Nazareth at Hazleton

Recap

NAZARETH 42, HAZLETON AREA 7

Hazleton Area battled with one of the state’s top teams and players Friday night before ultimately falling to visiting Nazareth, 42-7, in a non-league opener.

Nazareth, a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state quarterfinalist last season when it went 12-2, opened this season as the No. 6 Class 6A school, according to PennLive.com’s state rankings.

Peyton Falzone, a 6-foot-5 quarterback who has committed to Virginia Tech, led Nazareth out to a 21-7 halftime lead by throwing for two touchdowns and running for another.

Austin Wilson scored for Hazleton Area on a 6-yard run.

The Cougars remained within two scores until 3:39 remained in the third quarter when Caleb Newsome scored on a 30-yard punt return. Newsome had opened the scoring with a 20-yard pass from Falzone.

The lead reached 35-7 with 9:49 left on a 2-yard run by Marques Wimberly.

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Quarter

NAZ – Caleb Newsome 20-yd pass from Falzone (Hall kick) – Nazareth 7-0

2nd Quarter

NAZ – Tanner Zelachowski 3-yd pass from Peyton Falzone (Hall kick) – Nazareth 14-0

NAZ -Falzone 6-yd run (Hall kick) – Nazareth 21-0

HAZ- Austin Wilson 6-yd run (Jack Mariano kick) – Nazareth 21-7

3rd Quarter

NAZ – Newsome 34-yd punt return (Hall kick) – Nazareth 28-7

4th quarter

NAZ – Marquez Wimberly 1-yd run (Hall kick) – Nazareth 35-7

NAZ – Falzone 52-yd run (Hall kick) – Nazareth 42-7