SPRINGFIELD — A promising start turned into a bitter ending for the Frontier Regional football team in a 50-28 loss to SICS on Thursday night.
The Redhawks had early control of the Intercounty South battle at Abdow Field, leading 14-0 at the end of the first quarter. But the big plays started to add up for the Bulldogs, eventually taking command in the second half. Even trailing by multiple scores, the Redhawks made enough plays to have a chance to win the game in the fourth quarter.
“I know this because they are my team,” Frontier coach Scott Dredge said. “What I want to tell everyone else is how much pride and character they have. They are not just going to roll over if they get down. We’ve learned a lot of lessons being so small as a team. We’ve been lucky to be winning. But if you get in a situation like this you swing. You fight back.”
Down 28-14 in the fourth, Konnor James found Landon Lavallee for a 64-yard touchdown. Down again by two scores, Ty Skroski returned a kickoff 72 yards for a touchdown.
The offense had a chance to take the lead after a pivotal stop by the defense with seven minutes, one second left in the fourth quarter. Trailing 34-28, the Redhawks marched 62 yards on six plays down to the SICS 8-yard line. On an outside run, Skroski scored the potential tying touchdown, but a holding penalty nullified the play.
“They called it on Noah (Poreda) out wide,” Dredge said. “I’ll have to look at film to see if it was a hold. I couldn’t tell you.”
The penalty moved the Redhawks back 10 yards and they eventually turned it over on downs. The Redhawks have some injuries and sustained some more in the game against the Bulldogs.
“I was just so proud of them,” Dredge said. “I couldn’t ask for much more. We have 17 kids playing on four days rest. Right now, just focused on having these kids get some rest and heal. Focus on our senior night next week.”
Elyas Buor then scored on an 87-yard rushing touchdown to put the game away for the Bulldogs. The win gave the Bulldogs the league championship with one game remaining against Commerce. Frontier has a home game with Ludlow.
Poreda finished with 160 yards on 22 carries including a 69-yard run for the Redhawks. Skroski scored on a 41-yard rush in the first quarter for the Redhawks. James scored on a 3-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter to give Frontier a 14-0 lead.
Touchdowns from Buor and Jordan Nguyen tied the game for the Bulldogs heading into halftime. Buor’s 11-yard touchdown in the third quarter put SICS ahead 22-14 with 2:50 left in the third quarter. Ashton Chambers scored on a short rush later in the quarter.
Kash Chambers caught a 41-yard touchdown pass from Nguyen before Skroski’s kickoff return. The Bulldogs got another rushing touchdown from Ashton Chambers late in the fourth quarter.
Landon Lavallee had two catches for 94 yards for Frontier.
