Trib HSSN football team of the week – Frazier Commodores
Coach – Tony Battaglini (first season)
Result – Frazer 27, California 12
Record – 7-4 overall, 4-3 in Class A Eastern Conference for fourth place
#Earned – The seniors on the Frazier football team experienced nothing but struggles in their first three years in a Commodores uniform. From 2022-24, the team was 3-16 in conference play and 4-26 overall. After a winless campaign in 2021, the team won a total of four games in the last four years heading into the 2025 season. The district hired Frazier alum Tony Battaglini as the new head coach in the offseason and the program’s direction has drastically changed. The Commodores won their final three Class A Eastern Conference games and picked up wins in four of their final five contests. Frazier finished in fourth place in a tough conference and was awarded a wild card berth by the district steering committee. In a 16-team playoff field, the Commodores entered the postseason as the No. 11 seed and began the playoffs with a trip to Tri-County South Conference champion California to battle the once-beaten Trojans. Frazier scored the first three touchdowns in the first half and led 21-6 at the half. A third quarter touchdown iced the game as the Commodores stunned the Trojans, 27-12.
Statistical standouts – What better way to begin a road playoff game then to score three touchdowns and 21 points before the home team finds the end zone. The Frazier passing combination of junior quarterback Brady Secrest to senior wide receiver Chase Fulmer combined for a 7-yard touchdown in the opening quarter, and scoring strikes of 32 and 64 yards in the second quarter to put the Commodores up 21-0. With the score 21-6 in the third quarter, senior running back Derek Diamond scored from 4 yards out to seal the deal on Frazier’s first WPIAL football playoff win in 10 years. Secrest hit on 6 of 12 passes for 118 yards and three touchdowns. For the season, the junior QB has thrown for 1,246 yards and 16 TDs. Top target Fulmer had four receptions for 107 yards and three scores against California, putting him at 696 yards and eight touchdowns. On Friday, Diamond bulled his way for 98 yards on 33 carries and a touchdown. He now has 1,754 yards and 17 touchdowns on the season.
Last year – The 2024 season began with Frazier splitting its first two nonconference games, falling at Summit Academy by four points and beating Mapletown soundly at home, 36-0. However the season turned sour with seven straight losses. In the first six losses, the Commodores were outscored, 311-98. Week 8 was the low point of the season when the team had to forfeit to Greensburg Central Catholic because of a shortage of healthy players due to injuries and illness. The Commodores did take the field a week later and picked up their second win of the season to close out the campaign with a victory over Springdale, 48-13. It marked the first time Frazier won multiple games in a season since 2020. Secrest led the team in passing with 895 yards and 11 touchdowns while Diamond led the Commodores in rushing with 732 yards and in scoring with 10 touchdowns.
Remember when – The last time Frazier won a WPIAL football playoff game was in 2015. The Commodores ended the regular season undefeated at 10-0 and finished in first place in the Class A Tri-County South Conference with an 8-0 record. The No. 4 seed earned two postseason victories, in a first round overtime classic over visiting South Side, 33-32, and then in the quarterfinals, edging No. 5 Shenango, 14-13. The Commodores’ run of fortune in tight games ended in the semifinals when Frazier lost big to top-seeded Clairton, 56-15. Frazier has never won a WPIAL football championship; however 65 years ago, old Perryopolis High School was shut out by Washington Township in the 1960 Class A championship game, 26-0.
WPIAL Week 10 Honorable Mention
Shaler
Sitting at 1-6, back-to-back wins in Week 7 and 8 were enough to earn Shaler a tie for second place in the Class 5A Northeast Conference and a district playoff berth. Maybe it’s time to remember these Titans, who have won three of their last four games and picked up the program’s first football playoff victory since 2009. Isaac McKay rushed for 109 yards and scored on a 60-yard run, and quarterback Aaron Aversa threw for a touchdown and ran for two scores as Shaler ousted visiting Kiski Area, 28-8.
Aliquippa
The high school football postseason can be full of surprises, and one of them surfaced even before the opening kickoff of the 2025 postseason. Thought to be done for the season with a leg injury, Aliquippa senior quarterback Marques Council Jr. didn’t start, but came in to spark a 14-point fourth quarter Quips rally, capped off by a 38-yard touchdown pass to Josh Lay in the game’s final minute. Aliquippa also got TD runs from J.J. Work and Akiva Woods to upend No. 2 Trinity in the Class 4A quarterfinals, 21-14.
Hopewell
Despite losing another wild game against North Catholic in Week 9, Hopewell was given a wild card berth in the Class 3A playoffs, ending the program’s longest current district playoff drought at 12 years. Back into the postseason, the Vikings are taking advantage of it with a strong performance in the opening round. Nasir Wade rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns and sophomore QB James “Booboo” Armstrong threw for a touchdown and ran for two scores as Hopewell rolled past Southmoreland, 42-6.
Chartiers-Houston
A quarter of a century is a long time, so you will excuse the Chartiers-Houston football team if they partied like it was nearly 1999 following their win in the first round. The Buccaneers’ fifth straight victory was a historic one, as it was the Bucs’ first WPIAL football playoff win since the opening round of the 2000 playoffs. It was the Dom and Dom show for Chartiers-Houston as Domenic Andreoli scored twice and Domenic Cumer returned an interception 72 yards for a score in a 26-21 win at South Side.
2025 HSSN Teams of the Week
Week 9 – Steel Valley Ironmen
Week 8 – Moon Tigers
Week 7 – North Allegheny Tigers
Week 6 – Apollo-Ridge Vikings
Week 5 – Albert Gallatin Colonials
Week 4 – Aliquippa Quips
Week 3 – Avella Eagles
Week 2 – Southmoreland Scotties
Week 1 – Mars Fightin’ Planets
Week Zero – Upper St. Clair Panthers