Tons of hard work, perseverance and dedication led to Frontier Regional School’s Indya Lewis making history last Friday night in South Deerfield.
Lewis started playing football in eighth grade, and has been playing for the Frontier varsity team the last four years. Taking on Commerce last Friday, the Redhawks found themselves with the ball on the Raiders 1-yard-line. Frontier coach Scott Dredge sent Lewis into the game as a fullback and gave her the ball on a dive up the middle.
Lewis plunged into the end zone with 41 seconds remaining in the third quarter, giving Frontier a 20-16 lead. It turned out to be the game-winning TD in a 22-16 victory.
Lewis made history with the score, becoming just the second female player in Massachusetts high school football to score a touchdown. She was the first Black female player to score a touchdown in state history.
“I’ve always wanted to play football since I learned what it was,” Lewis said. “I always told people I was going to play football and make history. I’m still surprised about it. I can’t believe I’m the second [female player to score a TD]. I’m trying to get more girls on the football team before I leave Frontier.”
Lewis barely missed out on becoming the first female player to score a touchdown in Massachusetts. Brockton senior McKenzie Quinn accomplished the feat just one week prior.
Frontier coach Scott Dredge said he knew Lewis was going to score when he sent her in for the goal line play.
“We ran that dive play and she was the perfect candidate for that,” Dredge said. “We had been trying to work her in situationally for the last few games. The players knew what was going to happen when we sent her in. We knew that was the perfect opportunity for her. It wasn’t a gimmick. We were down 16-14 and needed that touchdown. The guys were great about it. They believed in her and she believed in herself.”
Lewis wasn’t aware of the history behind her touchdown and said she was just happy to have put her team on top in a tightly-contested Intercounty League South game.
“I gave it my all to get in there,” Lewis said. “When I [got the ball] I didn’t know I scored until the ref told me. My teammates were very happy and jumping around. I was just trying to hand the ref the ball. It makes me very happy that I was able to help us win the game.”
The touchdown was a long time coming for Lewis. She started playing football in eighth grade, and like most varsity athletes, it’s been a long grind to earn playing time on the gridiron.
Lewis played mostly special teams for the Redhawks, and was looking to see more of a role as a fullback and linebacker going into her junior year. That all changed when she tore her ACL during Frontier’s first scrimmage last summer, ending her season before it even began.
“That was very disappointing,” Lewis said. “Once you’re a junior, you’re used to playing on varsity. Instead of getting used to it my junior year, I had to get used to it my senior year.”
Despite being done for the season, Lewis stayed involved with the Redhawk program. She went to all the practices, stayed in for the film sessions and was on the sideline during all their games.
Lewis put in the rehab to be ready to go this season, and Dredge said he’s been impressed with her work ethic throughout her time at Frontier.
“It’s been a long journey for her,” Dredge said. “She came in not knowing much about football but each year she learned more and more. We tried to find places to put her where she could handle the position and where it wasn’t too much. She’s been working hard all four years here.
“She stuck with it,” Dredge continued. “There were probably moments where she wasn’t seeing a lot of time and getting discouraged. Last year, even after the ACL, she came to practice and came to the games. She was still committed. She got the clearance this summer, put the brace on and said she’s just going to send it for her senior year. She’s one of those players — male or female — who’s earned the playing time for the amount of work she’s put in.”
While Lewis might be one of the first female players to score a touchdown, she hopes she’s far from the last, encouraging others who want to play football to give it a shot.
“Even if you’re terrible at first, you’re not going to know how to play,” Lewis said. “You have to keep on trying and put in the work to get better every single day. If you’re a girl who wants to play football, don’t be afraid just because it’s a boys sport and you’re going to get hit. You just have to move through the battles, move through people telling you you can’t do what you’re doing. Just keep going. It’s going to turn out well no matter what.”
She also hopes Friday wasn’t the last time she’s celebrating with her teammates in the end zone. Frontier travels to play at Belchertown this Friday in another key IL South contest.
“My goal is to score more touchdowns, get better each week and hit harder than I did the previous day,” Lewis said.