Commodores’ defense hits J-M hard in 28-7 victory
Holly Tonini
Frazier’s Alvin Ross (3) carries the ball past Jefferson-Morgan’s David Blaker (23) and Austin Clark in the first quarter of Friday’s game at Jefferson-Morgan High School.
Jefferson Morgan's Joe Headlee (5) looks to make a pass between Frazier's Nate Zurich (6) and Michael Fartini during Friday's game at Jefferson-Morgan High School.
Jefferson Morgan's Jake Bissett (45) kneels in frustration after fumbling the ball as Frazier's Bret Poling (4) walks away from the play during Friday's Tri-County South Conference game at Jefferson-Morgan High School.
Frazier's L.A. Ross (3) carries the ball down field past Jefferson-Morgan's Austin Clark (10) and Ian Wolfe (75) during Friday's Tri-County South Conference game at Jefferson-Morgan High School.
Jefferson Morgan's Trevor Kniha (34) is brought down by Frazier's Nate Zurich (6) during Friday's Tri-County South Conference game at Jefferson-Morgan High School.
JEFFERSON — The Frazier Commodores combined a nasty, hard-hitting defense with just enough big plays on offense to improve to 2-0 on the season following a 28-7 win over Jefferson-Morgan on Friday. The victory keeps Frazier at the top of the Tri-County South Conference.
The majority of the contest was controlled by the two defenses that battled over 48 bruising minutes. Jefferson-Morgan (1-1, 1-1) was able to deny the Commodores on three-straight fourth-down plays in the first quarter, but Frazier forced the Rockets to cough the ball up on an interception and a lost fumble.
Frazier finally ended the shutout with 1:12 remaining before halftime, when junior quarterback Hunter Patterson fumbled a snap at the J-M 2-yard line. Surprisingly, the ball popped right back into Patterson’s chest and he walked in untouched for the score. The Rockets blocked the ensuing extra point try and kept the deficit to 6-0, which was also the halftime score.
Sophomore running back Alvin Ross showed why he is considered one of the speediest players in the conference when he took off on a 54-yard touchdown run with 5:48 showing on the third-quarter clock to double his team’s advantage. After sophomore quarterback Chris Pierce hooked up with senior Tim Carson for the two-point conversion, Frazier held a 14-0 lead and looked poised to put the game away.
However, the home team wasn’t ready to let the contest get out of reach. Sophomore Joe Headlee connected on one of his two completions of the evening when he lofted a 36-yard scoring throw to junior tight end Jake Bissett with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter. An extra point, courtesy of junior Bo Ricci, put the Rockets right back in the contest at 14-7.
A seemingly rejuvenated J-M squad was riding high following its only touchdown of the night. However, Patterson turned in the play of the game that seemed to light a spark under his teammates and ultimately led to victory. After fielding a Rocket punt near midfield, Patterson appeared to be surrounded by Orange and Black defenders. Amazingly, he was able to reverse field, outrun several defenders to the opposite sideline and took a return all the way down to the Rocket 9-yard line. One play later, Pierce dashed nine yards for his team’s third score of the night. A successful PAT try from sophomore Josh Cox with 7:40 left to play made the score 21-7.
”That play really gave us confidence to put the game away in the second half,” said Frazier coach Mike Steeber. “We knew that if Jefferson was able to get to the second half and they were still in it, it was going to be a really tough game. That play was huge.”
Down 21-7, J-M shot itself in the foot with a costly late interception that gave Frazier the ball at the Rocket 23-yard line. On Frazier’s first play from scrimmage following the turnover, Pierce found senior Nate Zurich in the end zone for the game’s final score. After Cox’s final kick of the evening split the goal posts, Frazier had a three-touchdown lead with 7:18 showing on the clock and went on to the win.
For J-M coach Liam Ryan, the loss was hard to swallow after his team played so well through three quarters. However, in a conference like the Tri-County South where the standings could change drastically on a weekly basis, Ryan isn’t about to let his team stay down for long.
“It was a physical game. Our kids came out and played hard, but let it just slip away at the end,” Ryan said. “We’ve got Avella next week and I told the kids after the game that we can’t let the bad taste in our mouth from tonight linger for a long time.”
The Commodores will look for a third-straight win next week, when they host Bentworth. Jefferson-Morgan will try to get back on the winning track when it travels to Avella.
Tri-County South Conference
Frazier 0-6-8-14 — 28
Jefferson-Morgan 0-0-7-0 — 7
Second Quarter
F: Hunter Patterson 2 run (kick failed)
Third Quarter
F: Alvin Ross 54 run (Timothy Carson pass from Christopher Pierce)
JM: Jake Bissell 36 pass from Joe Headlee (Bo Ricci kick)
Fourth Quarter
F: Pierce 9 run (Joshua Cox kick)
F: Nathaniel Zurich, 23 pass from Pierce (Cox kick)
Records: Frazier (2-0, 2-0), Jefferson-Morgan (1-1, 1-1).