By placing first and second in the Gold Division, Frankford (6-2, 6-0) and George Washington (6-2, 5-1) gained first-round byes in a six-team Class AAAA playoff tournament that begins next weekend.
With Washington ahead by 20-14 and 3:50 remaining, DiGiorgio, a junior lefthander, directed an 11-play, 80-yard drive for the win. He completed eight passes for 87 yards in the series.
"He's a tough kid, and he's smart," first-year Pioneers coach Will Doggett said. "There's a huge upside to his game."
Overall, DiGiorgio, who played youth football for the Frankford Chargers, hit on 22 of 26 throws for a season-high 293 yards and two scores. He was 12 for 12 for 131 yards in the second half.
The Pioneers were without one of their top playmakers. Savoy Martin, a receiver and defensive back, suffered a left-knee injury in practice Thursday and was standing on crutches during the game.
Washington was in a tough spot, as well. Three players - including standout Justin Moody, a junior two-way end receiving Division I-A interest - were ejected for participating in a skirmish during the previous week's triumph over Northeast and had to sit out.
On the winning drive, DiGiorgio hooked up twice each with Compton, Mike Brown, and tight end Aaron Allison. He found a wide-open Allison for a 28-yard gain that moved the ball to the Washington 14.
"I was very confident that we could pull it off," Doggett said. "We practice the two-minute drive all the time in practice."
Speedy tailback Hakeem Sillman (26 carries, 125 yards, two TDs) had given the Eagles a 19-14 lead on a 2-yard burst with 10:30 to play. Coach Ron Cohen elected to go for one point instead of two, and Jake Wright's boot made it 20-14.
Late in the third quarter, DiGiorgio's 21-yard pass to Brown put Frankford up, 14-13.
Frankford 7 0 7 7 – 21
George Washington 7 0 6 7 – 20
F: Johnson 10 run (Salguero kick)
GW: Caban 46 with fumble (Wright kick)
GW: Sillman 34 run (kick failed)
F: Brown 21 pass from DiGiorgio (Salguero kick)
GW: Sillman 2 run (Wright kick)
F: Compton 14 pass from DiGiorgio (Salguero kick)
Contact staff writer Rick O'Brien at 610-313-8019, robrien@phillynews.com, or @ozoneinq on Twitter. Read his blog, "The O'Zone," at www.philly.com/ozone
