Red Hawks Win State Football Title
White Sulphur Springs was making a threat to get right back into the Class C state sixman title game on Saturday, Nov. 14. The Hornets were down only 22-13 at the half and seemed to have momentum heading into the third quarter. But the Froid/Lake Red Hawks have been used to facing challenges throughout this season. Whether it was falling behind early in Savage, battling through difficult playoff weather or trailing in the second quarter during the semi-final round contest, the Red Hawks were able to still come out on top.
The result wasn’t any different on the state’s biggest stage as the Red Hawks responded and took command to earn a very convincing 44-19 championship victory.
“I haven’t been worried at all this season,” senior Colt Miller said about the team’s confidence. He added that after the Red Hawks came back to win in Savage during the second week of the season, the squad had a strong belief in their ability.
Coach Michael Reiter agreed the win in Savage was vital for the Red Hawks. “We fell behind and we battled back,” he said. “The kids worked hard.”
The Red Hawks established further control on their second possession of the third quarter with a 47-yard drive. A run by Mason Dethman and a fumble recovery by Ashdyn Hobbs moved the ball down to the White Sulphur Springs’ 24.
Dethman then connected with Miller for a first down to the four. On the next play, junior Brett Stentoft scored with four minutes left in the quarter. Walker Ator kicked the conversion for a 30-13 advantage.
The Hornets attempted to get back into the contest as they drove as deep as the Froid/Lake 14. Dethman then picked off a pass and raced 71 yards for a touchdown. Ator’s kick put the Red Hawks up by a comfortable 38-13 margin with 2:04 left in the third quarter.
“I just saw it and had good blocks,” Dethman said of his interception return. “It was a team win.”
Using the running talents of Hobbs, the Red Hawks took time off the clock and marched inside the Hornets’ five during the fourth quarter. The Red Hawks were stopped there, but strong defensive plays by Hobbs and Issac Johnson turned the ball back over to the Red Hawks at the three due to downs. A threeyard dash by Hobbs increased the advantage to 44-13 with 5:20 remaining.
The Hornets scored the game’s final touchdown on a 33-yard pass to Sam Davis with only 4:49 remaining.
White Sulphur Springs put together the game’s first long drive, but the threat ended when Stentoft intercepted a pass and returned the ball to the Hornets’ 29. Two runs by Dethman and one smash by Stentoft were good for a first down at the 12. After a sixyard gain by Dethman, Hobbs scored on a nice run. Ator kicked the conversion for an 8-0 lead with 4:45 left in the first quarter.
White Sulphur Springs struck back on a 16-yard pass from Sam Davis to Andrew Davis to pull to 8-6 with 3:50 left in the quarter. Hobbs and Stentoft blocked the kick attempt.
On Froid/Lake’s first play on their next possession, Dethman took off for a 73yard touchdown run to put the Red Hawks ahead to stay. Ator’s kick was good for a 16-6 lead with 3:34 remaining in the opening quarter “Once we started going, it felt better,” Dethman said of being nervous as only a freshman. “We had plenty of guys step up. This means a lot to the community.”
Reiter said, “We had butterflies early. After that, we had it. We were confident, but White Sulphur is a good team too.”
The coach noted that the defensive ends, linebackers and safeties were all solid in the victory. “We had everybody step up,” Reiter said. “It’s been a team effort all season long.”
After an interception by Dethman, the Red Hawks increased their advantage to 22-6 on a 31-yard throw from Dethman to Miller with 9:26 left in the half.
The Hornets made things much more interesting when Sam Davis, Caden West and Andrew Davis connected for a 74-yard touchdown on a hook-and-ladder play to close the margin to 22-13 with 4:11 remaining in the half.
