The Cuyahoga Falls offense was closing in fast. Their running back broke through the line for a big gain. On the next play, the quarterback dropped back to throw but, before he could blink, senior Tyler Frate read the play, stepped in front of the pass and caught the ball. He darted the other way with it, teammates shouting as the stands erupted. It was a game-changing interception early in the game, and Frate could not hide his smile.

That interception helped swing the momentum in Revere’s 49–6 homecoming win over Cuyahoga Falls, a game that earned Frate a Cleveland.com Week 6 Game Ball for his outstanding performance. Cleveland.com, one of Northeast Ohio’s largest news outlets, awards Game Balls weekly to high school players who stand out across the region. Of all the players earning the game balls each week, one player is voted Player of the Week, and Frate won that honor in week 6. But beyond the statistics, Frate represents a model of teamwork, focus and what it means to keep moving forward one play at a time.

Frate has played football since he was four years old, learning the discipline that now defines him early. He stated that if he could go back to tell his younger self anything, he would say, “Don’t take it for granted.” The bonds that connect the Revere football team go beyond the field; they feel like family.

“We’re like brothers, for sure. . . . Most of us have been playing together since we’ve been in third grade,” Frate said.

As the seniors approach the end of their final season together, Frate acknowledges this year as the season with the strongest camaraderie. As a defensive back and receiver, Frate values the strength and importance of unity. Not letting his team down is the core of Frate’s motivation to perform well.

“I rely on everybody because if one person does not do their job, then it messes up the whole game plan, the whole scheme,” he said.

Frate understands that continuous improvement is essential, even when he gets noticed for his skill. Despite receiving the Cleveland.com Week 6 Game Ball of the Week, he remains humble and focused.

“It felt good to be recognized, but I can always do better,” he said.

William D’Amico serves as the Revere football team’s assistant Varsity coach, Junior Varsity head coach, special teams coordinator and wide receiver coach. He is also a teacher at Revere High School and the football players see him around the school often. He has made a lasting impact on Frate.

“[Coach] D’Amico always wants the best out of us. [He] usually is the one that keeps us in check if something goes bad because he knows us. . . . We’re pretty close with him,” Frate said.

The “next play mentality” is a lesson from Frate’s coaches that has stuck with him the most. He said he learned to “flush whatever happens, good or bad, and always focus on the next play.” Frate takes the lessons he learns on the field and applies them to his life outside of football. “When something doesn’t go right in life, you always have the next day,” he said.

Over Frate’s football career, D’Amico watched him grow through the program. As time went on, Frate’s role became increasingly obvious to D’Amico.

“I remember seeing [Frate] in youth football and middle school football. . . . He hit like he was the biggest kid out there, so we always knew that [Frate] was always going to be a very good defensive player for us,” D’Amico said.

Reaching high school, Frate was on the freshman team and played some Junior Varsity his freshman year, then became and remained a Varsity starter sophomore through senior year.

“[Frate] has turned into a phenomenal young man for us on and off the field, a great representation of Revere, Revere football, Revere High School [and the] Revere community,” D’Amico said. “We value him a lot. . . . He did his part, and he made sure everyone else on the team did their parts to only play a half and still secure a victory and get the younger guys in the game, especially on homecoming weekend,” D’Amico said.

Revere’s goal for the rest of the season is to “play our best ball in November,” D’Amico said. “We don’t want to play our best ball in August. . . . If we stick to our goals, we will be playing our best ball in November, and [Frate] is a huge part of that,” D’Amico said. Frate’s exit after he graduates will leave a gap in the team next season. “We’re going to lose a lot when we lose Tyler Frate,” D’Amico said.

Frate’s mom, Dawn Frate, said that she tries to stay calm when Frate experiences exciting moments. “I actually try to keep it cool. But when he did get the interception, I did stand up and cheer for that one,” she said.

Frate never hears his mom from down on the field, but that does not matter to her. Recognition from Cleveland.com is bittersweet for Dawn Frate.

“I’m very proud of him, and it kind of makes me sad, too, because this is it. This is his last year,” she said. People across Northeast Ohio appreciating Frate for his hard work is “surreal” to his mother.

“Before the games, my mom would always text me (good luck) and then after, even if I played bad, she would always come up to me and give me a hug,” Frate said.

Something about Frate that goes unnoticed on the field is how valuable his family is to him. His family has always been his biggest support system and plays a key role in motivating him, especially when growing up as “he’s very big into family. He puts family first. He’s super close with my parents and his cousins and his aunt,” Frate’s mom said. When Frate started to become more serious about football, his family “encouraged him to attend . . . everything that was optional,” his mom said. Frate’s family also sought extra training for him.

Frate gets a great deal of inspiration from his dad Dean Frate, and according to Frate’s mom, Frate gets his drive and determination from his dad as well. “Whatever Dean says he’s going to do, he does. And he does it one hundred and ten percent,” she said.

Frate’s mom sees these qualities in Frate in both his sports and his academics. “[Frate’s] not one to give up. Even if it’s super hard, . . . he’ll never go to bed without his homework done. He’s very regimented too,” she said.

Frate has a specific routine that he sticks to during the football season, such as watching film. Film is game footage that players and coaches watch to study their team as well as their opponents. Players can use film to see what they did right or wrong and learn the plays, formations and tendencies of other teams.

“After school, I’ll go to practice, and when I come home, I put my phone down and try to finish my schoolwork. And then, if it’s not late, I’ll watch some film and then go to bed,” Frate said. “I watch most of the film on Sundays, when it gets posted, so I can get ahead.”

Sometimes Frate misses out on hanging out with friends because if he has a game, he will go home early and go to bed. Frate’s extra efforts to improve are frequently noticed by his friends and family.

“He watches film, a ton of film. . . . He knows the statistics of every other player that he’s playing against. He could probably name every player on the team. . . . He’s always in the weight room and if he couldn’t get in the weight room, he would go to his friend’s house and work out,” Frate’s mom said.

Even after years of watching her son devote himself to such a physical sport, sometimes Frate’s mom has to close her eyes or grab onto a friend when Frate takes a hard hit. “Every single day, I pray that that boy does not get hurt,” she said.

Frate’s advice to a young kid interested in playing football is to “be physically prepared because it is not a soft game, it’s pretty tough.”

When Frate was a kid, he was extremely competitive, but he did not always vocalize it. “He always had to win, and if he didn’t, he’d get really upset,” Frate’s mom said. “As a little kid, [Frate] was really quiet, . . . he was so shy,” She said.

Since childhood, Frate has been a man of few words, but this should not be mistaken for lack of energy and especially not lack of leadership.

“He’s not the most talkative person in the world, but I think when his teammates realize that he’s speaking up for them to do something they understand that it must be the real deal because if Tyler’s going to speak up, then he means business,” D’Amico said.

Sophomore Revere football player TJ Meech looks up to Frate. Meech plays the same position as Frate, and he voted for Frate in the Cleveland.com Week 6 Game Ball poll.

“His word just really stands out compared to everyone else’s,” Meech said.

Experiencing first hand what Frate is like behind the scenes, Meech is able to speak on the kind of teammate Frate is.

“[Frate], he’s a man with a lot of energy. He keeps everyone hyped up,” Meech said.

From a coaches perspective, D’Amico sees the type of teammate Frate and admires his mentorship.

“I think a lot of the underclassmen are able to go speak to him if they have any issues or if they need help with anything. He’s always willing to help. He’s always coaching up the young guys,” D’Amico said.

The Revere High School football team chose Frate through a team vote to be one of the four senior captains on the team. The other captains are James Perry, Joe Rozack and Toby Mulligan. Meech says that all the senior captains help the team stay focused, especially the underclassmen.

“If we’re having a bad practice or we’re talking a lot, all the seniors will really get us in check,” Meech said.

The younger players on the team highly respect Frate because of his ability to be a mentor, a friend and a reliable teammate all at once.

“He motivates us and he keeps us locked in, but he can also joke with us at the same time,” Meech said.

Both Meech and D’Amico appreciate that Frate consistently sets a positive example through his leadership.

“If every kid followed what Tyler Frate does, we’d be a very, very, very good football team,” D’Amico said.

As the Friday night lights fade and the helmets come off, the lessons Frate learned on the field will stay with him far beyond the game. Revere football will always be a part of who he is.