Late Score Lifts Freedom to Battle of Bethlehem Victory.
Tagged under: District 11, Gameday Hub, News, pfn
Brian Ptashinski | October 27, 2019
Final score from BASD Stadium. District XI playoffs start next weekend. Stay tuned @PaFootballNews @circlewsports @KeithGroller @Mommmyto4 @NazarethNo1Fan @skook_sports @NEPAFootball pic.twitter.com/p0AyzmfB4M
— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) October 26, 2019
BETHLEHEM- The old adage is- you can throw the records out the window when two rivals meet on the gridiron. Saturday afternoon in front of a capacity crowd at Bethlehem School District Stadium,the Liberty Hurricanes (3-7) gave the Patriots of Freedom (9-1) all they wanted in 23-19 loss on a last-minute score by the Patriots.
With 2:42 left in the contest and Freedom having the ball at their own 20 down 19-17. Freedom marched down the field, highlighted by a 44 yard completion from Jared Jenkins to Vincent Reph along the Liberty sideline. A few plays later with ball on the Liberty eight from there running back Jalen Stewart powered his way into the end zone with just 41 ticks left on the clock.
Stewart from 8yds out :41 left. 2pt conversion no good. Freedom leads 23-19. @PaFootballNews @circlewsports @Mommmyto4 @skook_sports @NEPAFootball @KeithGroller @thebullp_n @NazarethNo1Fan pic.twitter.com/0NPVPyePJI
— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) October 26, 2019
The Freedom defense then stepped up to thwart a fourth and seven play for Liberty as a Dallas Holmes pass hit the turf and allowed Freedom to win its first city title since 2016.
4th and 7 for Liberty. Pass is incomplete with :18 left. Freedom takes over up 23-19. @PaFootballNews @circlewsports @ThePatriotClub @LIBERTYATHCLUB @KeithGroller @Mommmyto4 @NEPAFootball @skook_sports @NazarethNo1Fan pic.twitter.com/YDkEj28mi9
— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) October 26, 2019
Stewart rushed the ball 20 times for 125 yards and all three scores including two one yard touchdowns.
“We’ve got to enjoy this win. We have put so much work into this game. It means so much to our school and the community. You hate to let those fans down. We haven’t won this in a couple of years. It means a lot not just to us but to those dressed in black and gold as well.” Patriots coach Jason Roeder stated afterwards.
Freedom, which led most of contest, could not put away the pesky Hurricanes. Behind the leg of placekicker Sander Sahaydek, Liberty took the lead at 19-17 on a 32 yard field goal with 2:42 to play. Sahaydek also connected on kicks of 39,45 and 36 yards.
The Hurricanes only touchdown came off a trick play with 2:29 left until intermission a 65 yard pass from Kendrick Wesley, who took a lateral from Holmes, who then in turn connected with Jaiden Canada down the sidelines, who avoided a tackler and dove into the end zone to make the score 14-13 Freedom leading.
65yd halfback option pass Wesley to Canada for Liberty score. 2:29 left 2nd quarter Freedom 14 Liberty 13. @PaFootballNews @circlewsports @Mommmyto4 @NazarethNo1Fan @LIBERTYATHCLUB @ThePatriotClub @skook_sports @thebullp_n #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/yPAMZTNnMK
— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) October 26, 2019
Freedom will advance into PIAA District XI 6A Playoffs to meet up with Emmaus (5-5)at BASD Stadium Friday night at 7pm. The Patriots defeated the Green Hornets 63-28 on October 11th.
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