Oct 2, 2014 4 min read

Beth-Center has ruled the WPIAL Class A Tri-County South Conference for the past six years with four conference titles and two second-place finishes.

It’s a reign that Frazier head coach Mike Steeber is well aware of.

Since he took over the Commodores in 2010, his teams have gone 1-3 against the Bulldogs with the lone victory coming Oct. 12, 2012.

Beth-Center still went on to win the conference title that year. Ed Woods’ team is averaging more than 43 points per game and has a non-conference win over Greensburg Central Catholic this season. Steeber and the Commodores are ready for another conference-tipping game against Beth-Center today (7 p.m. kickoff) in a battle of conference unbeatens.

“Beth-Center has obviously won the conference the last few years,” Steeber said.

“They’ve earned it. The one year we did beat them, they still won the conference. We put ourselves in good position here against a good football team. We certainly have to earn it.”

For the second straight year, the Frazier-Beth-Center game will be the signature game in the Tri-County South Conference. The Commodores (4-0, 5-0) have been dangerous on both sides of the ball, averaging 40 points and allowing fewer than seven per game.

Though they lost one of the top quarterbacks in Class A last year in Charles Manack, junior Hunter Patterson brings another dimension to Frazier’s offense, a quarterback who can run. Patterson has completed 57 percent of his passes for 490 yards and eight touchdowns.

Patterson has run for 174 yards and seven TDs. Sophomore running back Alvin Ross has 519 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Frazier is a team that can win in a variety of ways.

“They are 5-0 for a reason,” Woods said. “Those guys really coach those kids up. They get the most out of their kids every year. They’re well-prepared. I think they have a really good passing game. Defensively, they are solid and their kicking game seems good. I’m looking forward to a good football game.”

The Commodores know what it takes to defeat Beth-Center (4-0, 5-0). It’s the same formula as previous years. Stop the running game, control the line of scrimmage and effectively pass the ball. Those are all easier said than done.

Bulldogs senior running back Anthony Welsh has been a force, rushing for 663 yards on 53 carries and scoring 17 touchdowns. His bruising running style is complemented by three other senior tailbacks who have made an impact: Johnny Sofran, Jason Stay and Nico Brown.

Sophomore quarterback Trent Cunko has thrown three touchdown passes and Sofran is the team’s leading receiver with five for 106 yards. Behind an offensive line that has been dominant through five games, Beth-Center’s offense has been one of the best in Class A.

“This is a typical Beth-Center team,” Steeber said. “They’re physical, and they run the ball very well. They have multiple backs who run well, and they play very disciplined on defense. We have to be very sound, and that’s going to be critical to maintain that throughout the game.”

The Commodores gave the Bulldogs a good fight in Week 7 last season, but lost 39-28 at home. Beth-Center went on to win the conference before losing in the first round of the playoffs to Apollo Ridge. The perennial power has not lost a regular season game since falling to Frazier in 2012.

“The key for us is we have to be able to run the football, and we have to cut down on mistakes and penalties,” Woods said. “On both sides of the ball, our line is our strength this year. This is a playoff game for us, and we are approaching it that way.”