SOUTH DEERFIELD — What started out as a promising night for the Frontier Regional football team, quickly unraveled as undefeated Turners Falls won 28-12.
Frontier, which was celebrating its senior night and looking to secure a playoff berth, fell behind early then lost senior captain Seth Gewanter and junior running back Steven Worthley to injuries.
Both players left the game in ambulances.
While the conditions were quite cold, Turners Falls got off to a hot start behind running back Quinn Doyle. The Indians took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a rushing touchdown by Doyle and a Liam Driscoll to Doyle connection.
Frontier struck back in the second quarter as Gewanter capped a 60-yard drive with a touchdown. Just as it looked like Frontier was ready to turn the game around, its missed 2-point conversion resulted in what appeared to be a lower body injury to Gewanter. He received a standing ovation as he was brought to the ambulance on a stretcher.
Turners’ built on its 14-6 halftime lead with a Jack Darling rushing touchdown and 2-point conversion.
Frontier made it 22-12 with a touchdown run by Landry, but that’s as close as it got.
Turners Falls’ potent rushing attack took over and Darling added another touchdown in the fourth.
An interception by Myles Freeman gave the freezing fans something to cheer about and looked like something to build on, but Freeman threw his own interception on the very next drive.
With less than a minute left in the game Worthley took a handoff and was hit hard by Turners. Game officials opted to call the game while staff waited for another ambulance to arrive.
Turners Fall (8-0, 5-0 Intercounty North) will likely be the No. 1 seed in the Western Massachusetts Division 4A playoffs when seeds are announced Sunday.
Frontier (5-2, 3-2) is likely on the outside looking in. The Red Hawks were in fifth place in Division 4A entering the game.
Schedules for nonplayoff teams will be announced on Sunday as well.