Frink Snaps Six-Year Skid with Gritty Win Over Rochelle
Frink Snaps Six-Year Skid with Gritty Win Over Rochelle
By Michael Moon
The Frink Middle School football team opened its season in thrilling fashion Thursday afternoon, defeating longtime county rival Rochelle 22-14 at home. The victory marked Frink’s first win over the Vikings since a 30-6 triumph during the spring 2021 season that followed the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This win means so much to us,” said head coach Nathan Smith, whose Cavaliers start the year 1-0. “Our guys were resilient. We suited up 18 players and went out there and played our hearts out. It was amazing. I am so proud of this team.”
The Cavaliers wasted no time getting on the board. Eighth-grade running back Malakhi Briggs set the tone early, powering into the end zone on the game’s opening drive. A successful two-point conversion put Frink ahead 8-0.
Rochelle responded just before halftime with a steady, physical drive capped by a touchdown and two-point conversion to tie the game at 8-8 heading into the break.
The back-and-forth continued into the second half. Briggs scored his second touchdown of the game in the third quarter, though Rochelle's defense stopped the two-point try to keep the deficit at six. The Vikings answered quickly, driving down the field and scoring to even the game at 14-14.
On the ensuing kickoff, Rochelle attempted an onside kick, but Frink recovered and set up with excellent field position and just over two minutes to play. Briggs sealed the victory with his third touchdown of the game, bouncing off contact and racing around the edge. The successful two-point conversion gave Frink a 22-14 lead.
“We had to work as a team,” Briggs said. “We had a great line and a lot of good blocking. It felt good though.”
Rochelle mounted one final drive in the closing moments, but Frink’s defense stood tall in the red zone to preserve the win.
“It felt good because they haven’t been beaten in six years,” Briggs added. “It felt good for us to finally win.”
The Cavaliers now look to carry the momentum from this rivalry victory into the rest of the season.
