Cook to Venanzio connection keys Leechburg rally past Frazier

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, October 5, 2018 | 10:30 PM

Leechburg quarterback Dylan Cook was nursing a sore ankle as his teammates drove the ball down the field late in the fourth quarter of a tied game, but when the Blue Devils got to within striking distance, he hobbled back out.

“I had the trainer wrap it up and it felt a little bit better, but I had to get back out there for my boys,” Cook said. “They fought too hard for me to not come back in.”

The Blue Devils needed one last big play to finish off a rally against Frazier, and Cook delivered.

Cook threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Nico Venanzio with 45 seconds remaining for the winning score as Leechburg rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit to defeat Frazier, 21-14, in a nonconference game Friday night at Veterans Memorial Field.

The ball bounced off Venanzio’s hands, but he corralled it as he fell on his back across the goal line.

“I thought at first the defensive back was going to come up there and pick it off, but I got just enough arm on it,” Cook said. “Nico made a heck of a play.”

Cook had to be helped to the locker room by two teammates after the game. He finished with 112 yards passing and two touchdowns.

Fraizer had one last gasp to tie near midfield with a second remaining, but a halfback pass was intercepted.

The Blue Devils (3-4) had several missed opportunities in the first half as penalties derailed drives. They outgained the Commodores (2-5) though they trailed 14-0, so Blue Devils coach Mark George knew his team could compete.

“We made a few minor adjustments, and we said to them, ‘Guys this game isn’t over. You just have to keep fighting,’ ” George said. “They did, and I’m very proud of them.”

Leechburg’s comeback started when it drove 51 yards in about 7 minutes and scored on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Cook to Bret Kardos.

Venanzio intercepted a Julian Muccioli pass early in the fourth quarter and returned it to the Frazier 16. On the next play, Jake Blumer broke free for a touchdown that tied the score.

Venanzio also had a sack in the game.

“Nico is just a heck of a football player,” George said. “He plays 100 percent on both sides of the ball all the time. That touchdown catch bounced up off his hands, and he had the will to grab it and hold on. The interception was huge, too.”

Frazier’s Kenny Fine returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. Then, following a turnover on downs on Leechburg’s first possession that set up Frazier near midfield, Fine got behind the defense and quarterback Julian Muccioli found him for a 47-yard touchdown that put the Commodores in front 14-0.

Frazier couldn’t muster the same attack in the second half, getting into Leechburg territory only once. That drive ended on a turnover on downs at the 37.

“This hurts, but it doesn’t affect our chances to make the playoffs,” Frazier coach Mike Steeber said. “We have to improve every time we step on the field, and we’ll do that in practice next week to be ready to step on the field next Friday when we get back into conference play.”

The victory secured Leechburg’s first season of three or more wins since 2010. To do it in comeback fashion made it more special for Cook.

“We showed character,” Cook said. “We knew we could comeback if we stuck together. We had been in situations like this before, so we knew we could get it done.”

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer.

Tags: Frazier, Leechburg