Red Hawks Finish Second In Six-Man Football Ranks

The Froid/Lake Red Hawks accomplished a remarkable football season in 2023. After winning the conference championship, the Red Hawks accounted for two comeback playoff victories on their way to the state title game.

Froid/Lake’s string of victories ended when the Red Hawks’ explosive offensive attack couldn’t quite score enough points in a 63-48 loss against Centerville in the six-man state championship game on Saturday, Nov. 18.

The title game was Froid/ Lake’s third appearance in the championship contest during a four-year span. The Red Hawks earned the state crown in 2020 and 2021.

“Anytime you win state, you want to get back,” Froid/ Lake Coach Michael Reiter said after the contest. “These guys did that twice.”

The coach felt the Red Hawks displayed nerves early in the championship game held in Medicine Lake. The Red Hawks were stopped on their opening possession. Centerville struck first when Luke Kelly connected with a wide-open Kale Annis for a 68-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-down play with 4:27 left in the opening quarter.

Froid/Lake responded on a scoring drive that was aided with a pass interference call that put the ball at the Centerville 28. Two nice runs by Daniel Forizs produced a first down at the two. From there, Nate Stentoft used second effort to battle into the end zone with 1:51 left in the quarter.

The Miners, however, controlled most of the second quarter and gained a 28-6 advantage.

Touchdowns came on a two-yard run by Kelley, an 11-yard dash by Kelley and a three-yard throw from Kelley to Annis.

Taking over on their own 12 with only 46 seconds left in the half, the Red Hawks started a drive with a 13-yard pass from Mason Dethman to Forizs. Dethman, a senior, then broke loose for a 31-yard gain to the Centerville 24.

Froid/Lake reached the end zone when Joseph Robertson caught a swing pass from Dethman and used good foot work for a threeyard play to close the margin to 28-12 at the half.

The Red Hawks opened the second half by using the running and throwing skills of Dethman to move inside the Centerville 11. The Miners’ defense, however, kept the Red Hawks out of the end zone.

A 49-yard pass play from Kelley to Caden Olson increased Centerville’s advantage to 34-12 with 4:29 remaining in the third quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, Forizs lifted the hopes of the Froid/Lake faithful by going the distance for a touchdown. Dethman’s kick cut the margin to 34-20.

After Centerville scored its next touchdown on an 11yard run by Kelley, the Red Hawks kept pace on a threeyard touchdown completion from Dethman to Stentoft. The Miners struck again on a 36-yard dash by Kelly for a 48-26 advantage at the end of the third quarter.

The Red Hawks advanced into Centerville territory on an 18-yard pass from Dethman to Cian Logan. Dethman then hit Forizs with a pass at the 15 and the senior tailback raced into the end zone. Dethman’s kick cut the gap to 48-34 with 9:39 remaining.

Centerville kept its next drive alive on a third-down pass from Kelley to Olson that was good for 25 yards and a first down. On a fourthdown play at the one, Kelly reached the end zone with 4:32 left.

Down by a 56-34 margin, the Red Hawks struck back in a hurry as Dethman went 38 yards to pull the Red Hawks to 56-40 with 4:14 remaining. The Miners responded with a 44-yard drive capped with a five-yard dash by Kelley with only 1:11 left to play.

The Red Hawks accounted for the game’s final touchdown on a two-yard run by Stentoft with six seconds on the clock. Dethman’s kick put the margin at 63-48.

“I’m extremely proud of the boys,” Reiter said. “It was an honor to work with all of the seniors. I’m going to miss them. They all have good futures ahead of them.”