Prep football: Big plays, defense help Roy pull away from Fremont in 36-14 rivalry win
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- Roy’s Robert Young, left, dives to the end zone for a touchdown as Fremont’s Owen Simkins center, and Kaeden Possell attempt a stop on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Plain City.
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- Fremont quarterback Slade Parker (2) tries to evade Roy’s Robert Young (5) on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Plain City.
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- Roy’s Samuel Smith (24) celebrates with Kahekili Eleneke (21) after Eleneke’s kick-return touchdown against Fremont on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Plain City.
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- Roy’s Kahekili Eleneke (21) returns the opening kickoff against Fremont for a touchdown Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Plain City.
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- Fremont running back Brigg Grange carries the football against Roy on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Plain City.
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- Fremont quarterback Slade Parker (2) tries to break a Roy tackle on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Plain City.
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- Roy quarterback Dru Gardner looks downfield against Fremont on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Plain City.
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- Fremont players and cheerleaders on the field before a game against Roy on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Plain City.
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- Fremont High students cheer in a game against Roy on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Plain City.
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- Roy quarterback Joseph Cariaga III looks downfield against Fremont on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Plain City.
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- Roy quarterback Dru Gardner runs the football against Fremont on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Plain City.
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- Fremont’s Jace Hadley (11) runs with the football against Roy on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Plain City.
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- Roy quarterback Dru Gardner runs the football against Fremont on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Plain City.
PLAIN CITY — Roy High football junior Colby Frokjer is listed as ATH for his position on the team’s roster.
How else could Frokjer be described? He played kicker, running back, receiver and defensive back against Fremont on Friday evening.
Ultimately, the Royals took a cue from Frokjer and scored in a variety of ways against Fremont, blowing the game open in the third quarter en route to a 36-14, non-region rivalry victory.
“ATH-athlete, that’s what it stands for,” Frokjer said. “I played receiver my whole life and my eighth-grade year I got switched to quarterback. But we have one of the best quarterback rooms in the state, so if I’m not going to play quarterback, I want to help my team out in any way possible, so I’ll go back to receiver.
“Since I’m not playing quarterback, I can play some defense now. We’re a little short in depth in the secondary, so the coaches asked if I wanted to play corner.”
With so much going on, one would think it would be difficult for Frokjer to balance everything coming at him, but he says that is not the case.
“I just have to focus on my specific positions. Every day we go over them in practice and I get it straight in my head, so it’s just natural because I’ve repped it enough,” Frokjer said. “Our coaches have conditioned us well and got us in good enough shape to where I’m able to play both ways.”
Roy (1-1) broke open a tight, 18-14 game at halftime, matching that total with 18 more points in the third quarter alone.
The Royals opened the third quarter on defense and blocked a kick out of the back of the end zone for a safety.
Then the wheels came off for Fremont (0-2) when Roy scored three times in the last 4:58 of the period.
Frokjer kicked a 47-yard field goal to boost the lead to 23-14 and, after an interception, Daeqwan Snider scored on a 4-yard run to make it 30-14 with 1:55 remaining.
Fremont punted on its next possession and Roy took over at the Silverwolves’ 29-yard line and cashed in on a 9-yard run by Logan Cella on the final play of the quarter.
“As a team, we have a great group and everyone is there to win. We all kind of look up to each other and push ourselves to be better each game,” Frokjer said.
Roy led 18-14 at the half, and all points came from one-play scores.
Kili Eleneke took the game’s opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown, giving the Royals a quick 7-0 lead following Frokjer’s extra point try.
After multiple exchanges of punts, Roy had a first-and-10 in Fremont territory. One play later, Robert Young shed half of Fremont’s defense on the way to a 35-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Dru Gardner.
The Royals went for two. Frokjer skirted right end on a sweep and made the end zone as Roy led 15-0 at the 6:50 mark of the second quarter.
“We noticed on film that they were bringing everyone on the kick, so this week in practice we put in a fake kick and had the play ready,” Frokjer said. “When we saw they brought the house on the first point after, on the second one, the holder flipped the ball over his shoulder and if I had the hole, I could take it.”
Fremont could not generate any offense, but a big-play defense got the Silverwolves back into the game.
For the second time in the half, the Royals botched an attempted punt and this time, Fremont made them pay as Zachary Masters picked up the fumble for a 26-yard scoop and score. Cam Graves tacked on the PAT and Roy led 15-7.
On Roy’s next possession, Gardner connected with Fremont linebacker Ridge Lindley and he returned it to the house, cutting the deficit to 15-14.
The Silverwolves were buried deep in their territory near the end of the second stanza and Roy fielded a punt again on the Fremont side of the field with seven seconds remaining.
With time for one play, Frokjer boomed a 53-yard field goal as the clock expired and Roy led 18-14 at the break, completing the unusual one-play half.
“It was a little nerve-racking. My mindset was confident; I knew I had it in me so I got up there and let it loose. That was my first attempt from that distance,” Frokjer said. “My dad was a semi-pro kicker so I’ve been a kicker all my life. I’ve grown up wanting to kick on these fields on Friday nights.”
Although the game was close at the half, Fremont only generated the two defensive touchdowns on the night. The Silverwolves managed 126 net yards of offense — 93 passing, 33 rushing.
“We were unable to run the ball. We couldn’t get any push up front. They were only up four at the half. We have to be able to control the line of scrimmage,” Fremont coach Clay Bayard said. “They had the wind and they kept having short fields in the third quarter. If you can’t move the ball, you’re not going to score. They pounded us and we couldn’t pound them back.”
Roy has now won eight of the last nine in this series, and this game has a special meaning for Frokjer, who transferred to Roy after a freshman year at Fremont.
“It’s the best decision I ever made,” Frokjer said. “This game is a huge deal. Everyone has their calendars circled all year, looking forward to this game. Everyone wants to come to this game. Packed house; thousands of people to watch this rivalry game that has gone on for years. I think it’s one of the best rivalries.”
Gardner finished 24 of 38 for 223 yards for Roy. Dual-threat QB Joseph Cariaga III joined the action with 13 carries for 116 yards, adding 45 yards through the air. Roy had four receivers with 50 or more yards in Isaiah Morris (62), Young (60), Eleneke (53) and Cove Rodriguez (52).
Jaxton Scoffield led Roy with nine tackles and Cella had eight.
For Fremont, Slade Parker threw for 93 yards and two picks, and the Royals took him down for minus-24 yards rushing. Brigg Grange netted 57 yards on 13 carries and Luke Shulz caught five passes for 44 yards.
