BETHLEHEM – Nazareth quarterback Peyton Falzone was on his way to a huge night. The senior already threw for 329 yards and three total touchdowns all in the first half. The Blue Eagles led 42-21 at halftime.
But there really wasn’t much to celebrate at that moment. Falzone felt pain in his left shoulder and left the game. Multiple reports later that night said he suffered a broken clavicle.
With Falzone out, Marquez Wimberly stepped up on both sides of the ball. He rushed for 165 yards and scored four touchdowns. He was outstanding at the safety position making key plays helping the Blue Eagles to a 56-21 win over Freedom Friday night at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium.
“I am happy for the win. We knew coming into the game it was going to be a hard game,” said Wimberly. “This was one of the top games this weekend and saw a lot of kids from different schools here tonight.”
With four games played, this might have been the best night so far for the Blue Eagles offense. They had over 450 yards of offense in the first half.
The first quarter saw four touchdowns (two by each team). Freedom’s Lashawn Johnson scored from three yards out and Jahaire Hughes powered his way in from five yards out.
The Blue Eagles first score was a shovel pass by Falzone to Tanner Zelachowski and Wimberly busted through the line untouched for the 27-yard touchdown run.
In the second quarter, Falzone found a wide-open Tanner Zelachowski for a 80-yard touchdown pass. Peyton added a one-yard touchdown run in the quarter. Wimberly added two rushing touchdowns of 5 and 42.
Freedom’s Michael Stofanak hit Devyan Moore on a beautiful pass for 49 yard.
The Blue Eagles out scored Freedom 28-7 in the second quarter and went into halftime leading 42-21.
The second half was all Blue Eagles. Wimberly got his fourth rushing touchdown of the night. This time he went 49 yards for the score. Then backup quarterback Cooper Madson threw a perfect deep ball to Luke DiPietro for 76 yards on the final score of the night.
Up next: The win by the Blue Eagles sets up a battle of the unbeatens Friday night at Andrew Leh Stadium when Nazareth hosts Parkland. The Trojans won Thursday night 58-13 over Pleasant Valley.
“They are coming to our place next week,” said Wimberly. “We are going to enjoy tonight’s win, but Monday morning we are going to get back to work and prepare for Parkland.”
Freedom will try and rebound on the road, traveling to William Allen next Friday night.
Scoring summary
Nazareth Aea 56, Freedom 21
| Teams | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
| Nazareth Area (4-0) | 14 | 28 | 7 | 7 | 56 |
| Bethlehem Freedom (1-3) | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
1st Quarter:
F: Lashawn Johnson 3 yard run (Nathan Stannard kick good) 10:46
N: Tanner Zelachowski 2 yard pass from Peyton Falzone (Owen Hall kick good) 8:05
F: Jahaire Hughes 5 yard run (Nathan Stannard kick good) 4:40
N: Marquez Wimberly 27 yard run (Owen Hall kick good) 3:43
2nd Quarter:
N: Tanner Zelachowski 80 yard pass from Peyton Falzone (Owen Hall kick good) 11:36
N: Peyton Falzone 1 yard run (Owen Hall kick good) 8:14
N: Marquez Wimberly 5 yard run (Owen Hall kick good) 4:36
F: Devyan Moore 49 yard pass from Michael Stofanak (Nathan Stannard kick good) 3:29
N: Marquez Wimberly 42 yard run (Owen Hall kick good) 2:07
3rd Quarter:
N: Marquez Wimberly 49 yard run (Owen Hall kick good) 6:15
4th Quarter:
N: Luke DiPietro 76 yard pass from Cooper Madson (Owen Hall kick good) 9:58