Muzzi Scores Three Times as Avella Clinches Playoff Spot at Frazier | Photo Gallery

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Kyler Cecil | October 31, 2026

Avella beat Frazier 48-20 on Friday night in Perryopolis to clinch third place in the WPIAL Class A Tri-County South and a spot in the playoffs.

Dominic Muzzi scored three touchdowns for Avella, two on the ground and one through the air. Gage Samol added two rushing touchdowns, and Gavin Gatewood scored once and ran in three 2-point conversions.

Avella started fast. Muzzi broke a 54-yard touchdown run on the opening drive, and Gatewood ran in the 2-point conversion to make it 8-0 with 10:56 left in the first quarter.

Frazier answered on its next possession. Quarterback Brady Secrest kept the ball on a 1-yard sneak with 7:26 left in the first, but the 2-point try failed, leaving it 8-6.

Gatewood scored on a 58-yard run less than a minute later to push the lead to 14-6.

Frazier drove to the goal line on its next possession, but the Avella defense stopped Secrest on a fourth-down quarterback sneak and took over at its own 3. Avella then went 97 yards, and Samol finished the drive with a 14-yard touchdown run at 10:36 of the second quarter. Gatewood’s 2-point run made it 22-6.

Frazier turned it over on downs again on its next drive. Samol scored from 13 yards out with 5:38 left in the half, and Gatewood added another 2-point conversion to make it 30-6.

Gatewood intercepted a pass on Frazier’s next possession and set Avella up at the Frazier 44. On the first play, Chas Rush hit Muzzi for a 44-yard touchdown to make it 36-6.

Samol intercepted a pass in the end zone before halftime and returned it to the Avella 28.

Frazier opened the third quarter with a scoring drive. Secrest threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Gardner with 7:02 left, then found Brant Alekson for the 2-point conversion to cut the lead to 36-14. Frazier tried an onside kick, but Avella recovered.

Muzzi added his third touchdown on an 8-yard run with 11:07 left in the game. Rush scored on a 12-yard run with 5:10 left after Frazier turned it over on downs for a third time.

Secrest threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Alekson with 1:54 left for the final points.

Avella improves to 6-4. Frazier falls to 5-5 and needs a wild card to reach the playoffs.

Full game gallery from Friday’s matchup coming soon to kcecilmedia.com. Follow along on Instagram (@kcecil.media), X (@kcecilmedia), and Facebook (K. Cecil Media) to know when it’s posted.

Box Score

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

• AV: Dominic Muzzi 54 run (Gavin Gatewood run), 10:56
• FR: Brady Secrest 1 run (run failed), 7:26
• AV: Gatewood 58 run (run failed), 6:28

Second Quarter

• AV: Gage Samol 14 run (Gatewood run), 10:36
• AV: Samol 13 run (Gatewood run), 5:38
• AV: Muzzi 44 pass from Chas Rush (run failed), 4:30

Third Quarter

• FR: Brandon Gardner 3 pass from Secrest (Brant Alekson pass from Secrest), 7:02

Fourth Quarter

• AV: Muzzi 8 run (kick failed), 11:07
• AV: Rush 12 run (PAT failed), 5:10
• FR: Alekson 13 pass from Secrest (PAT failed), 1:54