2024 NEMFCA 8-Man Hall of Fame Inductee Salutes - Josh Frerichs, Lodgepole High School

JOSH FRERICHS – LODGEPOLE HIGH SCHOOL

(Here is our 7th of twelve 2024 NEMFCA Hall of Fame inductees. Today we feature one of the most feared Western Nebraska running backs in 8-Man football history, the one and only Josh Frerichs of Lodgepole.)

From 2000 to 2003, Josh was a multi-talented athlete who became a record- breaking player for the Panthers. During a breakout junior season, he put himself, his hometown, and Nebraska Eight-Man on the marquee with an appearance in Sports Illustrated- for breaking the Nebraska state record(at the time) while scoring a historic 70 points and 10 touchdowns in a single game.

The Panthers then spring-boarded that notoriety into a magical 2003 season where Josh led them to the state playoff quarterfinals for the first and only time in school history. In that memorable senior campaign, Josh rushed for over 2,000 yards while also compiling school career records in both rushing yards and touchdowns.

On the way to setting these records, he was also named 1st Team All-Area, 1st Team All-Conference, and 1st Team All-State at the running back position.

Upon graduating high school in 2004, Josh continued a proud family tradition by joining his father Gerald and his brother Cory when he was selected to the West roster for the 27th Annual Eight Man All-Star Game. The NEMFCA is honored to now welcome him into the Eight-Man Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024.

1000 Yard Guy’s observations…..I did not see the phenomenal Josh Frerichs play live until the 2004 Sertoma 8-Man All-Star game, but i [did a lot of hanging at the players camps the week prior to the game because there were so many special players, one of which was Josh Frerichs.

Frerichs was a BIG dude, whose Lodgepole team went 4-4 during his senior season, but caught fire in the Class D-2 playoffs, defeating Banner County by a 62-58 basketball-type score, then Wallace 28-20 before running into the Mullen Broncos and the fabulous Steven Dent.

I’m not sure how much blocking help Josh had in 2003, which makes his 207 yards rushing per game even more amazing for a 6-5 team.

Playing at somewhere in the vicinity of 225 pounds and really strong, Frerichs was a man among boys in the Panhandle, rolling would-be tacklers like nickel cigars.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Josh Frerichs would have flourished playing for a Class A school like North Platte or a B power like Scottsbluff.

The dude was a Baller!