Everybody knows the numbers.
Two Frontier Regional running backs in Garrett Dredge and Brady Poreda rushing for more than 2,000 combined yards. To be specific, Dredge finished with 1,120 yards and 19 touchdowns. Poreda with 1,050 yards and nine touchdowns.
Quite an accomplishment for the star running backs. Worthy of celebration from football fans in Franklin County. Their milestone led to an undefeated regular season and an Intercounty South league title for the Redhawks.
All of it is well-deserved. But lost in the recipe of success for the double wing offense is the main ingredient. Maybe the most important ingredient. Up there with the flour, sugar and butter.
That ingredient is Frontier’s offensive line. The work in the trenches. The grimy and muddy work that sometimes goes unnoticed in high school football.
The unit pieced together and got stronger over the offseason, priming Poreda and Dredge to have historic seasons. The duo was the first two 1,000 yard rushers since Aaron Landry and Steve Worthley in 2017.
“They did all the work, honestly,” Garrett Dredge said of his offensive line. “They pushed everybody away. I remember thinking during scrimmages that this was too easy. I wasn’t getting tackled or even touched. It was mostly them that got those yards. That’s what I said this whole season. They rushed for those yards. I was the poster boy.”
Poreda agreed with his backfield partner.
“I really think it was our offensive line,” Poreda said. “Pushing them all summer to kind of improve from how our offense was very unproductive last season. We put the pressure on them and they put in the work and got better. Some of these games we go into hurry up and our line wears down the defense. It’s a huge contribution to our success.”
The double wing emphasizes strong blocking and misdirection. The offensive line needs individuals working together. The quarterback does a lot of work handling the ball and making proper decisions. Konnor James handled that all season for the Redhawks.
“They have to move at the same speed they have to move in sync,” Frontier coach Scott Dredge said. “When it’s moving as it’s supposed to, the pulling is scripted pretty tightly. There are specific assignments. Who gets who. That unit has to move as one. If you see it run right, it’s literally a moving wall up the field. That line has to be one body, one unit moving at once.”
The offensive line made a commitment during the offseason.
“There was commitment made by a good portion of those lineman to get stronger. Conversations were had throughout the team about getting bigger faster and stronger,” Scott Dredge said. “That stayed through the summer. I was really impressed to see how that group of older guys committed to each other. To do it just all summer.”
Max Hunter is the right tackle for the Red Hawks. A towering presence, Hunter never cared about recognition. But people he knows who follow the team closely know what the offensive line means to the team. Those are the opinions that matter to him. He’s been playing football for 10 years.
“I used to be a tight end a long time ago, but that doesn’t really count,” Hunter said. “I’ve mostly been a lineman. It’s pretty cool. I think they (Dredge and Poreda) did a really good job. I think the line did a good job too.
Center John Reloj praised his running backs and views the yardage milestones as a group effort. The compact power of Reloj is immediately evident. Reloj is a thrower for the track and field team.
“Honestly it’s great,” Reloj said. “As an offensive lineman I feel really happy. As much as it’s their yards, it’s also ours because we block for them. It feels great to get those guys to 1,000 yards.”
Left guard Jack Phillips could easily pass for a skill-position player. Mostly because it is true. He moved to the offensive line after playing wideout and tight end. His mobility allows for precise blocks as he pulls down the line. Relatively new to the position, Phillips has room for improvement in his own estimation.
“I was really put there for speed. I can pull really well. But my blocking is a little bit lackluster,” Phillips said. “Just general intelligence. Where I should be blocking, who I should be blocking. If there’s a blitz coming, I need to pick it up. There’s a lot of stuff I need to work on.”
Joey Hutkoski is the left tackle. A stout presence, Hutkoski loves blocking in the running game. He likes being the aggressor.
“Our coaches always say it’s us first,” Hutkoski said. “We are the head of the team. We push forward for them. I get really excited to see them do well. That means I also did well and did my job.”
Ezra Rich is the right guard. He started playing football last year and began as a fullback and a running back. Rich is also a thrower for the track and field team.
“I feel like that didn’t suit me and my playing style,” Rich said. “The start of this year I really settled into the guard spot. The blocking is pretty similar to being a fullback. You still have to push everybody back.”
Frontier finished its season with a 12-0 win over Easthampton in the Class B championship game. Dredge and Poreda graduate this season. The milestone of two 1,000 yard rushers is something that the program will never forget.
“It’s surreal,” Garrett Dredge said. “It hasn’t kicked in yet. Once spring comes around, I am going to be like ‘damn we really did that.” I am definitely going to remember this for a long time.
Phillips and Reloj also played their final game for the Frontier program.
“It’s amazing,” I remember being a freshman and always wanting to get on that banner. Being able to do it with Garrett,” Poreda said. “It’s a great feeling.”
With the departures from their main recipe, the Redhawks will go back into the pantry for more ingredients to begin cooking next fall.