by Josh Barr
Washington Post
10-28-2007

Montgomery 3A
Damascus QB Frazier Comes Through in Victory Over Seneca Valley
Damascus 21, Seneca Valley 7

By Josh Barr
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, October 28, 2007; Page D12

Damascus quarterback Kyle Frazier said his job on the football field never gets boring. To the casual observer, though, it certainly seems routine as he usually hands off -- seemingly play after play -- to his team's star running back.

Getting the chance to throw the ball, though, definitely is a little more exciting, Frazier acknowledged. And last night, he took advantage of the opportunity to pass with a game on the line for the first time this season.

After Seneca Valley tied the score midway through the third quarter, Damascus turned to the strong-armed Frazier. He completed three consecutive passes, including a decisive 36-yard touchdown to wide receiver Lee Hertel as the 14th-ranked Swarmin' Hornets defeated host Seneca Valley, 21-7, in a Montgomery 3A game before 2,500 in Germantown.

"He came through pretty good," Damascus Coach Dan Makosy said after Frazier finished 7 of 12 for a season-high 214 yards and two touchdowns. "The kid is just a heck of an athlete. In our offense, he hasn't had a chance to shine, especially with the schedule we've played [that includes several blowouts]. But the games are going to get tougher now."

And if Damascus (7-1, 6-0) needed any reassurance as it moves toward the postseason, Frazier showed last night he can move the ball down the field with his passing. He entered having thrown the ball more often in recent games, though never in tense situations as running back Evan Zedler racked up yardage and the Hornets rolled up points.

But after Seneca Valley (6-2, 4-2) tied the score at 7 on George Lerch's 16-yard touchdown pass to Aron McDonald, there were some anxious looks along the Damascus sideline.

Instead of going to Zedler -- who passed the 1,000-yard rushing mark in the season's first seven games -- the Hornets turned to Frazier. He threw a hitch to Hertel for eight yards. After three running plays gained seven yards, Frazier passed to Hertel for another 22 yards to convert a third and 6. On the next play, Frazier lofted the ball down the left sideline and Hertel dove forward to make the touchdown catch.

"We knew they were going to come out fired up after they scored and we stepped it up," Frazier said. "I don't care how we score as long as we do. It's a win, I don't care if I pass for 200 yards or for no yards."

Damascus sealed the victory when Brian Yost intercepted a pass in the end zone with 1 minute 6 seconds left. On the following play, Zedler ran 80 yards up the left sideline for his second touchdown, giving him his seventh 100-yard game this season.

"I like seeing him run," Frazier said. "He's a fast kid."

No. 14 Damascus 21 Seneca Valley 7

Leader of the Swarm: Damascus linebacker Josh Frederick was in on several key tackles as the Hornets held an opponent to one touchdown or less for the sixth time this season.