On September 5, the Moscow Bears faced off against the Clarkston Bantams in a nonleague football matchup at Adams Field in Clarkston. The game, which lasted nearly three hours, saw the Bears come alive in the second half, ultimately securing a 24-6 victory. Quarterback Keaton Frei led the charge with an impressive performance that included 135 rushing yards and 78 passing yards.
The turning point of the game came shortly after halftime when the Bears capitalized on a kickoff mishap by the Bantams. Following a well-placed kickoff from Moscow kicker Austin Mallet, junior defensive back Charles Vasquez and several teammates recovered the ball, giving the Bears an immediate offensive opportunity. "Next thing you know, I look up and they’re (yelling) ‘offense, offense,’" Frei recounted. Coach Dwight Tardy encouraged Frei to take control of the game, stating, "Keaton, this is where we put it away. Please march this in." Frei responded by leading a swift scoring drive that increased the Bears' lead from 10-6 to 24-6 in just over a minute.
During this explosive stretch, Mallet caught a touchdown pass from Frei, marking the Bears' first score of the second half. The Bears' defense, which had struggled in their season opener, stepped up significantly, limiting the Bantams' chances and allowing Moscow to dominate the second half.
After suffering a heavy defeat in their season opener against another opponent, the Bears demonstrated marked improvement over the past two weeks. Coach Tardy noted the importance of unity among the players, stating, "Guys are just believing. The first game put a damper on us, and we had to pull ourselves out of a hole. They decided that they were gonna go out there and compete, and that’s what they did." This newfound belief and teamwork were evident in their performance against Clarkston.
Frei, who was named the starting quarterback just days before the game, stepped up in a critical role following an injury to the team's regular starter, Wyatt Cross. Tardy praised Frei's leadership, stating, "He’s a leader. He’s our best leader, and he rallied the troops. The troops rallied behind him. That’s what leaders do." Frei acknowledged the influence of his older brothers, who also played for the Bears, in shaping his leadership style and commitment to the team.
The game began with a series of penalties as both teams struggled to find their rhythm. The Bears finally broke the deadlock late in the first quarter when Frei scored the game’s first touchdown on a short run. Despite their efforts, the Bantams, playing their first game of the season, faced challenges in containing Frei and the Bears' offensive strategies. Clarkston's coach, Kyle Fox, pointed out the need for improvement, saying, "You have to contain the quarterback, especially a kid that’s that fast, and we didn’t do that consistently."
In the second half, Clarkston managed to score their only touchdown when junior running back Leavitt Hyde rushed for 71 yards, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide. The Bears continued to capitalize on their momentum, with Kolten Kendall adding another touchdown late in the third quarter.
Looking ahead, the Bears will host Pullman next week, while Clarkston prepares for a rivalry game against Lewiston. Coach Tardy emphasized the importance of discipline moving forward, stating, "There’s a lot to learn with this group of kids as far as how to win, how to practice, how to behave, how to be men. It’s been a process, and they’re starting to figure it out, and they’re starting to believe in all the little things we do, and they’re starting to show it on the field."
The final score reflected the Bears' resilience and growth, with Moscow outscoring Clarkston 24-6. This victory marks a significant step forward for the Bears as they continue to build on their recent successes.
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