SOUTH DEERFIELD — Preseason scrimmages allow coaches to experiment, try new things and find out what will work best during the regular season. 

For Frontier football coach Scott Dredge, the answer was simple: go back to playing Frontier football. 

The Redhawks, coming off a 5-5 season, will try to play the style that has made the program successful in the past by employing a tough, physical defense while being able to eat clock and move the chains running the ball on offense.

Frontier hopes to put that plan into action on Friday, when it opens its 2024 season by hosting central Mass. foe Lunenburg at 7 p.m.

“We spent the two scrimmages [against Northampton and Quaboag] figuring out what will work for us offensively and we’ll add a little bit each game to see what we can do with it,” said Dredge, who is 72-47 in 12 seasons across two stints as Frontier’s head coach (2005-12, 2021-present). “It’s not going to be flashy or fancy. Our brand is going to be back to what Frontier football used to be: shutdown defense and run the clock on offense. We’re not going to be winning very many shootouts.”

With Aiden Dredge now playing college football at Pace University, his younger brother, junior Garrett Dredge, is set to step into his role as the Redhawks’ quarterback and should bring a different element to the position.

“Garrett is playing quarterback,” Dredge said. “What he brings to the position, which is different than last year, is his shiftiness. Aiden had that breakaway speed and power, Garrett has the basketball shiftiness. We’re not going to go too crazy. We’ll run our power football and why not when you have Kaden [James] and Brady [Poreda].”

Poreda, a junior, brings speed and athleticism to the backfield and should see plenty of touches throughout the season.

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James is Frontier’s leader this fall and is poised for a big senior season in the backfield and at middle linebacker. Scott Dredge noted the work he put in during the offseason to get bigger and stronger. 

“Can’t say enough about Kaden,” Scott Dredge said. “He’s the heart and soul of our team. He’s one of the better true middle backers I’ve ever coached. I’ve had a lot of good ones up there but he’s right up there with the best. If they stay healthy, we’ll be a physical team.”

A captain, James noted how well connected this Redhawk group is going into the season. 

“I feel really confident in the team we have,” James said. “The last few years we’ve been preaching brotherhood but this team really brings it together. It’s just a brotherhood. We do everything together, whether that’s going to Applebee’s and eating as many wings as we can or going to someone’s house. It’s been great. I’ve known some of these guys for a long time and it’s great to build what we’re building.”

Collin West, another senior, is a player to watch at tight end, providing a big target for Dredge to throw to. With a small roster, West — along with many Redhawk starters — will be tasked with playing both ways. He’s also showing well on the defensive line. 

Senior Javion Cabrera and junior Julian Adams will play key roles on both the offensive and defensive line. 

“Collin West and Julian Adams and Javion, those are our big guys,” Scott Dredge said. “That’s the core of our team right now. We’ll rely a lot on their blocking abilities. We’re not going to be putting the ball in the air a lot. Collin provides a big target for Garrett and he can block well at that tight end spot. Javion and Julian are excellent linemen with a lot of experience on both sides of the ball. I’m really going to lean on them.”

As a senior, Cabrera is hoping the Redhawks can make a run at an Intercounty League South title to close out his career on a high note.

“I’m hyped,” Cabrera said. “It’s the last season for me playing high school football. I just want to enjoy it and try to get as many wins as possible.” 

The confidence was apparent in the players, who feel they have a tight group that can get Frontier back to where it wants to be.

“We’ve been getting back in shape,” West said. “We’ve been pretty focused at practice. I’m super confident in this team. I’ve never liked a team this much or enjoyed playing this much. It’s going to be a great year.” 

Competing in the IL South alongside Hoosac, Lee, Belchertown, Commerce and Easthampton is no easy task, but with plenty of returning talent, the Redhawks’ goal is to compete for the league title. 

“With the kids that we’ll have out there on the field, I feel good that we’ll be able to have success,” Dredge said. “Keeping ourselves injury-free will be a key part of our season. The way our league is shaking up, we can be competitive in it given the landscape. All of us in our league have lost key players and some have been able to reload quicker than others. I’m feeling like we can be right there if we stay healthy.”

Since the inception of the new statewide format, Frontier is yet to qualify for the MIAA Division 8 playoffs. The goal is to change that, and that starts with playing the brand of football that has brought the Redhawks considerable success in the past. 

“Playoffs,” James said. “We haven’t made the state playoffs in seven years so that’s our goal.”