Chris Frame has always been able to make plays.

Last Friday night, he made them everywhere.

The Northern Lehigh junior carried 10 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns, caught two passes for 52 yards and another score, and added an interception on defense in a 42-19 victory over Pen Argyl.

The effort earned Frame Times News Football Player of the Week honors — and underscored why he’s one of the area’s most complete athletes.

“I try to do my best in everything I do,” Frame said. “Me helping the team out any way I can is really good for me. But all my guys around me, they’re helping me be good and help shine. So it’s really a team effort, and we all make each other better.”

For Frame, the Pen Argyl game was both a breakout and a bounce back. The Bulldogs opened the season with a 41-26 win over Lehighton, but were humbled a week later in a 56-13 loss to rival Northwestern Lehigh. Friday’s victory was about proving that one bad night wouldn’t define their season.

“All of us felt that,” Frame said of the Northwestern loss. “We weren’t expecting that to happen, so we were hungry. Against Pen Argyl, we wanted a nice win, and that’s what we came in to do.”

Frame has been producing like this for some time. Last season, he scored 16 total touchdowns — the second-most in the area — while finishing third in receiving with 22 catches for 632 yards, and adding 523 yards on 79 carries. His ability to contribute as both a runner and receiver gave Northern Lehigh an explosive weapon, and his early-season totals suggest he’s picked up right where he left off.

Through three games, Frame is tied for the area lead in scoring with seven touchdowns, ranks second in receiving yards (167), and sits fourth in rushing (282).

His play has helped Northern Lehigh average 350.0 yards per game — third-best in the area — with contributions coming from a number of sources. Junior quarterback Garrett Smoyer is fourth in passing with 408 yards, while senior Grady Newhard is sixth in rushing with 231. Juniors Ryan Zambo and Colin Karetsky have been reliable targets, and sophomore Keith Lectora has flashed his potential with explosive runs.

“You don’t get kids like this a whole lot,” head coach Joe Tout said of Frame. “He’s a difference-maker in all three phases. A lot of it comes down to his intelligence and mental toughness. He plays almost the entire game, and he still finds ways to make plays when it matters most.”

Frame’s willingness to play any role — including one where he isn’t touching the ball — has also been invaluable.

“We use him as a decoy a good amount of the time, and Chris is 100% fine with it,” Tout said. “That’s opened things up for guys like Zambo, Karetsky and Lectora. And when defenses adjust, it opens things back up for Chris. That kind of unselfishness is huge for our team.”

Frame’s growth isn’t just statistical. He’s also embraced the responsibility of being a leader.

“It feels good to be more vocal and let other people do their thing,” he said. “If I’m not open, then other people are going to be open. It just sets the team up for success.”

The continuity of this group — with so many of its key playmakers coming up together through the program — has made a difference as well.

“We’ve all been playing together for a very long time, which is awesome,” Frame said. “I think our offense has really improved from last year. We have more weapons, and a lot of people can do different things.”

Tout sees it, too.

“They definitely have chemistry,” he said. “Garrett, Chris, Ryan, Colin — those guys all have that connection. They do a lot of stuff on their own in the offseason, and now we’re finally starting to reap the rewards of that work.”

With Frame at the center of it all, the Bulldogs are focused on building off their bounce back.

“Our goals now are to win out and make a good run in districts,” Frame said. “I think this team is capable of winning districts, or at least going (far).”

Northern Lehigh, now 2-1, will try to continue that momentum Friday against unbeaten Palisades.