When Freedom hosted Phillipsburg on Friday night, it marked the first meeting between the two programs since 1994.

That three-decade gap meant little when it came to bragging rights.

Following a thrilling 32-31 victory, Freedom celebrated like it had just won a district playoff game.

The Patriots rallied from deficits twice in the fourth quarter and came up with one final defensive stand to knock off Phillipsburg in an instant classic at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium.

The win moves the Patriots to 2-1 on the season and helps relieve some of the sting from a 41-21 week two loss to Parkland. It also ended the EPC’s miserable start to playing P’burg (2-1), after the Stateliners defeated Parkland and Emmaus in their first two games.

For Freedom coach Jason Roeder, the victory was about more than simply beating one of the area’s top teams.

“Without a doubt, coming off a loss, you never know the resiliency of your group,” Roeder said. “We showed some real resiliency coming back and playing against a very good football team, a physical football team that really flexed its muscles the first couple of weeks.

“We challenged our kids, and we talked about playing for pride all week. This isn’t a league game or anything like that, but to play for pride, to play for the Freedom name and what we stand for, was important.”

Phillipsburg and Freedom traded momentum throughout the night, but the game reached another level during a wild fourth quarter.

The Stateliners took a 23-17 lead late in the third quarter when junior running back Xavier Campbell-Graham broke free for a 49-yard touchdown run. The extra point was blocked, however, leaving the margin at six points with 48 seconds remaining in the period.

Freedom didn’t waste any time reclaiming the lead.

Quarterback Michael Stofanak pump-faked and connected with senior wide receiver Davyan Moore on a 63-yard touchdown pass. Nathan Stannard’s extra point gave the Patriots a 24-23 lead just eight seconds into the fourth quarter.

Phillipsburg responded with another impressive drive capped by quarterback Dominic Bracco’s 34-yard touchdown run. Bracco then found receiver David Pacewicz for the two-point conversion, giving P’burg a 31-24 lead with 7:20 remaining.

Freedom answered with their workhorse running back Lashawn Johnson, who broke free for a 39-yard run to the Phillipsburg 6-yard line and scored on the following play, allowing Freedom to answer the Stateliners’ touchdown in just 65 seconds.

The Patriots initially lined up to kick the extra point, but an offsides penalty against Phillipsburg moved the ball just outside the 1-yard line. Roeder then sent his offense back onto the field for a two-point attempt.

Johnson punched in the game-deciding conversion to give Freedom a 32-31 lead with 6:15 remaining.

The Stateliners knew they still had a chance to win on their ensuing possession and drove into Freedom territory and reached the Patriots’ 33-yard line with less than a minute remaining, looking to set up a potential game-winning field goal. But after two incomplete passes, junior defensive lineman Ky Moore snuffed out a jet sweep for a devastating 10-yard loss, forcing a fourth-and-20 with just 20 seconds on the clock.

Bracco’s final pass was incomplete, setting off a celebration on the Freedom sideline.

“I’m a Pennsylvania guy, I’m a Bethlehem guy, and I take a lot of pride in the football we play here,” Roeder said. “We try to preach that to our kids, and I think they got it and they responded. We beat the number one team in the area.”

Phillipsburg opened the scoring with a 71-yard, 12-play drive capped by Bracco’s 18-yard touchdown run. Freedom answered with an 80-yard scoring drive, with Johnson finding the end zone on a three-yard run late in the first quarter.

Stannard gave the Patriots a 10-7 lead with a 36-yard field goal midway through the second quarter and the Pates pushed their lead to17-7 when Stofanak found junior wide receiver Marquise Chapman for a seven-yard touchdown with 1:20 remaining before halftime.

Phillipsburg closed the gap to 17-10 before the break on a 47-yard field goal by Hunter Garrison.

The Stateliners tied the game in the third quarter when Campbell-Graham scored from two yards out.

Johnson led Freedom’s rushing attack with 22 carries for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Stofanak completed 9 of 16 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns, while Chapman caught six passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.

Phillipsburg was led by Shane Moore, who carried 24 times for 117 yards. Campbell-Graham added 95 yards and two touchdowns on the ground as well. Bracco completed 8 of 16 passes for 157 yards and added 90 rushing yards and two scores.

After facing three difficult opponents to open the season, Roeder said Friday’s victory should give his team confidence moving forward.

“We played two really, really good football teams back-to-back, and we played a really good football team in Week 1,” Roeder said. “To come out of these games the way we’re doing right now, coming off the year we had last year, I’m proud of the way we’re playing. This has got to be a confidence builder for us.”

Freedom’s opening season gauntlet continues this week when they travel to Nazareth (2-1), but Friday’s victory provided another reminder of what the Patriots can accomplish when challenged.

“When you challenge your team coming off a loss and you say we’re going to play for pride, and they respond against the number one football team around, it’s important,” Roeder said.