Unfortunately, points would not be that easy to come by at Southwestern’s Charles A. Lawson Field.

The team on the other sideline had a lot to do with that.

Southwestern/Frewsburg intercepted five passes and stopped the Hillbillies on fourth down to end three other drives as the “Brojans” handed Fredonia its first loss 12-6 at the Sirianni Athletic Complex.

“I wouldn’t say we did anything different tonight, but Southwestern/Frewsburg did a much better job,” Fredonia head coach Nick Bertrando said. “We didn’t look like we had in the past couple of games.”

OBSERVER Photo by Matt Spielman Fredonia’s Emma Perry attempts to run between Southwestern/Frewsburg defenders Elysse Gruber, left, and Rozlyn Haglund during Division 4 flag football action at Charles A. Lawson Field on Monday.

Freshman Charlie Lombardo led the Southwestern/Frewsburg defense with three interceptions, including one that she returned from beyond midfield for the eventual winning touchdown with 4:29 remaining in the game.

“Being able to bounce back from giving up a touchdown and then coming and getting another pick; getting those two right before halftime … those were all huge, huge plays that put us in a really good position to win,” Southwestern/Frewsburg head coach Jake Burkholder said. ” … It takes all the girls on the team to make stuff like this happen.”

Sophomore Elysse Gruber ended Fredonia’s first drive of the game when she intercepted a fourth-and-7 pass on the goal line while freshman Rozlyn Haglund ended the Hillbillies’ third drive with an interception of her own.

“It really seemed like they had 10 out there, the way they were covering the field and moving around,” Bertrando said of the Brojans. “They were very much prepared and ready for the moment. They definitely capitalized on it.”

Southwestern/Frewsburg (2-1, 2-1) nearly took its first lead on its second drive of the game when Elysse Gruber came down with a catch in a crowd on third-and-short. Set up deep in Fredonia territory, the hosts’ drive stalled when sophomore quarterback Jaden Jimerson’s pass intended for senior Abery Harvey went incomplete in the end zone.

OBSERVER Photo by Matt Spielman Fredonia’s Madelyn Polhamus, right, is joined by teammates in celebration after scoring the team’s only touchdown against Southwestern/Frewsburg on Monday.

“With Jimerson’s ability to spread the ball all over the field, stretch the field and hit short passes … we knew we were going to have our hands full,” Bertrando said. “We were trying to get, I don’t want to say favorable, but comparable matchups … but (Gruber and Harvey) just kind of went up and got it.”

The Brojans turned Haglund’s interception into points later in the first quarter. On third-and-long, Jimerson completed a pass to Harvey for a first down. Then, on fourth-and-goal from the 7, the two hooked up again for a touchdown at the goal line.

“They are both tall, fast and coordinated. They are able to make things happen,” Burkholder said of Gruber and Harvey. “It’s great having them on both sides of the ball.”

The final two minutes of the first half featured three interceptions, one by the Hillbillies’ Madelyn Polhamus and two by Lombardo.

Fredonia (6-1, 1-1) nearly found the end zone for the first time late in the third quarter, but on fourth-and-goal from the 10, Jimerson broke up a pass intended for Polhamus in the end zone.

“The pressure is right there … you have to make quick decisions and things break down pretty quickly,” Burkholder said of his team’s red zone defense. “Our girls stepped up and really locked down inside that red zone area.”

Midway through the fourth quarter, the Hillbillies took over at Southwestern/Frewsburg’s 20-yard line and from there, sophomore quarterback Sophia Utegg completed a touchdown pass to Polhamus to tie the game with 6:36 remaining.

Fredonia then forced a three-and-out from Southwestern/Frewsburg and looked like it may be heading toward a go-ahead score, but on first down Lombardo intercepted a pass just beyond midfield and returned it about 45 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 4:29 remaining.

“Defensively, they only played with seven, but it seemed like they had about 10 out there on the field multiple times,” Bertrando said of Southwestern/Frewsburg. ” … That’s a testament to the direction the program is going. They are going to be a force moving forward for sure.”