Photos by Nick Ellis
BY ADAM WAYBRIGHT
Titans head coach Chris Bandy and his team were put through a test of adversity against the Mustangs but remained poised and came out with the 21-20 victory.
The Frontier Titans moved to 2-2 in the SWYL in an overtime thriller at Stockdale High School on Friday night.
The Titans came out strong by forcing a four and out on Stockdale’s first drive of the game but after a pair of defensive stops in the backfield by the Mustangs’ front, Frontier found themselves at their 1 yard-line.
On 3rd and 19, Stockdale’s Zeke Armijo and Maximus Hawarden forced themselves through the Titans’ offensive line to record a safety and put Stockdale up 2-0 with 8:19 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Both defenses fought the entirety of the first half with both teams combining for six 4 and outs and two turnovers.
Frontier found themselves with the ball in the red zone after a blocked punt by JD Cueva left the Titans at the 17 yard-line with 1:40 remaining in the half.
Jayden Smith would pull in an acrobatic catch on first down for a 16 yard gain and set up his quarterback Isreal Chaverria to punch it in from the 1-yard line, putting the Titans up 7-2 just before intermission.
The Senior duo of Chaverria and Jayden Smith did not miss a beat.
The two kicked off the 3rd quarter with a 35-yard connection followed by a 28-yard touchdown play that put their team up 14-2 with 7:23 left in the 3rd quarter.
“He threw it back shoulder. It was a perfect pass,” Smith said. “I knew my feet were in bounds so all I had to do was make the catch.”
Stockdale bullied their way down the field on the ensuing drive to put themselves in scoring position inside the 5-yard line but the Titans’ defense refused to let up.
Frontier’s defensive front stopped the Mustangs from punching it in and on 4th down a pass from Jack Kaiser was intercepted by Frontier senior, Kevin Hughes.
However, possession would change once more two plays later when Stockdale’s Darius Larsuel picked off a pass leaving the Mustangs in the red zone at the 20.
Stockdale would finally reach the end zone on a 12-yard touchdown reception from none other than Senior Jeremiah Gradowitz, who finished with 82 receiving yards on the night.
The Titans attempted to put the game away, up 14-8, but couldn’t capitalize and gave Stockdale the ball with a minute and a half left.
Junior QB Jack Kaiser moved the Mustangs offense down to the Titans 5-yard line and with 10 seconds left in the game connected with Gradowitz once more on a controversial back shoulder score to tie the game at 14-14.
The potential game-winning PAT hooked left and sent the game into overtime.
Stockdale would receive the ball first to begin the extra period and took the lead on a Jack Kaiser 5-yard quarterback keeper to put the Mustangs up 20-14.
After a failed two-point conversion, Frontier had a chance at redemption with the opportunity to tie or win the game.
Frontier would tie the game on a Chaverria quarterback sneak leaving kicker Daniel Foster with the game in his hands.
Foster delivered with a kick directly through the uprights and sent the Titans into a frenzy.
The Titans won in overtime 21-20 to move to 5-4 (2-2) on the season.
“I’m just really proud of them,” Frontier head coach Chris Bandy said. “I’m impressed with their resolve, resiliency, and handling of the adversity. Those are fun games to be apart of, especially when you come out on top.”
Frontier will end their regular season next week at home against Centennial with a chance at their best record in league play since 2012.
Stockdale looks to bounce back against Garces next week in hopes of finishing above .500 in SWYL play.
FHS - 0 7 7 0 7 21
SHS - 2 0 0 12 6 20
1st quarter
Stockdale - Safety by Zeke Armijo and Maximus Hawarden
2nd quarter
Frontier - Isreal Chaverria 1 yard run (Foster PAT good)
3rd quarter
Frontier - Jayden Smith 28 yard touchdown from Isreal Chaverria (Foster PAT good)
4th quarter
Stockdale - Jeremiah Gradowitz 12 yard touchdown from Jack Kaiser (PAT no good)
Stockdale - Jeremiah Gradowitz 5 yard touchdown from Jack Kaiser (PAT no good)
Overtime
Stockdale - Jack Kaiser 7 yard touchdown run (2 pt conversion failed)
Frontier - Isreal Chaverria 1 yard touchdown run (Foster PAT good)
