Nazareth Blue Eagles Soar to Victory Over Wilkes-Barre Area Friday Night

NAZARETH- It didn’t take long for the Nazareth Blue Eagles to establish their dominance Friday night in a convincing 42-6 win over visiting Wilkes-Barre Area Wolfpack in the opening round of the District XI 6A Sub-regional playoff game at Andrew Leh Stadium, before a moderate crowd.

Taking the opening kickoff and it took just five plays to go 54 yards capped off by a Marquez Wimberly 11 yard run in just 1:13 into the contest. A bad snap on the point-after left the score at 6-0.

11yd Marquez Wimberly score 10:47 left 1st quarter 6-0. PATvno good @PaFootballNews

Updates sponsored by @SLUHNSportsMed pic.twitter.com/5rRJg09MaM

— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) November 3, 2023

The Blue Eagles would tack on two more touchdowns in the opening quarter with matching five yard runs by RB Jed Bendekovits, who rushed for 106 yards on just 11 touches and had a punt block in the contest. Nazareth out-gained Wilkes-Barre 160-9 in the first twelve minutes.

5yd Jed Bendekovits touchdown @NAHSBlueEagles 13-0 7:29 left 1st quarter @PaFootballNews

Updates sponsored by @SLUHNSportsMed pic.twitter.com/9GTEeH87QL

— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) November 4, 2023

Wilkes-Barre looked to have caught a break in the first quarter, when Nazareth muffed a Wolfpack punt at their 40 yard line and Wilkes-Barre looked have returned the ball inside the five, but officials ruled ball was to be place were it was first touched by the kicking team at the 40. They could not take advantage however.

After that blocked punt by Bendekovits in the second quarter that gave the home team the ball in the red zone, they would quickly take advantage as Wimberly scored from 16 yards out three plays later making the score 27-0 with 4:27 left in the half.

16yd Marquez Wimberly touchdown 4:27 till half 27-0 @NAHSBlueEagles lead @PaFootballNews @69SportsBT

Updates sponsored by @SLUHNSportsMed pic.twitter.com/2jqhAxyfig

— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) November 4, 2023

Quarterback Peyton Falzone, who only completed 6 of 11 passes for 44 yards on the night, used his legs to scamper into the end zone from 7 yards out at 2:37 mark and with the two-point conversion made the score 35-0 to put the game in the mercy rule for the second half.

7yd Peyton Falzone touchdown 2pt conversion good 2:27 till half @NAHSBlueEagles 35 @WbaWolfpack 0 @PaFootballNews

Updates sponsored by @SLUHNSportsMed pic.twitter.com/7ERIxzeY85

— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) November 4, 2023

Wilkes-Barre would avoid the shutout with 3:06 left in the third quarter as Jake Howe connected with Jovan Goodwin for a 46 yard score but the PAT was no good, leaving the score at 35-6,

Nazareth closed out the scoring with just 4:22 left in the contest as Jake Banghart scored from a yard out to make it 42-6.

Wilkes-Barre Area, out of District 2, finished their season at 6-5 and lost for second consecutive year to lose to a District XI team as Emmaus eliminated the Wolfpack last season in the opening round.

My post-game interview with Jed Bendekovits, who scored twice and blocked a punt in a 42-6 win for @NAHSBlueEagles over @WbaWolfpack @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/pXKgR3Z5M6

— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) November 4, 2023

Nazareth, the second seed in the bracket improves to 10-1 and will host the Konkrete Kids of Northampton next week at home in the semifinal round. Northampton (9-2) took down Stroudsburg Friday night 31-15. The other semifinal will feature Emmaus at Parkland Friday night.

Coach Tom Falzone of Nazareth had this to say about his team’s performance.

My post-game interview with HFC Tom Falzone of Nazareth after @NAHSBlueEagles defeated @WbaWolfpack 42-6 @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/oTevTt00AN

— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) November 4, 2023

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