PITTSBURG -- Pittsburg High's football team kicked its defensive intensity up a notch in the second half to beat Freedom 24-13 Friday night and clinch at least a share of another Bay Valley Athletic League title.

Isaiah Lopez and Michael Chatman both had fumble recoveries, and the Pirates held the Falcons to just 50 yards of offense after halftime. Both fumble recoveries came after sacks and helped Pittsburg (7-2, 4-0 BVAL) score the final 17 points of the game.

The Pirates are BVAL champions for the second straight season and the fourth time in five years. Friday's victory came despite committing 10 penalties and turning the ball over twice.

"They're tight and they play for each other, but they're very emotional," Pittsburg coach Victor Galli said of his team. "They play on emotions. Sometimes that's a good thing, sometimes that's a bad thing. They have a lot of passion, but sometimes we have to be smarter."

Jaylyn Morgan and Nick Moore combined for 246 rushing yards and scored a touchdown each. Morgan's score, a 2-yard run, capped a 15-play drive to open the second half that gave the Pirates their first lead of the game 14-13. .

Lopez's big moment came on Freedom's next drive. He forced a fumble while sacking Freedom quarterback Joe Sweeney, then recovered and returned the ball for a 33-yard touchdown.

Chatman's fumble recovery came after teammate Charlie Ramirez's sack and helped the Pirates run out the clock at the end.

Pittsburg trailed 13-7 at halftime after turning the ball over twice. Freedom (6-3, 3-1) made the Pirates pay for both, scoring on touchdown passes from Sweeney to Gio Fauolo and Scotty Sanders.

But the Falcons offense couldn't get going in the second half, and the Pirates held a BVAL opponent to under 200 yards of offense for a fourth straight game.

The Pirates can make it an outright league championship with a win over Antioch next week in the Big Little Game. If Pittsburg falters in its final regular season game, Freedom can claim a share of the league title with a win over Liberty in next week's Bell Game.

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Pittsburg's defense stifles Freedom