Nazareth receivers turn up the pressure

FROM THE MORNING CALL

Four years into his Nazareth tenure, coach Rob Melosky has developed a blueprint for his receiving corps.

The Blue Eagles' spread offense operates best with tall, physical receivers who can block lined up on the outside. Two slot receivers with speed and an ability to run the ball are required to complement the outside threats.

Receiver depth helped Nazareth's football team flourish in 2010, when Sean Sauerzopf, Jeremy Klump, Adam Bridgeforth, Kris Kent and Bryce Higgs teamed with Lehigh Valley Conference offensive MVP and running back Chuck Dibilio in an offense that scored 30-plus points 10 times in 12 games. This season, the Blue Eagles have managed to construct a group of receivers for quarterback Daniel Harding that has trumped last year's group despite having just one player back.

As top-seeded Nazareth (11-1 overall) prepares to host No. 3 Easton (11-2) in the District 11 Class 4A final at 7 tonight, it boasts a quartet of receivers — Adam Bridgeforth, Andrew Bridgeforth, Dan Shepherd and Alex Tonnies — with at least 30 catches. Only three other players in the LVC had caught that many passes this season entering Thursday's games.

"It's nice to have those four, because they all bring a little something different to the table," Melosky said this week. "Shepherd is a physical guy with sure hands. Andrew's a taller kid, longer strides, who blocks well and can really run by you. Adam and Tonnies, they give us a little bit of a speed threat as far as inside receivers. They know how to get open."

The biggest question Nazareth's offense faced before this season was how it would replace the yardage provided by Dibilio, who rushed for 2,050 yards as a senior before heading to Princeton. A close second was who would fill in for the 95 catches the Blue Eagles lost with the graduation of Sauerzopf, Klump, Kent and Higgs.

The Bridgeforth twins alone have helped take Nazareth's passing attack to another level. Adam has 71 catches for 1,157 yards, ranking No. 2 in the area in both categories, after having 24 catches for 319 yards as a junior.

Andrew Bridgeforth also has become one of the area's top receivers this season. He has 49 catches for 816 yards, providing a field-stretching threat as one of the outside receivers after grabbing only two passes last year. Nazareth used him to great effect in last week's Districts 2-4-11 4A subregional semifinal against Parkland, when he caught six passes for 129 yards and a touchdown.

"Both of them are just amazing talents," Shepherd said. "They help our offense out so much. It makes Tonnies and my job so much easier because defenses focus on them."

While Melosky knew Andrew Bridgeforth had the natural ability to excel at receiver along with Adam this season — both also are track standouts — Shepherd and Tonnies' emergence has left opposing defenses stretched thin in trying to cover the field. Shepherd started at linebacker last year but didn't catch a pass. This season, he has joined Andrew as one of the outside receivers and has 33 catches for 417 yards.

"I wasn't sure that I was going to be starting because we have a lot of good talent on the team," Shepherd said. "It's excellent competition. If it wasn't me, I'm 100 percent sure that whoever would come in for me would do the job anyway."

Tonnies, a junior, didn't catch a pass last year, either. He didn't play football at all as a freshman or sophomore because of a back injury he suffered while lifting weights.

With all the reps he missed, Tonnies needed time to learn Nazareth's offense. By the second half of the Blue Eagles' regular-season meeting with Easton in Week 2, he began to assume a larger role.

Tonnies has started since Week 4 and despite his stature — at 5-6, 145 pounds he is the smallest of Nazareth's receivers — has given the Blue Eagles another weapon. Since he became a starter, he has 26 catches and 390 yards in nine games.

"Harding and I were talking about it actually — he [Tonnies] brings a whole new dimension to our offense," Andrew Bridgeforth said. "He's talented, athletic and works really hard. We're glad to have him on the field with us."

With Harding willing to look to any of his top four targets at any time, Easton will need to force him into quick decisions as it tries to win a third straight District 11 4A title tonight. Even a rushed Harding could cause the Red Rovers trouble because of the players Nazareth can send down the field on every snap.

"We knew the Bridgeforth kids would be talented kids that would make plays," Melosky said. "Finding the right other guys that would blend and mesh with them was important. Tonnies and Shepherd have been the right guys to complement them."

Added Shepherd: "Easton got so much better since we played them in Week 2 [a 35-28 Nazareth victory]. But you know what? So did we."

DISTRICT 11 CLASS 4A FINAL

No. 3 Easton (11-2) at No. 1 Nazareth (11-1)

• Where/when: Andrew S. Leh Stadium, 7 tonight.

• At stake: A spot in the PIAA Class 4A quarterfinals against District 12 champion La Salle College (11-1) on Dec. 2 or 3.


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EASTON

• Coach: Steve Shiffert (19th year, 167-71-1).

• Key players: Sr. RB/LB Kevin Griffin (99 carries, 525 yards, 6 TDs; 13 catches, 132 yards); sr. QB/S Ian Hayden (117-216, 1,737 yards, 17 TDs, 8 INTs); fr. WR Shane Simpson (33 catches, 604 yards, 3 TDs); jr. RB/LB Austin Brown (74 carries, 254 yards, 6 TDs; 11 catches, 149 yards, 3 TDs); jr. OL/DL Tyler Greene; sr. TE/DE Zach Herres (19 catches, 329 yards, 4 TDs); sr. TE/DE Matt Mowad (14 catches, 176 yards, 3 TDs); sr. K Chris Roubik (3 FGs, 56 points).

• About the Red Rovers: Secured third straight District 11 title-game appearance with a 29-20 win over No. 7 Scranton in semifinals. Then beat rival Phillipsburg 24-8 on Thanksgiving. … This is the Rovers' first district game on the road in the last three seasons. They went 8-0 at Cottingham Stadium over that span. … This is their sixth district-championship game appearance over the last nine seasons. They won titles in 2003, 2004, 2009 and 2010. … Own a 21-2 all-time record against Nazareth, Shiffert's alma mater. … Guard Jose Rojas, a first-team all-LVC selection, was injured against Scranton and could be out this week. … Allowed 24 total points in their last two district title games. … Trying to become the first 4A team since Bethlehem Catholic to win three straight District 11 titles. The Golden Hawks did it from 1999 to 2001.

NAZARETH

• Coach: Rob Melosky (fourth year, 29-16; ninth year overall, 69-35).

• Key players: Sr. QB Daniel Harding (207-304, 3,176 yards, 28 TDs, 7 INTs); fr. RB Jordan Gray (209 carries, 1,380 yards, 19 TDs); sr. WR/DB Adam Bridgeforth (71 catches, 1,157 yards, 8 TDs; 47 tackles); sr. WR/LB Dan Shepherd (33 catches, 417 yards, 7 TDs; 66 tackles, 3 INTs, 1.5 sacks); jr. WR Alex Tonnies (31 catches, 481 yards, 4 TDs); sr. WR/DB Andrew Bridgeforth (49 catches, 816 yards, 7 TDs); jr. OL/DL Aaron Bradley (58 tackles, 3.5 sacks); sr. OL/DL Dave Wilke (61 tackles, 3 sacks).

• About the Blue Eagles: Grabbed a spot in final with63-27 win over No. 4 Parkland. … Average 41.6 points per game and allow 25.9. … Senior safety and leading tackler Kyle East remains out of the lineup with a knee injury. … Seeking first district title since 1989, when they won the second of back-to-back Class 3A championships. … Trying to become first team other than Easton (four), Liberty (three) and Parkland (two) to win a District 11 4A title in the 10 years since the LVC formed. … Have a plus-10 turnover margin. … Harding needs two touchdown passes for 30 this season and 50 in his career. … Adam Bridgeforth needs five catches for 100 in his career.

• The matchup: Easton's coaching staff has plenty of experience in preparing its kids to play three games in eight days. Never before, though, have the Red Rovers ended such a stretch against a team that plays as fast as Nazareth. Controlling the ball and the clock will be crucial for Easton as it tries to three-peat. … The Blue Eagles have plenty of big-game experience now, so don't expect the moment to overwhelm them. If they match Easton in the trenches, they stand an excellent chance of adding a district championship to their LVC title.

http://www.mcall.com/sports/varsity/mc-football-nazareth-wrs-1125-20111125,0,5462449.story