Fremd Captures MSL West Crown

After a 35-21 loss to Maine South in Week 3, Fremd Vikings head coach Lou Sponsel spoke with conviction that his team "We'll get it fixed and get right back to work."

Boy did they ever.

After starting the season 1-2, the Vikings have reeled off five consecutive victories with the latest coming on Friday night at Conant by a score of 20-12 to capture the MSL West crown.

Conant started the scoring early in the second quarter, using a 16-play drive that spanned over 9 minutes that culminated in Malik Frederick's 13th rushing TD of the season. Jack Hipchen blocked the PAT to keep it 6-0 Cougars.

Midway through the second quarter, Fremd quarterback Ryan Saxe started to find his groove hitting Hipchen and Saxe on a Vikings drive that got deep into Conant territory.

Facing a 3rd and 13 from the 17, Saxe found Hipchen who tip-toed down the sideline for a score to make it 7-6 Vikings at the half.

The Cougars retook the lead late in the third quarter on a Giuseppe Dugo 7-yard TD run, but with just 3:22 left in the contest, Ryan Saxe scored the game-winning touchdown on a 2-yard TD that gave the Vikings a 13-12 lead.

For good measure, Hipchen added a Pick 6 on the Cougars ensuing drive to put Fremd up 20-12 with 1:24 to go as the Vikings held on for the victory to move to 6-2 overall on the year, Conant dropped to 6-2.

"He (Hipchen) is one of the most competitive guys I've ever coached," said Sponsel. "It could be a walkthrough in film, you name it…I'm going to enjoy every single second I have left with him."