Diamond lifts Frazier to key win over Riverview
Frazier needed a victory over visiting Riverview on Friday night to keep its playoff hopes alive.
Derek Diamond made sure those aspirations remained achievable.
Diamond had 37 carries for 284 yards and five touchdowns to lift the Commodores over the Raiders, 41-20, in Perryopolis.
Frazier (2-3, 4-4) outscored Riverview 28-7 in the second half after the two were deadlocked at 13-13 at halftime.
The win created a four-way tie for fourth place in the Class A Eastern Conference with Frazier, Riverview, Greensburg Central Catholic and Brentwood all at 2-3 with two games remaining.
Only the top three in each conference are guaranteed a spot in the postseason but there are also four WPIAL-chosen wild-card berths and it would seem the fourth-place team should have a reasonable chance to be selected as one of those four.
The Commodores already own wins over Riverview and Brentwood and have a huge road game remaining against GCC next followed by one at last-place and winless Springdale to close the regular season.
Riverview (2-3, 4-4) struck first with Kaden Levy’s 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter but Frazier countered a 1-yard score of its own by Brady Secrest. Both extra points were missed, leaving the scored tied at 6-6 after one quarter.
The Raiders took the lead again on Conner Kmetz’ 28-yard touchdown pass to Rio Stotts with Kyle Schuetz’ extra-point kick making it 12-6 but Diamond’s 15-yard TD run and Owen Searcy’s extra point forged a 13-13 halftime score.
The Commodores, under first-year coach Tony Battaglini, took control from there.
Touchdown runs of 23 and 2 yards by Diamond made it 27-13 before Lukas Duncan’s 6-yard scoring run got the Raiders back within seven after three quarters.
Frazier put the game away with fourth-quarter touchdown bursts of 31 and 27 yards by Diamond.
Kmetz threw for 134 yards with touchdown and one interception by the Commodores’ Tyler Morrison.
Secrest completed 2 of 5 passes for 66 yards.