Part I: Damascus QB Frazier soaring to stardom
Part I
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As soon as quarterback Connor Frazier broke the huddle he glanced up at the green and yellow Damascus scoreboard in the back of the end zone. It was fourth down and 19 at the Paint Branch 29-yard line. The playoffs were on the line for both teams, and Frazier's Damascus Hornets were trailing 21-16. The clock read 1:01. No time for a field goal. It was do or die …
Connor Frazier radiates with confidence. And why shouldn't he? The junior gunslinger, who stands 6-feet-1, 180 pounds, has already shown more savvy then players two years older than him.
Frazier took over Damascus' offense in Week 1 of his sophomore year and immediately made an impact. He led his team to a 4-1 record in his first five games and was well on his way to win No. 5 when he broke his collarbone against Magruder.
Frazier was supposed to be out more than a month, but he came back a few days early. There was no way he was going to miss the regular-season finale against Paint Branch. After all, a win clinched a playoff spot, and Damascus hadn't missed the postseason since before the turn of the century. If the Hornets were going down, then Frazier wanted to be the one behind center.
"He's a tough kid," said Damascus head coach Eric Wallich. "And he's a natural leader. He has a chance to be one of the top quarterbacks in the state."
… The call came in from the sideline. Damascus was not going for the first down - they were going for the win. The coaching staff instructed the wide-outs to run routes in the end zone, giving Frazier one opportunity to complete the pass of a lifetime. This was his game. The season hung in the balance …
Football runs through Frazier's veins. One of his older brother's, Greg, played receiver at Damascus and is currently the team's defensive backs and offensive line coach. Frazier's other brother, Kyle, quarterbacked Damascus to 3A state championships in 2005 and 2007. With all that football knowhow, it's little wonder Frazier's in-game IQ is approaching Einsteinian levels.
"I'm a student of the game," Frazier said. "I understand defenses and alignments … I just try to keep learning so I can be one of the best in the game. That's what separates me [from other quarterbacks]."
The coaching staff has taken note. Wallich vows to entrust the offense to Frazier in 2009. Frazier won't be calling the plays, but he'll be able to audible at the line and make suggestions to the coaching staff.
"This year they're giving me more options," Frazier said. "I'm more comfortable in the offense, and I have more responsibilities. I'm ready to step up."
… Frazier stood in the shotgun. He looked around and spotted receivers Greg Stanton and Brandon Phelps. Both had already made crucial catches earlier in the drive. Stanton hauled in a 17-yard pass on fourth and eight, while Phelps caught a 9-yard throw on fourth and seven. Now Frazier spotted a new face. The 6-foot-4 Kane Brenneman, the tallest receiver on the team, had entered the game …
Frazier had one of the highest completion percentages in Maryland last year - and it's not because Damascus ran a spread offense predicated on dinky 3-yard completions (they run a normal pro style, thank you very much). He connected on 68 percent of his passes for 1,138 yards and nine touchdowns against only two interceptions. Quick slants, deep outs or fly routes - Frazier threw darts all over the field.
"His two major strengths are he's very accurate and he's got a good mind," Wallich said.
His arm strength is coming around, too. In the offseason Frazier did nothing but throw and lift weights. He packed on 30 pounds of muscle and grew a couple inches as well. He's now a svelte 6-1, 180, which looks a lot better than a puny 5-11, 150. As a result, he no longer has a noodle arm like Miami quarterback Chad Pennington.
"My arm strength is definitively better than last year," Frazier said. "I can throw it probably 60 yards standing still."
