Nazareth wrecks Freedom homecoming

FROM THE MORNING CALL

Freedom scored first, but after that it was all Nazareth as the Blue Eagles rolled over the Patriots 37-3 at Frank Banko Field on Friday night, ruining Freedom's homecoming celebration.

After a slow start by both teams, the Patriots (4-3, 3-3) got on the board by virtue of a 23-yard Sean Wrobel field goal. The kick capped a seven-play, 67-yard drive, with the big play a 55-yard pass from Lukas Giovarelli to Angel Rosado.

Nazareth (3-3, 4-3) came back to tie the score on the opening play of the second quarter when a Braden Drexler 33-yard field goal ended a seven-play, 39-yard drive. A 32-yard run by Chuck Dibilio was the big play in the drive.

Dibilio was the go-to man for the Blue Eagles in the first quarter, handling the ball on the first nine plays, six runs and three passes.


"I don't know if that was in the game plan or not, but we like to use Chuck as much as we can," Nazareth quarterback Dan Harding said.

"It was a good game," said Dibilio, who finished with 145 yards rushing. "Everyone blocked for me and opened holes, and I just ran. We came in and wanted to try a couple of things out. We kind of based the rest of our game on that. When they started keying on me after the start, we spread it outside and it opened up our option game."

After a Freedom three-and-out, Nazareth took the lead for good when Dibilio took a pitchout and broke down the right side for a 47-yard touchdown.

Dibilio scored again, just before halftime, this time from the 1 on a wildcat formation play to cap a 15-play, 85-yard drive that seemed to knock the steam out of Freedom.

Nazareth then put a hammerlock on the game in the third quarter. It took the second-half kickoff and drove 59 yards for a 24-3 lead. Harding hit Jeremy Klump with a 5-yard pass for the score.

On the Blue Eagles' next possession, it took only two plays to score on a 3-yard-run by Adam Bridgeforth after Dan Shepherd intercepted a Giovarelli pass.

"We came out all right," Harding said. "The offensive line was doing a great job all night. Chuck was able to run the ball hard. We used our spread offense to our advantage."

The Blue Eagles' final score opened the fourth quarter. An 11-play, 65-yard drive was capped by Dibilio's third touchdown of the night, a 1-yard run.

"Absolutely not," Freedom coach Jason Roeder said when asked if he was pleased with his team's performance. "Obviously a lot goes wrong when you get beat by that much. They're a good football team. You can't keep giving them chances. You have to play better defense and be more consistent on offense. On defense, you have to keep the ball away from them. You can't blow assignments."

Nazareth coach Rob Melosky, obviously, was happy.

"Any time you beat a Lehigh Valley Conference team this late in the season when all the games matter, sure I'm pleased," he said. "The defensive scheme they played was conducive to running the ball, and Chuck is the best runner in the conference, so we're gonna use him. Freedom swarmed the ball in the first half and our guys found ways to make the plays."

John Heilig is a freelance writer.

Nazareth0-17-13-7 -- 37

Freedom3-0-0-0 -- 3

FIRST QUARTER

Freedom – Sean Wrobel 23 field goal, 2:11 (Drive: 7 plays, 67 yards, 2:40)

SECOND QUARTER

Nazareth – Braden Drexler 33 field goal, 11:57 (Drive: 7 plays, 39 yards, 2:08)

Nazareth – Chuck Dibilio 47 run (kick failed) 8:42 (Drive: 4 plays, 66 yards, 1:55)

Nazareth – Dibilio 1 run (Dibilio pass from Harding) :39 (Drive: 15 plays, 85 yards, 3:19)


THIRD QUARTER

Nazareth – Jeremy Klump 5 pass from Harding (Drexler kick) 7:52 (Drive: 10 plays, 59 yards, 4:04)

Nazareth – Adam Bridgeforth 3 run (kick failed) 5:50 (Drive: 2 plays, 21 yards, :27)

FOURTH QUARTER

Nazareth – Dibilio 1 run (Drexler kick) 6:11 (Drive: 11 plays, 65 yards, 6:10)

http://www.mcall.com/sports/varsity/mc-naz-freedom-1015-20101015,0,387415.story?page=2