LEHIGH VALLEY FLASHBACK

Alook back at Lehigh Valley sports stories over the years from Dec. 23.

2011: Nazareth quarterback Daniel Harding is named the Associated Press co-player of the year in Pennsylvania’s Class 4A and joins three others on the first team. Harding, who threw for 3,749 yards and 32 TDs while leading the Blue Eagles to a 12-2 record as well as Lehigh Valley Conference and District 11 championships, is the fifth local QB in six years to receive such an award joining Wilson’s D.J. Lenehan (Class 2A, 2006), Liberty’s

Dan Persa (4A, 2006) and Anthony Gonzales (4A, 2008) and Central Catholic’s Brendan Nosovitch (3A, 2010). Also named to the first team were teammate Adam Bridgeforth, who caught 82 passes fo r1,221 yards; Parkland running back/ linebacker Rob Dvoracek; and Liberty defensive back Anthony Orlando. Nosovitch is joined by teammates Kevin Gulyas (receiver) and Ted McNeeley (offensive line) on the 3A squad. Pen Argyl running back Dylan Evans, who ran for 2,061 yards and 51 touchdowns, earned a spot on the 2A team. 2006: Liberty quarterback Dan Persa is named the AP Class 4A player of the year in the state and is also one of three local players named first-team all-state, along with Easton defensive back Jarred Holley and Quakertown offensive lineman Caleb Ruch. Persa threw for 2,104 yards and 21

TDs while running for 1,107 yards and 17 TDs , becoming the first quarterback in state history to throw for 2,000 yards and pass for 1,000.