FREEPORT — Freeport football coach John Gaillot could see the growth in his team Friday night at Swartz Field.

The Yellowjackets lost to Shady Side Academy 23-7 in their Allegheny Conference opener, but Freeport's young unit showed improvement.

“I am proud of the effort our kids gave us,” Gaillot said. “We were so young last year and tonight we grew tremendously in one game.”

Shady Side Academy had two big scores — one to open the game and one to start the fourth quarter.

Indians' quarterback Louis Berry IV opened the game with a 75-yard run out of the Wildcat formation. Jackson Fitzgerald gave Shady Side Academy some breathing room with a 68-yard run to put the Indians ahead 23-7 in the fourth.

“Those were just two great individual efforts by Louis and Jackson,” Shady Side Academy coach Dave Havern said.

Fitzgerald led all rushers with 117 yards on 12 carries and scored twice.

Freeport played the second half without starting quarterback Andrew Romanchak.

The Yellowjackets also lost another starter, Justin Brestensky, to injury. Gaillot is optimistic that both will be able to return.

Ryan Weigold filled in under center and led Freeport on two long drives deep into Indians' territory, but penalties and sacks caused both drives to fizzle out. Weigold was 6-for-7 passing for 65 yards.

“Ryan came in and did a great job,” Gaillot said. “We are blessed to have two quarterbacks as good as they are.”

Penalties were an issue for both teams. Shady Side had eight for 69 yards and Freeport 10 for 85 yards.

The Indians had a chance to go up two scores early after Berry blocked a punt, setting them up at the Freeport 29. The 'Jackets' defense got a big stop though on fourth-and-two when Dylan Hochbein stuffed running back Eric Harris.

Romanchak cut the deficit to 10-7, finding Marshall McCormick for a 56-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter.

McCormick caught the ball at the 20, shed the defensive back and ran it the rest of the way.

Shady Side answered with a methodical drive starting at its 42, moving the ball in 10 plays to the Freeport 1.

The Indians came up empty, though, because Harris fumbled on the goal line after a bad exchange with quarterback Doc Szlachetka.

“One thing that concerns me is we had a few chances to put the game away early and didn't do so,” Havern said. “It is something we will have to work on.”

The Yellowjackets couldn't get out of their own end zone, which resulted in a punt that set up Shady Side at the Freeport 28. Fitzgerald capitalized with a 3-yard touchdown run to put the Indians ahead 16-7 at halftime.