The Hive Sports

by James Tate

The Fremont Silverwolves made a bold statement in Region 5 Friday night, overpowering the Northridge Knights 35-13 in a decisive road win that showcased their rising dominance in the 5A ranks. Senior quarterback Manase Tuatagaloa led the charge with a dazzling dual-threat performance, racking up 249 passing yards and 104 rushing yards while accounting for three touchdowns. With explosive plays on both sides of the ball and a second-half shutout on defense, Fremont proved they’re not just contenders—they’re a team on a mission.

Tuatagaloa’s top targets—seniors Salesi Moa and Slade Parker—delivered clutch performances that kept the Silverwolves’ offense rolling. Moa showcased his speed and versatility with five catches for 106 yards, consistently flipping field position and stretching the Northridge secondary. Parker, meanwhile, was a red-zone menace, hauling in four receptions and finding the end zone twice to cap off key scoring drives.

On the other side of the ball, Fremont’s defense slammed the door in the second half, blanking the Knights and controlling the tempo. Freshman linebacker RJ Fonoti led the charge with nine tackles, flying sideline to sideline and setting the tone for a unit that swarmed to the ball and refused to give up ground. The Silverwolves’ defensive front applied steady pressure, while the secondary locked down passing lanes to preserve the lead.

The Silverwolves’ special teams would make their presence felt during the game with a partially blocked punt returned for a 50-yard touchdown by senior Triston Mann in the first quarter.

The Knights were able to stay close in the first half behind touchdown passes from junior quarterback Liam Fresques to junior receiver Carson Murphy.

Manasa Tuatagaloa

Silverwolves strike first

Despite entering the game as favorites, the Silverwolves stumbled out of the gate, turning the ball over on downs deep in Northridge territory. But Fremont’s defense quickly steadied the ship, forcing a punt on the Knights’ opening possession and handing the ball back to Tuatagaloa and the offense. The Silverwolves drove methodically into scoring range, only to be pushed back by a costly penalty that turned a field goal attempt into a fourth-and-long decision.

Rather than settling, Head Coach Nate Tuatagaloa dialed up a gutsy call, a screen pass to Parker. The senior wideout caught the ball in stride, slipped past the first wave of defenders, and sprinted 25 yards to the end zone, igniting the Fremont sideline and giving the Silverwolves a 7-0 lead with 3:04 left in the first quarter. It was a momentum-shifting play that set the tone for the rest of the night.

Triston Mann

Blocked punt for touchdown

Fremont’s special teams delivered a game-changing blow late in the first quarter, when junior Landon Palmer broke through the line and got a hand on the Knights’ punt. The deflection sent the ball fluttering into open space, where Mann scooped it up and dashed into the end zone for a 14-0 lead with 1:56 remaining. The play electrified the Silverwolves’ sideline and underscored their ability to strike in all three phases of the game.

“One play that I think helped was our punt block; it showed we can do it on all three levels: defense, offense, and special teams,” Mann said. “My guy Landon Palmer went out there and blocked it for us, and he executed it perfectly. We had been working on that all week. When I saw the ball hit the ground, I knew I was the guy to make the play. As soon as I picked it up, I looked for open field and found some after bouncing off some blocks, then it was end zone from there. I think that got momentum for us to keep rolling.”

But Northridge wasn’t ready to fold. Fueled by a lively home crowd, the Knights opened the second quarter with their most cohesive drive of the night. Senior running back Seon Kumar, stepping into the starting role for Andrew Ortiz, broke loose for a long gain that flipped the field. A pass interference call against Fremont moved the chains again, and Fresques capitalized with a touchdown pass to Murphy at the 8:54 mark, trimming the deficit to 14-6 and breathing life into the Knights’ offense.

Cooper Allen (l) Joshua Summerill (r)

Silverwolves take over in second quarter

The Silverwolves’ response to Northridge’s touchdown was powered not just by skill players, but by the relentless effort of Fremont’s offensive line. Seniors Julian Vega, Joshua Summerill, and Cooper Allen, along with junior Cooper Tumanuvao and sophomore Ryan Connell, anchored a unit that controlled the line of scrimmage and gave Tuatagaloa time to operate and use his athleticism to escape the pocket.

Their protection allowed Cade Hadley to churn out tough yards and convert a crucial fourth down, keeping the drive alive and setting up Parker’s second touchdown grab of the night, a crisp slant from Tuatagaloa that made it 21-6 with 5:48 left in the half.

Whether opening lanes for the run game or stonewalling Northridge’s pass rush, Fremont’s front five set the tone physically and gave the Silverwolves the edge in the trenches all night long.

Northridge capitalized on a failed onside kick late in the second quarter, taking over at the Silverwolves’ 40-yard line with momentum on their side. Quarterback Fresques wasted no time, threading a pass over the middle to freshman Roman Fitisemanu to move the chains and energize the Knights’ sideline. A few plays later, Fresques connected with Murphy on a 2-yard touchdown pass with 1:44 left before halftime, trimming the deficit to 21-13 and giving the home crowd reason to believe.

But the turning point came on Fremont’s very next possession. With under a minute to play, Tuatagaloa dropped back and launched a deep ball to Moa, who hauled in the pass and raced 67 yards downfield before being brought down at the Knights’ 3-yard line. Two plays later, Tuatagaloa powered into the end zone on a keeper, restoring Fremont’s two-score lead and sending the Silverwolves into halftime up 28-13. It was a dagger of a drive, quick, explosive, and emblematic of the Silverwolves’ ability to respond.

Cade Hadley

Silverwolves’ defense controls the second half

While Cade Hadley’s 5-yard touchdown run with 2:56 left in the third quarter marked the only points of the second half, it was Fremont’s defense that truly sealed the win. The Silverwolves slammed the door on any Northridge comeback hopes, delivering a physical and disciplined performance that kept the Knights off the scoreboard after halftime.

Fonoti continued to lead the charge, but it was a collective effort that overwhelmed Northridge’s offense. Seniors Mathis Bell, Ryker Shepherd, Kamden Murphy, Moa, Parker, and junior Jak Masters, along with sophomore Aisa Tuatagaloa, all contributed to a defensive unit that flew to the ball and shut down the run game—adjustments made at the break paid off immediately.

“We made a couple of adjustments to the run,” Murphy said. “Our coach trusts us defensive backs to win every one-on-one battle. We came out prepared for their air attack, but they switched it up and felt like they could run on us, and we were able to shut that down. Their offense couldn’t do anything against our defense in the second half, and our linebackers and defensive line completely shut down the run game.”

Despite the loss, Northridge quarterback Fresques turned in a solid performance, completing 22 of 27 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns to Murphy. Seniors Makai So’o and Kaleb Gould led the Knights’ defense with nine and eight tackles, respectively.

With their 35-13 victory, the Fremont Silverwolves not only solidified their position atop Region 5 but sent a resounding message across the 5A landscape: they’re hitting their stride at the perfect time. Fueled by a balanced offensive attack, a defense that pitched a second-half shutout, and opportunistic special teams play, Fremont delivered the kind of total team performance that defines championship-caliber football.

The Silverwolves now shift their focus to a non-region clash with the Farmington Phoenix before diving into pivotal Region 5 matchups against the Box Elder Bees and West Field Longhorns—games that could shape the postseason picture and test Fremont’s rising momentum.

As for the Knights, they’ll look to regroup and reignite their season with upcoming contests against West Field and Roy, aiming to stay competitive in a tightly contested region race and build on the flashes of promise shown Friday night.

photos courtesy of James Tate