For the first time this season, the undefeated Freeman Scotties actually trailed in a Northeast A League football game.

Midway through the first quarter of their regular-season finale, the Scotties trailed Medical Lake 7-0.

It was the last time the Cardinals saw the end zone. Freeman rolled off 49 straight points for a 49-7 win on senior night at home Friday.

“Take your best shot,” Freeman coach Jim Wood said, smiling. “We don’t like giving up points to anyone, but you have to give Medical Lake credit. They ran the ball well all night against us.”

The Scotties helped put themselves in the early hole. On their third play, quarterback Preston Hoppman attempted to find Jesse Kitterman from the Freeman 33.

“Just as I was about to throw, I got hit from the other side,” he said. “It wasn’t my best throw, let’s just say that.”

The ball floated like a wounded duck over Kitterman’s head and into the arms of ML defensive back Wil Noble, giving the Cardinals a first down at the Freeman 38 yard line.

Four plays later, Jackson Tappero broke a handful of tackles en route to a 24-yard street-fight of a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

The Scotties were quick to make amends.

Hoppman found Kitterman with his next throw, a 40-yard strike that set up a 20-yard run for a touchdown by Markus Goldbach.

And on Freeman’s next play from scrimmage, Hoppman found Kitterman again, this time for a 51-yard touchdown. And three plays after that, the first play of the second quarter, Max Laib powered his way in from the 6.

Just before halftime, Hoppman fired a deep pass to Kian Genteman, who caught the ball in stride for a 75-yard touchdown play that made it 28-7.

After that, Goldbach put on a power-running clinic.

“I don’t like to get hit when I run the ball,” the junior powerhouse said. “I like to deliver the blow. I figure that if I hit them hard enough, they aren’t going to want to get in my way the next time.”

The first time Goldbach touched the ball in the second half, he scored a 57-yard touchdown. And he capped his night with a 9-yard score to make it 49-7.

“He’s a totally different kind of runner from (starter) Max (Laib),” Woods said. “Max is about speed and Markus is about power. … It’s great when you can change up like that.”