Journal & Topics Media Group

Fremd Picks A Winner Over Palatine


The Fremd Vikings successfully defended their title in Palatine’s “Battle of the Tracks” as they defeated their crosstown rival Palatine Pirates, 28-10.

The first quarter didn’t see any scoring, however it did see the Fremd defense holding the Pirates to 7 yards and 2 three-and-out stops. 

Palatine was able to get a big stop of their own when Fremd was knocking on their door on fourth and inches.

However, the Pirates were not able to keep the Vikings off the scoreboard for long as two plays later, a bad snap led to a safety for a 2-point Viking lead.

After unsuccessful drives by each team, a sack on Ryan Saxe would lead to a fumble and be recovered by the Pirates, starting them at the Fremd 33-yard line. 

The Pirates would gain 29 yards before Caleb Runge would kick a successful field goal in the final seconds of the half for the one-point lead.

After halftime the Vikings shifted into another gear, starting with a big return by Jack Hipchen  setting the Vikings up at the Palatine 49-yard line. Fremd would drive down the field and Saxe would find Hipchen for the first touchdown of the night and get the lead back for the Vikings.

“I didn’t say anything during halftime.” said coach Lou Sponsel. “The kids just kind of said ‘Let’s go back to work’. No speeches, they knew we didn’t execute in the first half.”

Palatine would muff the kickoff return and Fremd would capitalize by recovering the loose ball and starting at the Palatine 36-yard line. 

The Vikings were able to move the ball to the Palatine nine-yard line thanks to Saxe’s run game, but were forced to turnover on downs after being unable to move the chains on fourth and four at the Palatine nine-yard line.

Despite the setback the Vikings would still find a way to the endzone, as two plays into Palatine’s drive, Hipchen would pick off Joe Ayala and take it to the house for the pick six and 11-point lead. 

Then, like someone hit the replay button on their DVR, the same thing happened, only it was Trey Castella with the pick six two plays into Palatine’s drive.

The following drive the Pirates would travel 71 yards thanks in large part to Ayala’s passing, who at one point in the drive, delivered a pass to Luka Popovic for a massive 40-yard gain. The lengthy drive would be topped off with a three-yard run by Ronald Todd to get the Pirates back to within 11.

The Vikings would start with prime field position once again starting in the red zone after a big kick return, this time by Ryan Palmer.

On a first and goal from six yards out Saxe would score the final touchdown with the quarterback keep.

But the highlights wouldn’t end there, as Hipchen and Castella would add one more interception each to their night’s total before game’s end.

“Our defense had been playing well the whole game. We just flipped the switch in the second half. It was a big momentum changer for us. And when we got that muffed kickoff, I felt we had the game locked up right there.” said Hipchen. “Every game against Palatine is fun. I was talking with all the other seniors this week about how this is the last time we’ll play Palatine so it’s like we’ll be running the town for the rest of our lives.”

The Vikings (4-2) look to keep their conference record perfect as they host a tough Barrington squad in on Friday (Oct. 11) that’s right behind them in the MSL West standings. Palatine (1-5) hosts Hoffman Estates.

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