PALMER — For the second week in a row, the Frontier Regional football team had to avoid a late surge from its opponent in order to escape with a victory.

Trailing by six with just 3 minutes left to play, Palmer faced a fourth-and-two on Frontier’s 26-yard line. Panthers running back Tyler Placanico took the handoff and was immediately stopped short of the first down by Jackie Phong and Andrew Logan.

The defensive play gave the ball back to the Red Hawks, who secured a 20-14 victory at Legion Field, Friday.

Last week, Frontier (2-1) narrowly edged Greenfield. The first two victories of the year weren’t exactly how the Red Hawks wanted to win, but they know it comes with the makeup of their team.

“As much as it is annoying to have to make stops like that in the fourth quarter with the game on the line like that, it comes down to being a young team,” said Frontier quarterback Matt Hildreth.

Tied at 14, the Red Hawks got the go-ahead touchdown with less than 7 minutes to play in the contest. On Palmer’s 2-yard line, Hildreth rolled out left and faked a pitch to running back Garrett DeForest. Hildreth instead rolled right and took it in the end zone for the score.

“He (DeForest) called it, it was his idea,” Frontier coach Don Gordon said.

DeForest led the offensive surge for the Red Hawks with 202 yards rushing and two scores on 21 carries. At the 1:09 mark of the first quarter, DeForest broke free for a 43-yard touchdown run to put Frontier up 7-0.

Tied 7-7 in the third quarter with the Red Hawks on the Panthers’ 6-yard line in a third-and-goal situation, DeForest barreled his way in to give his team the lead.

“It’s all about the hard work we put in practice every day,” DeForest said. “Whatever I can do to help the team, that’s what I’m going to do.”

Freshmen Josh Semaski added to Frontier’s ground game contributing 72 yards on nine carries.

Down 14-7 late in the third quarter, Palmer didn’t go away. After a 13-yard completion from Jeff Pardo to Riley Williams, Pardo took the ball 19 yards two plays later to get his team to Frontier’s 21-yard line. Three plays later, Pardo connected with tight end Dylan Tenczar for a 13-yard gain. On the next play, Joe Lombardi snuck in over the goal line to tie the game again at the 10:28 mark of the fourth quarter.

Palmer was led by Tyler Placanico, who finished with 22 rushes and 89 yards. Pardo completed 10 of 14 passes for 113 yards and one score.

The Red Hawks (2-1) will travel to take on conference rival Mahar next Friday at 7 p.m.

Frontier 20, Palmer 14

Frontier

7

0

7

6

—20

Palmer

0

7

0

7

—14

First quarter

F—Garrett DeForest 43 run (Freeman kick), 1:09.

Second quarter

P—Lombardi 3-yard pass from Jeff Pardo (Lombardi kick), 5:57.

Third quarter

F—DeForest 6 run (Hildreth kick), 6:23.

Fourth quarter

P—Lombardi 1 run (Lombardi kick), 10:28

F—Hildreth 2 run (kick failed), 6:40

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Frontier Regional–Frontier–DeForest 21-202, Semaski 9-72, Hildreth 7-9, Kirkendall 1-26, Corbin Blight 3-12. Palmer– Placanico 22-89, Lombardi 4-22, Pardo 3-12, Mastalerz 3-6.

PASSING—Frontier–Hildreth 0-4-0-0. Palmer–Pardo 10-14-113-1.

RECEIVING—Palmer – Lombardi 4-37, Mastalerz 1-10, Tenczar 3-40, Williams 1-13, Placanico 1-13.