Kent, Dibilio instrumental in memorable comeback

By BETH HUDSON
The Express-Times

WHITEHALL | Kris Kent hadn't played football since his freshman year, but the right set of circumstances convinced him to give it one more chance as a senior at Nazareth Area High School.

"Coach (Rob) Melosky did a little in-school recruiting," Kent said with a grin. "I came over to give it a shot, and I love it."

The rest of the Blue Eagles are pretty happy with his decision as well. Kent had two interceptions for the second consecutive week, and Nazareth held off Whitehall for a 42-35 victory Friday night at Whitehall High School. The Blue Eagles overcame a 14-0 first-quarter deficit and improved to 7-2 overall and 6-2 in the Lehigh Valley Conference heading into the final week of the regular season. The Zephyrs have the same records.

It was easy to see what the victory meant to the Nazareth players, who ran off the field with jubilant screams and then gathered with some fans in a corner near the locker room to sing the "Ole, ole" song that's become synonymous with international soccer matches.

"We started slow," Kent said. "To come back and win, it's huge for us."

Senior tailback Chuck Dibilio ran 25 times for 224 yards and four touchdowns, and junior quarterback Dan Harding completed 9 of 12 passes for 133 yards and one score. Then there was Kent, playing with a broken right hand and a cast for the second consecutive week. He intercepted Whitehall quarterback Chris Polony and returned it to the midfield with less than a minute remaining in the first half.

Four plays later, Adam Bridgeforth caught a 19-yard touchdown pass to complete one of the game's biggest momentum swings. After Kent stole away Whitehall's chance to take a lead going into halftime, Nazareth took its own, 28-21.

Asked about Kent's interception, Dibilio said, "I don't know how he does it. It's his first year playing football since his freshman year. He has one arm. He's just a natural athlete."

Whitehall opened quickly, scoring two touchdowns in the first seven minutes. Facing a third-and-9 from his own 36-yard line, Polony scrambled until he found Tyler Artim for a 64-yard touchdown reception with 9:21 left in the first quarter. And, after forcing Nazareth to go three-and-out on its first possession, the Zephyrs put together a five-play, 47-yard drive that ended with Eric Fiore's 11-yard run.

Still, Nazareth needed just two plays including a 42-yard TD by Dibilio to cut a 14-0 deficit in half. The Blue Eagles scored 28 points in the last 17 minutes of the half.

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