Molter’s perfect night, defense help lead Jeannette to rout of Frazier

By: Jeremy Sellew
Saturday, September 16, 2023 | 12:12 AM

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Jeannette found its offensive mojo Friday and had no problems picking up an Eastern Conference win at Frazier’s Commodores Field.

Jayhawks quarterback Payton Molter was perfect in the passing game, and the team rushed for 271 yards in rolling to a 54-0 win.

“We needed this. The score’s not indicative of how tough that team is,” Jeannette coach Tommy Paulone said. “They moved the ball on us a little bit, but the defense said they wanted a shutout, and they went out and got it.”

Molter went 9 for 9 for 158 yards with three touchdown passes, two to Jeremiah Williamson on consecutive drives in the second half. He also returned a fumble 43 yards for a score.

“He’s a gamer,” Paulone said. “His growth has been immense. That kid only had four completions last week, so he put in a ton of work this week at practice and came out and performed like it.”

Kymon’E Brown picked up a pair of touchdowns for Jeannette. He caught a 21-yard pass from Molter to open the scoring in the first quarter.

Three plays after the Jayhawks’ touchdown, Frazier back Derek Diamond fumbled, leading to Molter’s recovery for a 43-yard scoop and score.

“Turnovers continue to kill us,” Frazier coach Mike Shannon said. “We moved the ball well, but we knew they were a fast team. You can’t simulate real-game stuff with the scout team.”

Jeannette (3-1, 1-0) added two more scores in the second quarter to take a 27-0 lead into the half.

Noah Sanders, whose right arm was in a cast resembling a club, scored on a 22-yard touchdown run to make it 20-0.

Near the end of the half, the Commodores (0-4, 0-1) drove deep into Jayhawks’ territory. But Brown delivered a knockout blow, picking off quarterback Dailan McManus and returning it 98 yards for a touchdown with 39 seconds remaining on the clock.

“That kid’s only a sophomore. He was fantastic tonight,” Paulone said. “He’s another gamer back there at the back of our defense and showed his ability.”

It took only three plays for the Jayhawks to score a touchdown in the third quarter as Molter hit Jeremiah Williamson on a tight-end screen, and the big man rumbled through some tacklers on his way to a 42-yard touchdown.

“Our tackling was really poor tonight. It doesn’t matter how big and strong they are. We have to tackle better,” Shannon said.

Jeannette’s next drive ended with Molter going 3 for 3 and with the same exact tight-end screen to Williamson. The result was the same, too, as he went 36 yards for his second touchdown of the night.

With the mercy-rule clock rolling, the Jayhawks added two more scores in the fourth quarter. Michael Mason scored on a 25-yard run, and Nick Mendoza added a 45-yard scoring run.

just inside two minutes to go.

Mason led the Jayhawks with 86 yards on the ground on only seven carries. Sanders finished with four carries and 79 yards.

“The balance is key for us,” Paulone said. “We urged consistency, and I think we got it tonight. And what else can I say about our quarterback? He shined tonight.”

McManus was 10 of 24 for 118 yards and three interceptions. Andrew Bandish caught four passes for 65 yards.

Chase Fulmer led the Commodores on the ground with 75 yards on eight carries. He had a long run of 58 yards.

Frazier is back in conference play Friday at Riverview. The Jayhawks host Charleroi in nonconference play.

Tags: Frazier, Jeannette