Senior running back Trey Tremba did most of his damage with his legs offensively last Friday night. But it was what he did through the air that wound up being the deciding factor of the game. Tremba, who was heavily blanketed in coverage came away with a 39-yard pass from quarterback Luke Spang that he took into the endzone for the game-winning touchdown with 1:22 remaining in the game as Parkland defeated Nazareth 31-24 at Parkland School District Stadium.

It was a matchup of undefeated teams, both 3-0 entering the game, and two of the top teams in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and District 11. The game lived up to the billing as it came down to the final minute of play.

Tremba made sure that his teammates would walk off the field as victors and take full control of the top of the conference standings. He ran for 266 yards, 201 of that came in the first half when he also scored three touchdowns, and also caught the game-winning touchdown pass. Between rushing and receiving, Tremba finished with 320 total yards, and Parkland as a team had 488 yards.

Head coach Tim Moncman said of the Army West Point commit, “He’s a machine.”

“We talked about the [offensive] line having a big role in this game and they just played amazing,” Tremba said. “They opened up holes all first half and played great in the second half, too. I give all the credit to them. Those holes were wide open.”

To even be able to make the reception. Spang had to elude pressure from Blue Eagles defensive lineman and was almost even sacked, before lofting up a pass that found the hands of Tremba.

“I was in the slot and I had a post pattern, but I saw there was just one safety and I knew I was going to be open,” Tremba said. “[Luke] Spang got it to me. I don’t know how, but he got it to me.”

The Trojans jumped out in front early on a 33-yard rushing TD by Tremba and then a 28-yard field goal by Aidan Gallagher to put Parkland up 10-0. Before the end of the opening quarter, Nathan Baker got the Blue Eagles on the scoreboard with a 22-yard field goal.

Following a Tremba four-yard score, the Trojans found themselves on top 16-3, with an extra-point failed. Jed Bendekovits scampered down field for 30 yards and his team’s first touchdown of the evening and Nazareth trailed 16-10 midway through the second. Tremba capped a strong first half with another 33-yard touchdown run and a 24-10 lead at halftime.

But Nazareth came out of the locker room with an answer. Quarterback Peyton Falzone connected with Caleb Newsome for a 19-yard touchdown with 1:17 left in the third quarter and they were back to being down by just one score, 24-17. After the defense then held Parkland to a three-and-out on the ensuing possession, Falzone and Newsome once again teamed up for a 59-yard pass and catch to tie the game at 24-24, and 11:18 remaining.

Later in the quarter with the score still tied, Tremba lost control of the ball while entering the red zone. Bendekovits recovered the fumble at the Blue Eagles’ 15-yard line and gave his team a chance to take their first lead with 3:27 to go. But the Trojans’ defense held firm and stopped them to give their offense the ball back.

Parkland will hit the road to take on another unbeaten team in Central Catholic on Friday night, while Nazareth will play at Liberty.