QB Frame’s evolution a big factor in Northern Lehigh’s success
Northern Lehigh has a veteran offensive line and a 1-2 power/speed punch in the backfield with bruiser A.J. Jimenez and sprinter Izaiah Ramos.
That combination led to a lot of explosive offensive performances, especially since Ramos returned from injury.
But quarterback Nick Frame has been the X-factor that has been crucial for the Bulldogs in big games. The senior’s patience and skill set allow the Bulldogs to present an option few opposing defenses can handle.
“When we’re stuck a little bit and want to spread out the defense,” Frame said, “that’s when I can bring more to the table. I’m another option.”
Frame is more than an option. He’s a weapon.
The first-year quarterback had 39 carries for 291 yards in the first six weeks of the regular season. He ran for 206 yards on 24 attempts in a Week 7 character-building victory over Notre Dame-Green Pond.
Frame had a combined 31 carries for 262 yards in Week 9-10 wins over Jim Thorpe and Palmerton. He ran for three touchdowns in a District 11 Class A semifinal win over Mahanoy Area and ran for 115 and two scores in last week’s PIAA first-round victory over Lackawanna Trail.
“He’s doing what we expected, to be honest,” Northern Lehigh head coach Joe Tout said. “It was a matter of him being dinged up at different points of the year.
“I was hesitant [to use him more in the running game], or he would have been at 1,000 yards rushing during the regular season.”
Frame was a wide receiver and running back last year, but was an option behind seniors Matt Frame, his brother; Trevor Amorim, Brett Misera and Dylan Smoyer.
He wanted to be more involved in the offense, but he took the practice and the run to the 2021 PIAA Class 2A semifinals as valuable learning experiences.
Once he overcame the early season nerves as the leader of Northern Lehigh’s offense this fall, Frame blossomed when needed.
“Most of us were in the shadows of the greatness of Matt, Trevor, Dylan and Brett,” Frame said. “We were the guys in the background, there to help and learn practicing with them every day.”
Frame is the first Northern Lehigh quarterback to pass for 1,000 yards and run for 1,000 in the same season. He also has intercepted more passes as the leader of the secondary (6) than he’s thrown in 148 pass attempts (5).
His work ethic allowed him to grasp the offense and increase his value as a threestarter and leader in the secondary.
“Like everybody else when things were shut down and we had limited contact and practice time,” Tout said, “the players got together on their own.
“Those types of things wore off [on Frame and other underclassmen]. On days when we’d be in the weight room last spring, he’d then go on the field with Ramos, Jimenez, Smyth and Karpowich to work on their timing.
“Winning helped, too. They got a taste of it making the district final two years ago against Palisades, then last year’s experience of getting to the Eastern final and playing a team like Southern Columbia.”
Frame is a significant reason why Northern Lehigh is 12-1 and one more victory shy of another Eastern finals berth.