Nazareth Area High School football team defeats Freedom High School 20-16 in battle of unbeatens

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES

Alex Tonnies went virtually unnoticed for 3½ quarters Friday night.

The diminutive Nazareth Area High School junior stood out in the crowd when it mattered most.

Tonnies had two clutch receptions including a 6-yard touchdown catch with 3:05 remaining to lift the Blue Eagles to a 20-16 Lehigh Valley Conference victory over Freedom in a battle of unbeatens at Andrew Leh Stadium.

Fittingly, Tonnies sealed the game when he intercepted Freedom quarterback Brian Uliana with 1:56 remaining.

It was the fourth game the Blue Eagles (7-0 overall, 6-0 LVC) have pulled out late in the fourth quarter. They've also had comeback victories over Easton, Liberty and Central Catholic.

"We stick together," Tonnies said. "We've been in this situation so many times. We know how to win."

Freedom (6-1, 5-1) led 16-7 before Kani Camacho's 1-yard run pulled the Blue Eagles within 16-14 with 9:24 left in the game.

Nazareth regained possession on its 28 following a Freedom punt and proceeded to drive 72 yards capped by Dan Harding's scoring pass to Tonnies, who caught a pass in the flat and knocked over an official before hurtling inside the pylon for the score.

"It was a bubble screen," Tonnies said. "Both the Bridgeforths (wide receivers Andrew and Adam) made great blocks and I was able to beat my man to the end zone."

"It's tough," Freedom coach Jason Roeder said, "but if we didn't feel hurt something would be very, very wrong. The kids are crushed right now but all our goals are still in front of us."

Tonnies' 23-yard reception on third-and-13 advanced the ball to Freedom's 32.

"I had to get to the hash," Tonnies said. "We tried to put the safety on an island. Dan gave me a perfect ball. It was right on the money."

"Alex Tonnies is 5-foot-something, weighs a hundred-something, but he has the heart of a champion," Nazareth coach Rob Melosky said.

Harding finished 18-for-24 passing for 225 yards.

"Dan throws it around to all of us," said senior wide receiver and cornerback Dan Shepherd, who caught three passes for 45 yards. "He's an amazing quarterback. He'll throw the ball to anyone who's open."

After Tonnies' interception, Camacho rushed three times to pick up a first down. Harding kneeled once to kill the clock and the Nazareth celebration was officially under way.

"We practiced all week using game situations," Melosky said. "I think we wore Freedom down a little bit. What can you say? These kids have had their backs to the wall multiple times. We just had to stay the course and be patient."

Freedom took a 7-0 lead three minutes into the game when speedster Okezie Alozie picked up Harding's fumble and sprinted 72 yards for a touchdown.

Nazareth proceeded to drive 79 yards in nine plays culminated by Adam Bridgeforth's 6-yard touchdown run on an end around.

Freedom regained the lead on Alozie's 5-yard rush in the third quarter and Alozie's 75-yard run down the left sideline set up Sean Wrobel's 20-yard field goal and a 16-7 Patriots lead.

The rest of the night belonged to Nazareth.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/10/nazareth_area_high_school_foot_6.html