on tap will be a road trip to Whitehall (3-1) Friday night in a game that is a must win to get themselves back on track.

“We got to learn to play four quarters,” said Roeder. “We’ll see what we’re made of this week.”