SOUTH DEERFIELD — The Frontier football team’s defense was its guiding light in its 38-20 win over Springfield International Charter on Friday night.
The Red Hawks picked off Bulldogs quarterback Jordan Nguyen three times, all during the second half. Two of Frontier’s interceptions followed a delay due to half of the stadium’s light poles inadvertently shutting off with seven minutes, 20 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
The pause didn’t impact the home team though as Jaxon Spearance snagged two interceptions, while Noah Poreda had the other as the Red Hawks improved to 7-0 on the season in Friday’s grueling game on the gridiron.
“The defense was excellent,” Frontier head coach Scott Dredge said. “We played some tough, hard-nosed football, which has been our brand this year, so I’m proud of that.”
The Red Hawks’ usual suspects in Garrett Dredge and Brady Poreda powered their offense versus SICS as the pair combined for four rushing touchdowns.
But it was Frontier’s ability to limit the Bulldogs’ potent offense, who had averaged 30 points during their four-game winning streak heading into Friday’s duel, that impressed Dredge the most postgame.
“Our coverage was very good,” Dredge said. “That’s probably the most improvement we’ve seen from the beginning of the year. We made adjustments in the secondary and I really was keeping an eye on the secondary tonight. The coverage was good, forced [their] quarterback to scramble, which he did a nice job of. Our linebacker play has been outstanding [too].”
Brady Poreda punched in the game’s first TD late in the first quarter and a successful 2-point conversion made it 8-0 Red Hawks.
Frontier’s Jacoby Merrill allowed the blue-and-red to double its lead on a 3-yard score with 6:39 to go in the first half. Another good 2-point conversion turned it into a 16-0 advantage.
With less than two minutes left in the half, Nguyen slithered into the end zone on a 15-yard keeper for the Bulldogs’ first touchdown of the night. The visitors failed to convert the 2-point conversion for a 16-6 score.
SICS started its first scoring drive in great field position after the Red Hawks weren’t able to punt the ball because the long snap sailed over Frontier punter Garrett Dredge’s head.
The Red Hawks quickly shook off the misplay and their offense went to work on their final possession of the first 24 minutes of regulation, looking for a momentum-swinging score.
Frontier got exactly that as Garrett Dredge ran in a 20-yard score on a reverse play as time expired, putting the Red Hawks back in the driver’s seat at 24-6, after a successful 2-point conversion, yet again.
“We like to receive the ball [to start] the game to get our offense going, knowing that we’re going to give the ball back at halftime,” Scott Dredge said. “It was important for us to put another score on the board, just to build that cushion before we gave the ball back. That was definitely intentional.”
Brady Poreda extended Frontier’s lead to 30-6 on a 9-yard touchdown early in the third quarter, moments before the Bulldogs’ best play of the contest.
SICS running back Zaidyn Stovall turned on the jets for a 50-yard rushing score, while breaking a couple tackles in the process, to cut its deficit down to 30-12 with 7:29 showing on the clock.
Then the lights went out nine seconds later, forcing the action to pause for at least 20 minutes. The game resumed with each team trading fourth-down stops, before the Red Hawks’ defense took over.
Garrett Dredge (13-yard TD) and Bulldogs’ Jaedis Elmore (1-yard TD) reached the end zone for their teams in the final frame as Friday’s competition — which felt more like a hockey game given the two breaks from action — came to an end with Frontier on top, 38-20.
“I thought that our team just played another complete game,” Scott Dredge said. “I’m very proud of the way our seniors came together.”
The Red Hawks will attempt to complete their undefeated regular season when it travels to Ludlow next Thursday, Oct. 30.
Kickoff for the regular-season finale is set for 6:30 p.m.
