HT Sports

By Paul Sokoloski psokoloski@timesleader.com
Times Leader Sports Columnist
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HAZLETON – The Hazleton Area Cougars ran into a runner they just couldn’t stop.

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11/14/08-- Hazleton Area QB Matt Drumheller ditches Christian O'Connor of Freedom while on a scramble in Friday night's PIAA playoff game in Hazleton. (PETE G. WILCOX/THE TIMES LEADER)

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11/14/08-- Players from Hazleton Area and Freedom scurry for the football on a Hazleton Area fumble which Freedom gained possession of the ball in the first half of Friday's PIAA playoff in Hazleton. Players (L-R) John Kaczmarek (75) of Freedom, Hazleton Area's Matt Drumheller (7) and Matt Manfredi (25) and Freedom's Michael Coccia (72). (PETE G. WILCOX/THE TIMES LEADER)

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But that didn’t stop them from trying.

Bethlehem Freedom’s Eddie Mateo raced for 182 yards and three touchdowns in Friday’s first half, on his way to a 231-yard rushing performance that led the Patriots past Hazleton Area, 42-25, in a District 2-11 Class 4A playoff semifinal at Harman Geist Stadium.

But using a series of big plays, Hazleton Area hung around almost to the very end.

“I think our kids played like champions,” Hazleton Area coach Rocco Petrone said. “From the start to the end, with (the) athletes on the field, and heart.”

The Cougars kept showing that heart, over and again.

From the start, Mateo was unstoppable as he romped for touchdowns of 27, 24 and 9 yards in the opening half – the last a jaunt down the left sideline that broke open a tight game and sent Freedom into halftime with a 28-19 lead.

“I love it when my teammates can count on me,” Mateo said.

What Freedom didn’t count on was Hazleton Area’s never-say-die attitude, and an uncanny penchant for making big plays.

In fact, the Cougars grabbed a quick 7-0 lead when Mike DiSabella blocked a punt on Freedom’s opening drive, and Matt Manfredi stuffed the ball into the end zone on a fourth-down run.

After Mateo cut loose with touchdown runs of 27 and 24 yards to propel the Patriots into a 21-7 lead, Hazleton used a quick-strike attack to get right back in the game.

Cougars running back Jonathan Nahay crashed into a pile of players, and somehow bounced right through it on his way to a 48-yard touchdown run that pulled the Cougars within 21-13 late in the opening quarter.

Early in the second, Cougars quarterback Matt Drumheller wound up and hit Shane McKernan with a 70-yard touchdown bomb as Hazleton Area closed within 21-19.

And even after Mateo gave Freedom some breathing room before halftime, the Cougars took away some of that air.

Matt Manfredi picked off a pass to open the second half, and Nahay drove a pile backwards and into the end zone on a 3-yard scoring run that pulled Hazleton Area to within 28-25.

“They scored one more touchdown than we did,” said Petrone, noting his team missed three conversion attempts after touchdowns and discounting Jermel Lee’s 30-yard touchdown off a fumble return with 2:55 to play. “Shane McKernan had the long touchdown catch, John Nahay had a big run. Our kids play like that all the time. They certainly earned respect tonight.”

Unfortunately for Hazleton Area, it wasn’t enough to earn the Cougars another game. They finished their season at 10-2, while Freedom looks forward to a revenge meeting with Bethlehem Liberty in next week’s District 11 title game.

“We’re certainly proud to be two-time District 2 champions, two-time Wyoming Valley Conference champions,” Petrone said. “Years from now, these kids will still have those memories. And that’s what it’s all about.”