A series that dates back to 1933 when Deerfield High School and Arms Academy played to a 0-0 deadlock renews tonight in Buckland.
Mohawk Trail Regional High School welcomes Frontier Regional School to Pollard Field in Buckland for a 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Eve tilt. The Red Hawks hold a 46-32-6 edge all-time against Mohawk, including wins in each of the last three meetings. In last year’s tilt, Frontier cruised to a 43-12 victory in South Deerfield.
The teams began the current iteration of their Thanksgiving Eve rivalry in 2007. Mohawk had played Franklin Tech for the previous 11 years on Thanksgiving while Frontier had recently given up a Thanksgiving series with Ware. Frontier is 8-3 since the first meeting in 2007.
“It’s a big deal because you want to get that trophy,” offered Frontier head coach Don Gordon of the annual meeting. “There’s quite a few Frontier engravings on that and I know the kids want to keep that going. And it’s always great going out and seeing those varsity jackets on the sidelines from past players who are at the game.”
This year’s game caps a season that both teams would very much like to close out with a win.
Frontier (5-5) enters on a two-game losing streak, and after a 4-1 start, it has dropped four of its last five overall. The Red Hawks lost, 44-13, in the WMass Div. 7 semifinal to South Hadley, and followed that with a 30-20 loss to Amherst to close out the regular season. The program hasn’t had a losing season since 2013 when it finished 2-8 and lost on Thanksgiving Eve, 18-13.
“We’re coming off two hard losses to South Hadley and Amherst,” began Gordon. “We just got beat on the line, plain and simple. We just have to recover and get back to what we do.”
Saddled with low numbers all year, Mohawk limped to a 1-8 record that included a Week 2 victory over Pathfinder — the only remaining winless team in western Mass. The Warriors have been competitive of late, however, losing their last three games by single digits. That includes an 8-6 overtime loss to Drury in the regular-season finale on the road in North Adams.
“What I tell the kids is, ‘You need to execute,’” began Mohawk coach Doug McCloud. “You have to play the best game of the year. Frontier is a good football team so if you make a mistake, they’ll bury you. If we don’t do a lot of things well, it’s going to be a long night. You guys can play football, you’ve been in so many games. But we can’t get behind by two or three touchdowns if we want to have a shot.”
Frontier’s ground attack has again been prolific this fall, rushing for 2,514 yards in 10 games. While last year’s double-headed monster of Stephen Worthley and Aaron Landry gave the Hawks two 1,000-yard rushers, this year the bulk of the carries have gone to junior Garrett DeForest. Despite being slowed by injuries, DeForest joined the 1,000-yard club and sits with 1,176 and 20 touchdowns. He’s also thrown a touchdown pass while adding seven receptions for 184 yards and two TDs.
Several players have also gotten into the running attack in addition to DeForest. Josh Semaski has 337 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman, while Alec Kirkendall has received at least four carries in the team’s past seven games and sits with 176 yards and a score.
Frontier quarterback Matt Hildreth is also one of his team’s most dangerous runners. The senior signal caller only attempts 6.8 passes per game, a product of the team’s run-first offense, but he’s gained 218 yards and scored five touchdowns on the ground in addition to 361 passing yards and three TDs through the air.
“Looking to put him in a position to handle the ball and get more opportunities to score,” said Gordon of his QB. “We use him as a receiver, he might do some running back this week. He’s very capable. He’s been the glue that’s held it all together for us the last couple years. He’s been a true field general.”
Hildreth’s pass-catching options have predominantly come from his running backs. DeForest leads the way with seven catches, while senior tight ends Kiernan Freeman and junior Corbin Blight each have four catches and a TD.
The Frontier offensive line has again been a strength this fall, despite the loss of senior center Xavier Santiago who is out for the season with an injury. Junior Dylan Apanell shifted into the center role and anchors the unit in the middle, as he’s flanked by the likes of sophomore Jacob Bryant, sophomore Jackie Phong and senior Nate Austin.
Frontier’s defense has struggled to stop opponents during its current 1-4 skid. The Hawks have allowed 32.8 points per game in their last five contests.
On the flip side, Mohawk finished fifth in the Tri-County League this season and aims to pull off the upset at home.
Points have been hard to come by for the Warriors. The offense is averaging just 11.8 points per contest, though there are players capable of putting together big performances. Sophomore quarterback Shawn Davenport has done a nice job under center at times, as he’s thrown for over 500 yards and eight touchdowns. The tall right-hander threw multiple touchdown passes twice this year. He has seven interceptions to go with the eight TDs.
“He’s a sophomore and we put a lot on him this year,” said McCloud of Davenport. “He has to run our basic offense and then when we shift to the passing game, that’s more on his plate. He’s done a great job. We’ve stressed to him all year, these are stepping stones this year. He’s responded pretty well.”
Mohawk’s rushing attack, which like Frontier, often works out of the double-wing, is led by junior Evan Shippee’s 500 yards and four TDs. Last year’s 1,000-yard rusher, senior Jordan Grenier, has been slowed by injuries this fall and has done the bulk of his damage as a pass receiver. For the season he has 258 yards and three total touchdowns, but he’s likely a game-time decision with a shoulder injury. Senior Ryan Walker is the other player to watch out of the backfield, as he’s gained over 200 yards for the season. Davenport also has the ability to tuck the ball in run when pressured, and he’s gained 158 yards and has a rushing touchdown to his credit.
There are at least two solid pass-catching options for the Warriors. Sophomore Cam Lococo has caught four of Davenport’s eight TDs, while tight end Matt Pollen, also a sophomore, has a touchdown as well. Shippee has double-digit receptions out of the backfield as well.
The Mohawk offensive line has plenty of beef, with the junior tandem of Zane and Jaden Kitchen Lipski joined by senior Brian Gagnon, sophomore Cody Ryder and junior Logan Platek. Junior Robert Goodell is also in the line mix on both sides of the ball.
“I love this group of kids,” said McCloud. “They battle. We’ve been in games, we just haven’t won.”
In last year’s meeting, Mohawk scored a 44-yard punt return touchdown in the first quarter to cut the deficit to 7-6, but Frontier outscored the Warriors by a 36-6 margin the rest of the way to secure the lopsided victory.
Mohawk’s last victory in the series came in 2014 in Buckland. That, of course, was the memorable quadruple overtime game where the hosts eked out a 46-44 win.
“Mohawk’s scrappy,” said Gordon. “They put together some good games this year. They were ahead of Palmer at halftime. The kids have to do their job. It’s whoever controls the line of scrimmage. And in these conditions, ball security is No. 1. Let the other team make the mistakes. We haven’t lost any fumbles all year and that’s what we have to do again.”