Sophomores get the chance to grow physically and emotionally and learn the game until they’re fully ripe.

But what happens when the young talent already is hatched in those areas, and have grown up in a community where playoff games and postseason hardware are ingrained and expected?

Tyler Frost and Kaine Hutchins happen, that’s what.

From the opening whistle to the final horn of Saturday’s Western Class C championship game at Winslow, Dirigo’s duo of super-sophs will storm Poulin Field with abandon and awareness far exceeding their tender years.

“It’s not a big deal. We all fit in really good. We get along like the family brotherhood that we are,” Frost said. “We’re used to the big games already. We’re still really nervous for them, but you can kind of smile and say, ‘We’ve been there.'”

The 5-foot-8, 210-pound Frost and 6-foot-2, 175-pound Hutchins blend in most resoundingly on defense.

Frost is a natural at inside linebacker, where he made a staggering 16 tackles in the Cougars’ 13-6 semifinal victory at Oak Hill. Hutchins, who delivered six stops in that game, has shuffled around from defensive end to middle and outside linebacker, depending upon what alignment Dirigo has employed each week.

“It actually helps. If somebody else is not doing their job, you know what to do and know what they’re going through and you can help them out during the game,” Hutchins said. “You also know where they’re going to be and where you should be because of that. I don’t like having a specific job. I like just crashing. I like just going and hitting people.”

Frost was out of the lineup with a fractured foot when Dirigo won 32-21 at Winslow on Sept. 8. He joined the starting lineup the following week and has made a dramatic impact on both defense and offense, where he blocks and draws carries as a change of pace to 1,000-yard speedster Spencer Trenoweth.

Both Frost’s style of play and physical appearance have invited comparisons to Justin Staires, the 2008 Fitzpatrick Trophy finalist from neighboring Mountain Valley. As a freshman, Frost played key roles on the Cougars’ Class C champion basketball and baseball teams.

“No matter what it is. If he’s playing pickup basketball, he’s diving on the floor,” Dirigo coach Dave Crutchfield said. “If he’s playing 7-on-7 (football), he’s diving for the ball. He just goes.”

Hutchins, also a reserve player on the 2011-12 title teams, presents with the three-sport athlete’s build from central casting.

His size and quickness were critical in shutting down Oak Hill’s double wing attack and will serve the same purpose against Winslow’s three-pronged option.

“You can put him in anywhere to give anybody a break and you’re not worried that Kaine’s going to mess up. It may take him a little bit to get used to it, but once he’s in it, he’s clicking,” Crutchfield said. “He sees the ball well. He reads plays well.”

Any differences in the sophomores’ game and demeanor are outweighed by their striking similarities.

“They’re both smart kids in school. Both of them have so much smarts for the game,” Crutchfield said. “They read quick. They react quick. They’re both great athletes, great at all three sports. They’re really driven.”

Each is also a humble team player in the recent Dirigo tradition.

Frost downplayed his defensive contributions a week ago, seeing himself as one piece of a gang-tackling puzzle that also heavily featured Zack White, Nelson Pepin, Cliff Boynton, Thomas Barnett and Trenoweth.

“If we’re going to go with last week for an example, everyone was just doing their jobs,” Frost said. “That makes it way easier for the team and everyone on the defense to contribute to it.”

“It makes us look good as linebackers if our defensive line is doing their job,” Hutchins added.

Not lost on the two younger players is that most other members of that Dirigo defensive fraternity are seniors.

If they feel any pressure at all, it is to ensure that those upperclassmen don’t have to hand in their pads until it is absolutely necessary.

“There’s more of a sense of urgency,” Hutchins said. “We don’t want to see the seniors go out with a loss. We want to go as far as we can for our seniors.”

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