Freedom found a way to win a tight game Friday night, and Nate Stannard delivered when the Patriots needed him most.

Stannard connected on a 33-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to give Freedom a 17-14 lead, and the Pates held off Northampton for a pivotal EPC victory.

The Patriots improved to 5-3 overall and bounced back from a 49-17 loss to Bethlehem Catholic the previous week.

The Patriots leaned into their running game for this one, as Lashawn Johnson ran 28 times for 135 yards and a score. Quarterback Michael Stofanak also registered 115 yards on the ground. Stofanak threw for 56 yards and a touchdown as well, hitting Ky Moore for a 31-yard touchdown in the second quarter to put Freedom ahead 14-7.

Northampton responded just before halftime when Joell Small scored on a nine-yard run with 25 seconds remaining to keep things tied heading into intermission.

The defenses kept the game close until Stannard broke the deadlock with his 33-yard field goal with 9:07 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Freedom then came up with the stop it needed, forcing Northampton into a fourth-and-22 situation late in the game and turning away the Konkrete Kids to secure the victory.

The Pates host Easton on Friday in a pivotal EPC showdown for playoff positioning.

Liberty’s struggles continued on the season, as they fell behind early to Easton in a 42-14 rout.

Easton quarterback Zahviay McGurn threw touchdown passes on the Red Rovers’ first three scoring drives, as the Rovers led 21-0 at halftime.

Alsaiah Gross threw a seven-yard score to Greg Tillman in the third quarter to make things interesting, but Easton rattled off three straight scores to run away with the win.

Akhir Brown had a monster night, rushing 33 times for 223 yards and two touchdowns for the Rovers.

Gross went 9-of-14 for 130 yards and a score, to go along with an interception.

The Hurricanes (2-6) take on Bethlehem Catholic on Saturday at noon at BASD Stadium.