Oct 27, 2002 By Jim Downey 3 min read

Despite loss to Mikes, Commodores in playoffs PERRYOPOLIS – Rare is the occasion when a team that has just lost 37-8 is jubilant in the locker room after the game.

Frazier entered the final Tri-County South Conference game of the season Friday night against Carmichaels, the undefeated section champion, needing a win over the Mikes or a Jefferson-Morgan victory over West Greene.

Despite losing to Carmichaels, the word was relayed soon after the game that the Rockets had upset West Greene, 14-6, sending the Commodores into a frenzy in the locker room and the WPIAL Class A playoffs as the fourth-place team from the conference.

“Last year we scored 42 points and won only one game. To say we were still in (the playoff race) says a lot about our kids. I’m proud of these kids,” Frazier coach Larry Wilson said before the news of West Greene’s loss filtered back to him.

The weather played havoc with both teams. The middle section of the field between the 30-yard lines quickly turned into a mud pit. The players slipped and fell through the quagmire, and the ball squirted through hands with the two teams fumbling a total of 11 times.

Carmichaels dominated the game in all facets, scoring four touchdowns in the first half behind the running of Colby Giles and Bobby Hathaway.

The Mikes were poised to score on the opening drive, but fumbled away their chance at the goal line. Frazier succumbed to the weather and fumbled on its next drive to lead Mapletown’s first touchdown.

Hathaway capped the 36-yard drive on a 2-yard run at 4:53. Hathaway later scored in the quarter when he slipped through line and broke free of the linebackers for a 32-yard touchdown. The senior powered his way to 99 yards, including 94 yards in the first half on 13 carries.

Giles got into the act with the first touchdown of the second quarter. His 4-yard scoring run was set up by Jono Menhart’s 55-yard completion to Jared Lapkowicz. Giles finished with 147 yards rushing. Menhart scored on a short run with 12 seconds left in the first half.

Carmichaels coach John Menhart wanted to work on different aspects of the offense, but the poor weather conditions hampered the altered game plan.

“This is the worst I’ve ever seen it. We wanted to work on some things. We wanted to throw the ball around a little bit, but he couldn’t hold on to the ball,” Menhart said of his quarterback.

Justin Zielensky pushed the Carmichaels’ advantage to 37-0 with 15 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Frazier’s fourth fumble of the game gave the Mikes the ball at the 30-yard line. Giles ran the ball 26 yards before Zielensky’s touchdown.

“We looked all week for a weakness. Carmichaels is a quality team,” Wilson said.

Frazier averted the shutout when the Commodores took advantage of Carmichaels’ fifth fumble of the game. The 63-yard drive got off to a rousing start when Justin Knight took a lateral pass from T.J. Martinak for a 25-yard gain. A 15-yard penalty was tacked on when the officials discovered Carmichaels had 12 men on the field.

Neely capped the drive from one yard out midway through the fourth quarter.

The WPIAL pairings will be held Monday night. All the coaches know is Carmichaels (9-0, 9-0) will host a game Friday while Frazier (3-4, 4-5) will be on the road. Carmichaels has been ranked high in Class A all season and Menhart hopes that will translate into a favorable seed.

“We wanted to win. I think we made a point tonight,” Menhart said.