Second Half Surge Powers Nazareth Past Freedom

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

Cody Brady | November 14, 2026

In their previous meeting, Freedom was held scoreless by Nazareth. Tonight, Freedom carried a six point edge into the break before the Eagles dominated the second half with 28 unanswered, winning 42-27. Will Bacolo bolstered his squad with huge plays on offense, defense, and special teams, ultimately accounting for four scores and contributing directly to a fifth.

Freedom turned the pressure up early. Reshaun Jones got to Cooper Madson in the backfield for a sack just after Nazareth crossed midfield. The opening Eagles drive ended when Madson was knocked out of bounds for a five yard loss on fourth down.

Freedom took advantage of the nice field position, quickly moving over midfield and getting the ball in the hands of Lashawn Johnson. His first big carry went for 35 yards, slipping through bodies down the far sideline. A few plays later, he was into the end zone and the Patriots led 7-0 with 3:50 to go in the opening frame.

Madson settled in on the ensuing drive, escaping pressure and finding Mason Marinelli for 31 yards. He then hit Marinelli on a screen for 22, nearly getting into the end zone. Will Bacolo finished off the drive with a short touchdown rush. After a quarter, the game was knotted at 7-7.

Johnson got loose again on the next Patriots’ possession, flipping field position from Freedom’s 23 to the Eagles’ 30. A few carries later, he was hit late out of bounds along the far side, moving the ball down to the ten. But the Nazareth defense stiffened and did not surrender any more yards, forcing Freedom to settle for the 26-yard field goal and a 10-7 lead with 8:41 left in the half.

On Nazareth’s next offensive play, Madson connected with Bacolo on a short screen. Bacolo turned on the speed and cut across the field, picking up 50 yards down to the Freedom 20. Madson then tossed one to Lance Zuercher who accelerated to just short of the end zone. Bacolo capped the drive with a one yard touchdown run, his second of the night. At the 6:36 mark of the second quarter, Nazareth was back on top 14-10.

But that lead didn’t last. Mike Stofanak picked up gains of 18 and 17 with his legs, navigating his team down the field for a ten play drive. The possession culminated with his pass to Christian Engelhardt in the back corner of the end zone. After chewing up over six minutes of the second quarter clock, it appeared we’d go to the half with Freedom up 17-14.

But two plays later, Nazareth wanted to make something happen in the pass game. Unfortunately, for Cooper Madson, he was pulled down from behind just as he was about to throw, and the ball came loose. Freedom was right back in business on the Blue Eagles 20 with :22 left. Freedom wasn’t able to punch it into the end zone, but tacked on another field goal as time expired for a 20-14 halftime lead.

And what a difference halftime can make. Freedom got the ball first in the third quarter and could have really put Nazareth on the ropes. However, Lashawn Johnson, who ran for 120 yards in the first half, was nearly completely halted the rest of the way and the defense really got after Stofanak. Jackson Medlar yanked him down and the drive ended in a punt. That punt was nearly mishandled by DiPietro, who managed to fall on it at his 11.

From there, Nazareth began their takeover. On a potentially dangerous screen pass, Madson hooked up with Matt Leluga. Davyon Moore was in coverage but was knocked off the play by Conner Nowroski, allowing Leluga to take off down the field for 63 yards. Bacolo had no trouble taking it in from five yards out to end the drive and give Nazareth a 21-20 lead midway through the third quarter.

Bacolo into the end zone after a 63yd pass play flips the field
Naz 21 20 600 q3

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Before the quarter was out, the Eagles struck again. After a 50-yard completion from Madson to Zuercher and as he was about to be tackled, Madson shoveled one to Marinelli for a short touchdown. After three quarters, the Blue Eagles led 28-20.

And they weren’t done. After Stofanak was pummeled in the backfield for a big loss, the punting unit was on. Bacolo blocked the kick and Medlar recovered it in the end zone for a huge touchdown and two score advantage at 35-20.

After forcing another quick punt from the Patriots, Nazareth went to the bag of tricks. From their own 22, Madson tossed the ball to Bacolo. Bacolo fired deep for DePietro and the connection was made for a 78-yard touchdown. The Eagles were flying high and in firm control at 42-20 with 9:13 left.

Eagles go to the bag of tricks and ooen up a 42 20 lead!
Bacolo to DiPietro 78yds!
913 to play

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Freedom did find the end zone one more time, as Marquise Chapman hauled in a 30-yard pass from Stofanak. But it was too little too late with 4:28 left. The ensuing onside kick was recovered by Madson and that was about all she wrote.

Nazareth advances to the District XI 6A championship game. Their opponent will be Parkland, 38-28 winners over Whitehall. That game will be played Friday night at BASD Stadium.

Will Bacolo followimg a Nazareth 42-27 victory in the DXI 6A semifinals! He ran for 3 scores, passed for one, caught a huge pass for 50, and nearly had a special teams score! Nazareth trailed 20-14 at the break before rallying for 28 unanswered during the second half.

@NAHSBlueEagles @PaFootballNews

— LSV Sports (@LSVSports) November 14, 2026

Nazareth 42, Freedom 27

Score by Quarters

Freedom – 7 13 0 7 – 27

Nazareth – 7 7 14 14 – 42

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

F – Johnson 3-yd run(Stannard kick), 3:50 7-60

N – Bacolo 5-yd run(Hall kick), :38, 9-80

Second Quarter

F – Stannard 26-yd FG, 8:41 9-70

N – Bacolo 1-yd run(Stannard kick), 6:36 5-70

F – Engelhardt 9-yd pass from Stofanak(Stannard kick), :32 10-80

F – Stannard 32-yd FG, 0:00 4-5

Third Quarter

N – Bacolo 5-yd run(Stannard kick), 6:00 6-89

N – Marinelli 6-yd pass from Madson(Stannard kick), :23 6-82

Fourth Quarter

N – Medlar 0-yd punt block recovery(Stannard kick), 11:10

N – DePietro 78-yd pass from Bacolo(Stannard kick), 9:13 1-78

F – Chapman 30-yd pass from Stofanak(Hall kick), 4:28 7-85

Passing: N – Madson 16-21-302-1-0, Bacolo 1-1-78-1-0; F – 11-21-134-2-0

Rushing: N – Bacolo 18-83-3, Madson 5-(-15), Zuercher 1-7, Wenrich 3-6; F- Johnson 24-129-1, Hughes 4-10, Stofanak 7-36, Sangster 2-9

Receiving: N – DePietro 4-94-1, Bacolo 2-53, Leluga 3-83, Zuercher 4-78, Marinelli 4-72-1; F – Moore 2-20, Herman 1-6, Chapman 3-44-1, Johnson 1-1, Engelhardt 4-64-1