Jahan Dotson spent his Nazareth football career doing what nobody else could.
Hauling in the most receptions. Tallying the most receiving yards. Securing the most receiving touchdowns. You name it.
The Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver added to that list on Friday night, becoming the first player in Nazareth history to have their number retired.
“It’s awesome … always coming back to my hometown. Like I always say, this is where it all started for me,” Dotson, a former Penn State star, said. “Anytime I get to come back here, it’s extremely special for me, and to be sharing a night.
Jahan Dotson is honored during a Nazareth Area High School football game as the school retires his number Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in Nazareth. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
In return, the Nazareth wide receivers did it all as Luke DePietro threw and caught a touchdown, Lance Zuercher ran the offense as a wildcat quarterback at times, and intercepted a pass, while Matthew Leluga brought in a pair of touchdowns on the perimeter in a 41-33 Nazareth victory over Bethlehem Catholic at Andrew S. Leh Stadium.
Coach Tom Falzone and the Blue Eagles broke tradition and stayed out on the sideline to watch Dotson’s jersey retirement ceremony, which ended up paying off as Alex Rodriguez intercepted a pass on the first play of the second half and returned it to the Becahi 1-yard line.
Marquez Wimberly plunged into the end zone on the next play for his second touchdown on the night to double Nazareth’s seven-point halftime lead and snuck through for another on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line to make it 34-14. A beautiful ball from Cooper Madson to Leluga from 28 yards out extended the lead to 41-14 and all but sealed a convincing conference win.
Until Carter Vassa continued his big night. After six catches for 80 yards and a touchdown in the first half, Vassa put on a show that even Dotson had to appreciate as touchdowns of 87 and 54 yards in the second half helped the Golden Hawks battle to within 41-33 with over three minutes left to play.
Axel Burkart led the charge at quarterback after entering for Carter’s brother, Cayden, who appeared to be shaken up on several occasions, and had an opportunity to tie the game with 1:54 remaining near midfield after a quick three-and-out by the Blue Eagles.
Zuercher jumped in front of a fourth down pass attempt to Vassa and picked up a first down on the ground two plays later to secure the victory for Falzone’s group on an emotional and celebratory night.
Up next
Nazareth (7-1) hits the road to take on Northampton (3-5) on Friday night at 7 p.m. before finishing the year at home against Easton (8-0) the following week.
Bethlehem Catholic (5-3) will face Liberty (5-3) at BASD Stadium, also on Friday night at 7 p.m.
Derek Bast is a freelance writer who can be found on Twitter/X at @derek_bast. He can be reached by email at derekbast11@gmail.com.
NAZARETH 41, BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC 33
Becahi: 7; 7; 0; 19 — 33
Nazareth: 14; 7; 20; 0 — 41
ORDER OF SCORING
First quarter
BC: Carter Vassa 14 pass from Axel Burkart (Gabriel Santa-Maria kick); 5:51
N: Marquez Wimberly 62 run (Owen Hall kick); 4:46
N: Matthew Leluga 9 pass from Luke DePietro (Hall kick); 0:10
Second quarter
BC: Tyre Lewis 32 pass from Cayden Vassa (Santa-Maria kick); 7:49
N: DePietro 27 pass from Cooper Madson (Hall kick); 6:19
Third quarter
N: Wimberly 1 run (Hall kick); 11:37
N: Wimberly 2 run (Hall kick failed); 6:14
N: Leluga 28 pass from Madson (Hall kick); 0:34
Fourth quarter
BC: Carter Vassa 54 pass from Burkart (Santa-Maria kick); 10:44
BC: Antonio Salomoni 4 run (pass failed); 6:43
BC: Carter Vassa 87 pass from Burkart (kick failed); 3:28
