SOUTH DEERFIELD — With three talented runners in the backfield, it’s often hard for one Frontier Regional running back to stand out.

But Aaron Landry did just that Friday night, rushing for a career-high 266 yards and scoring three touchdowns to power Frontier to a 35-6 independent triumph over Palmer.

Frontier made no secret what it was going to do at the outset of the game. The Red Hawks let Landry and Steve Worthley take turns running the ball.

Landry compiled 190 yards rushing in the first half alone. He surpassed his career high of 249 yards set last season at Mahar.

“I owe it all to our blockers,” Landry said. “They cleared the holes wide open.”

It was a quiet first half for new running back Bryce Dobosz. The transfer from Pioneer Regional didn’t touch the ball until late in the first half.

He raced 41 yards for an apparent touchdown, only to have it negated by a penalty. It would have been his sixth touchdown on the season.

“He knew what his role was and that was to block,” coach Don Gordon said.

Worthley, meanwhile, rushed for 81 yards.

“We have five good running backs,” Landry said. “Let’s call it a five-headed monster.”

Somewhat overshadowed by the strong ground game was Frontier’s defense. The game plan worked to perfection with the Red Hawks effectively using the blitz to frustrate the Panthers.

Worthley and Dobosz terrorized Palmer quarterback Joe Pardo.

“The high point of our night was our defense — Steve Worthley was just an animal in the middle,” Landry said.

Pardo had very little time to set up in the pocket and was only able to compete three first-half passes.

“Our defense stepped up,” Gordon said. “They put the pressure on and our defensive backs made the plays.”

Frontier was stopped 1-yard shy of the goal line on its opening drive. Landry was stopped for no gain on fourth down.

But the Red Hawks responded with a eight-play, 64-yard drive on its next possession. Landry capped the march with a 10-yard touchdown run and ran in the 2-point conversion for an 8-0 advantage with 2:43 remaining in the first quarter.

Frontier took a 14-0 lead after Landry capped a six-play, 72-yard march with a 5-yard run by Landry.

Landry picked right up in the second half where he left off in the first half. He scored his third touchdown on a 9-yard run with 4:56 left in the third quarter as Frontier led 20-0. Landry chewed up 30 yards on the eight-play, 76-yard drive.

Palmer marched to midfield in the waning minutes of the third quarter, but the drive stalled. Worthley then broke loose for a 49-yard touchdown and after Matt Hildreth’s extra point, Frontier led 27-0.

Garrett DeForest scored on a 2-yard run following a direct snap with 7:28 left and following a Worthley conversion pass to Kiernan Freeman, Frontier took a 35-0 lead.

Kyle Mastalerz spoiled the shutout after his 2-yard touchdown run with 40 seconds remaining.

Frontier Regional 35, Palmer 6

Palmer

0

0

0

6

—6

Frontier

8

6

13

8

—35

First quarter

F-Aaron Landry 10 run (Landry run) 2:43

Second quarter

F-Landry 5 run (run failed) 9:27

Third quarter

F-Landry 9 run (run failed) 4:56

F-Steve Worthley 49 run (Matt Hildreth kick) 0:00

Fourth quarter

F-Garrett DeForest 2 run (Kiernan Freeman pass from Worthley) 7:28.

P-Kyle Masterlerz 2 run (pass failed) 0:40

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Palmer: Mastalerz 4-38, Pardo 3-(-17), Picanico 1-4; Frontier: Hildreth 1-(-5), Dobosz 2-9, DeForrest 1-2, Landry 33-266, Worthley 13-81.

PASSING — Palmer: Pardo 10-23-105-0; Frontier: Hildreth 1-6-23-0

RECEIVING — Palmer: Lombardi 4-17, Picanico 2-35, Tenczar 38, Ladue 1-15; Frontier: Worthley 1-23.