By James Tate

In a bruising, penalty‑soaked Region 5 showdown, the West Field Longhorns imposed their will on the Fremont Silverwolves. They won 35–16, preserving their undefeated region record and setting up a winner‑take‑all clash with Box Elder next Friday.

The game was defined by physicality, discipline, and the Longhorns’ ability to capitalize on Fremont’s mistakes, particularly costly penalties that wiped multiple touchdowns off the board.

West Field’s defense and senior running back Caden Judy dictated the night from start to finish.

Judy powered in three rushing touchdowns, each arriving when the Longhorns needed a stabilizing force. The defense matched his impact, generating turnovers, flipping field position, and repeatedly halting Fremont drives that seemed poised to swing momentum.

Danny Stitzer II

First half: Defense sets the tone, Judy and Eilertson build the lead

The Longhorns struck first midway through the opening quarter. Junior quarterback Easton Eilertson found junior Brenen Buckway streaking down the right sideline for a 53‑yard touchdown. Junior kicker Jaxon Hart added the extra point, giving West Field a 7–0 lead with 5:23 on the clock.

Fremont answered with a promising drive deep into Longhorn territory. Still, penalties stalled the drive, forcing the Silverwolves to settle for a 37‑yard field goal from freshman Kade Peterson and cutting the lead to 7–3 with 1:18 left in the first.

West Field’s defense delivered the first major turning point early in the second quarter. Junior defensive back Case Martini jumped a route and intercepted the pass, giving the Longhorns a short field. Judy finished the possession with a 1‑yard touchdown run at the 7:10 mark, extending the lead to 14–3.

Fremont responded immediately. After a short kickoff set up favorable field position, sophomore quarterback Cooper Ortgiesen rolled right. He found freshman Kyran Majors behind the secondary for a 42‑yard touchdown strike, pulling the Silverwolves within 14–10 with 6:16 left in the half.

But the Longhorns surged to close the half. Eilertson connected with sophomore receiver Danny Stitzer II near the sideline, and Stitzer slipped through multiple tackle attempts before accelerating into the end zone for a 33‑yard touchdown. The score pushed West Field’s lead to 21–10 with just 1:12 remaining before halftime, restoring control in a game that had briefly tightened.

Second half: Abbott sparks momentum, Judy finishes the job

The Silverwolves opened the second half with a chance to cut into the lead, receiving the kickoff with momentum in hand. But on their first possession, senior Kolt Abbott delivered the jolt West Field needed with an interception. Judy finished it again, powering in his second 1‑yard touchdown at the 9:04 mark of the third quarter to extend the lead to 28–10.

From there, the Longhorns’ defense tightened its grip. Fremont’s offense, which had flashed explosiveness in the first half, found no rhythm in the third quarter as West Field’s front seven controlled the line of scrimmage and erased every attempt to build momentum. Judy added his third touchdown with 4:39 left in the period, a run that pushed the margin to a comfortable 35–10 and effectively sealed the outcome.

After the game, Judy made it clear that his performance was rooted in trust and chemistry with the offensive line and fellow senior running back Elijah Woods.

“I give all my success to my O‑line,” Judy said. “If they were not there, I wouldn’t be able to do my job. Me and Elijah, we call it the 1‑2 punch. He’s quick and shifty, and I’m more of a power back, so us rotating in the game makes defenses tired. Our tempo throughout the game, being able to get on the ball quickly, really helps us.”

Fremont kept battling, and Ortgiesen eventually found junior Breckon Phillips wide open for a 51‑yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to close the scoring at 35–16. But the Silverwolves’ earlier penalties and West Field’s relentless defensive pressure had already shaped the game beyond repair.

The Longhorns’ ground attack proved decisive. Elijah Woods complemented Judy’s scoring night with 110 rushing yards, helping West Field pile up 249 yards on the ground. The offensive line, Seth Lindeman, Kade Christensen, Tucker Keele, Ethan Sessions, and Ryan Rowley, controlled the trenches throughout the night, setting the tone for a physical, disciplined performance.

Lindeman said the group’s mindset was simple: ignore the noise and win the line of scrimmage.

“Our mentality throughout the game was honestly not worrying about how good everybody says Fremont is and the reputations that their D‑line had,” Lindeman said. “We just knew that if we followed our assignments and tried to have good technique, then we could win. Being undefeated in region is an amazing feeling, and it just shows that you can overcome anything, no matter what happened in the past.”

Judy echoed that hunger, pointing back to the offseason as the moment the team decided it wanted more.

“In the offseason, we looked at what we did last season, and we wanted more,” Judy said. “We wanted to beat Fremont so bad, and we wanted to prove that we are a good football team. Everyone had their doubts about us last night, and we proved them wrong.”

With one game left in region play, Judy said the team is embracing the moment.

“One game away from region, it’s an amazing feeling,” Judy said. “I’m super excited to see what we can do next week.”

West Field also had to overcome adversity. Senior wide receiver and defensive back Gavin Ortegon exited after the opening kickoff and did not return, but the Longhorns absorbed the loss and closed out their seventh straight win with poise and depth.

Fremont, now 3–2 in Region 5, turns its attention to a pivotal matchup with Roy next week, a game that will determine third place and shape playoff seeding. West Field, meanwhile, stands at 5–0 in region play and heads into next Friday’s showdown with Box Elder, with the Region 5 title squarely on the line.

photos courtesy of James Tate