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Nazareth shuts out Freedom 31-0 behind Matt Leluga’s 3 INT Game

 
Tagged under: District 11, Gameday Hub, News, pfn

| September 19, 2026

Freedom headed to Nazareth, expecting to go toe to toe with their high flying offense and put up points against a Nazareth defense that faced many questions going into the game. The result couldn’t have gone any worse for the Patriots or any better for the Blue Eagles as the score ended 31-0 with a complete effort on both sides of the ball from the home team.

Nazareth won the toss and deferred. Freedom would take the ball and for 9:29 of the first quarter. Despite all that, they came up empty as they were stopped on 4th and 1 on the Nazareth 5 and turned it over on downs.

Nazareth took the ball and and get it out to the 40, where Cooper Madson threw an INT on his first to Dean Herman of Freedom. Freedom wouldn’t take advantage of the gift and turned it over on downs at the Nazareth 34.

Nazareth took over on downs and went run heavy with their star RB, Will Bacolo, however the drive stalled at the Freedom 13 and a 23 yard FG put Nazareth up 3-0 with 6:23 left in the 2nd.

 

Freedom took over at their own 20, but 4 plays later, Matt Leluga would snag his first INT of the night, setting Nazareth up at Freedom’s 38. Nazareth took advantage of the gift as Madson hit Bacolo for the 13 yard TD and gave Nazareth a 10-0 lead with 3:10 left in the half.

 

Nazareth received the 2nd half kickoff and started from their 33 and wasted no time as a few Bacolo runs set up the 28 yard TD strike from Madson to Luke DePietro to put Nazareth up 17-0 with 10:25 left in the 3rd.

 

Freedom took over at their own 20 and would largely run with star RB Lashawn Johnson down to the Nazareth 21, however Leluga came through yet again, intercepting Patriots QB Michael Stofanak a 2nd time.

Nazareth started the next possession at their own 14 and it would stall at their 48, forcing a punt. Freedom took over on their own 28 and would get to the Nazareth 32 before turning it over on downs on 4th and 12.

Nazareth took over on their own 32 and Will Bacolo would be effective in both the running and passing game, which would set up his own 35 yard TD run to put up Nazareth 24-0 with 11:07 left in the game.

 

Freedom took over on their own 20, but 3 plays later, Matt Leluga continued to haunt the Patriots, as he intercepted his 3rd pass of the night.

 

Nazareth started on their own 40 and after a few Will Bacolo runs, delivered the dagger, as Madson hit Mason Marinelli for the 10 yard TD to put Nazareth up 31-0 with 6:59 left in the game, which would be the final score.

 

Nazareth improved to 3-1 with the win and will stay home to plat Emmaus next Friday at 7. Freedom will go home to face Dieruff next Friday at 7.

Postgame interview with Nazareth QB Cooper Madson

 

Postgame interview with Nazareth RB Will Bacolo

 

Postgame Interview with Nazareth DB, Matt Leluga

 

Postgame interview with Nazareth Head Coach Tom Falzone

 

Photo Gallery: https://pafootballnews.com/bethlehem-freedom-vs-nazareth-photo-gallery/

 
 
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