Dan Harding again engineers Nazareth Area High School football team's comeback

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES

Nazareth Area High School's offensive line protected quarterback Dan Harding like he was the crown jewels.


And Friday night before a crowd of 7,000 at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium, Harding WAS the crown jewel for the Blue Eagles.

For the second straight week, Harding was the point man for a stirring Blue Eagle comeback, steering Nazareth back from a three-touchdown deficit in the second half to lead his team to a dramatic 42-41 Lehigh Valley Conference win over Liberty.

Harding, who was 27-for-39 for 395 yards, hit Andrew Bridgeforth right in stride on a 32-yard pass down the left sideline with 38 seconds remaining to bring Nazareth within 41-40.

There was no hesitation on the part of Nazareth coach Rob Melosky. He was going for two points and the win right there and no one was going to talk him out of it.

"Never even considered kicking the ball," Melosky said to a host of reporters inside the visiting lockeroom showers afterwards. "We had the momentum. ... And we also had Dan."

After a series of three straight timeouts by both teams, Harding, operating in the shotgun, found a wide open Dan Shepherd on a weak side crossing route for the deciding points.

"I really can't explain it," said Harding, who also orchestrated Nazareth's comeback win against Easton when the Blue Eagles trailed by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter last week. "We stuck to our game plan and our defense tackled better in the second half. And our O-line was phenomenal."

Rob Melosky talks about Nazareth's wild win over Liberty Rob Melosky talks about Nazareth's wild win over Liberty Nazareth coach Rob Melosky talks about the Blue Eagles come-from-behind win over Liberty. Watch video
Harding was at his best when the situation looked bleakest for Nazareth (3-0, 2-0 LVC). He stood tall in the pocket, calmly went through his progressions and was clutch at the biggest moments. If he wasn't on any college radar screens before the season, Harding certainly is now.

Twins Andrew and Adam Bridgeforth both had monster games at wide receiver in Nazareth's spread offense. Andrew Bridgeforth caught six passes for 161 yards and three touchdowns while Adam was 12 for 143 and one score.

Liberty's quarterback James McCarthy was also outstanding but in a different way. Running out of the triple option, McCarthy rushed for 215 yards on 20 attempts and scored twice as Liberty rushed for 459 yards.

But 321 of that came in the first half behind McCarthy, Devon Jones (87 yards on 7 carries), Michael Harris (7 for 62) and Stephon Font-Toomer (5 for 52). Defensing the option is assignment football and Nazareth's defense played much more disciplined in the second half.

"I thought there was another outstanding quarterback out there, James McCarthy," Liberty coach Dave Brown said. "If we didn't fumble on that series there in the fourth quarter (prior to Nazareth's winning drive), we're not even having this conversation."

Liberty had a chance to put the game away with 2:30 to go but Jack Long fumbled at the Nazareth 17 with Nazareth free safety Kyle East recovering.

Harding then weaved his magic in 10 plays and what a magical web it was for the Blue Eagles.

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