St. Pius upsets archrival Marist

St. Pius supporters stormed the field after the 21-10 upset against archrival Marist in the “Fish Bowl” on Friday.

It was only the second time the Golden Lions had defeated Marist in the last 27 games between the two DeKalb County Catholic schools.

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Todd R. McQueen / Special

St. Pius’ (4) Jonathan Carter breaks free against Marist.

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Marist quarterback Sam McNearny rolls out as St. Pius’ Robert Lucisano (32) and Andrew Butler (38) apply pressure.

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Even though it was the opener, St. Pius coach Paul Standard couldn’t contain his emotions in the final seconds, pumping his fist, and yelling to his players, “We did it, we did it.”

The winner gets the “Fish Bowl” trophy until the following year’s game. Surrounded by nearly 100 hundred fans and well-wishers, Standard gave his team a rousing pep talk after the game for 15 minutes.

After all, these post-game opportunities don’t come along often after playing Marist.

“I’m just so proud of our team; it was a great start to the season,” Standard said. “We came into this game with a lot of inexperience and our young guys grew up, they really did.”

St. Pius (1-0) stunned the War Eagles with touchdowns on its first two possessions, leading 14-0 just seven minutes into the game.

“We got outplayed; they made plays and we didn’t,” Marist coach Alan Chadwick said. “We played scared; we played young, and we played immature. We didn’t play well and [St. Pius] did.”

Despite Chadwick’s poor review of his team, the War Eagles actually had a chance to make it a close game at the start of the second half. Trailing 21-7, Marist had a long drive to the St. Puis 2-yard line. On third-and-goal, halfback Patrick Sullivan fought to the 1, trying to stretch forward before being pushed back by a crowd of defenders.

What happened next will go down as one of the most-talked about officiating calls in the history of the heated rivalry.

On fourth down, Sullivan ran in for an apparent touchdown, which would have made the score 21-14. However, before the ball was snapped, the referees whistled Marist for an illegal shift, a 5-yard penalty. Backed up to the 6-yard line, Chadwick was forced to go for the field goal instead, and Justin Moore’s 23-yarder made 21-10.

“It was a huge call,” Chadwick said. “I didn’t see it and I’m looking straight at everything. All 22 guys are out there in front of us. I don’t see a thing, and a flag comes from nowhere.

“That was huge because it took a little momentum from us after the great drive we had to start the second half. If we score a touchdown, it’s a seven-point game, and anything can happen.”

After a short pause, Chadwick shook his head and said, “However, you can’t give the other team 21 points in the first half and expect to win. … We’re just a young football team, and we better grow up fast.”

On the game’s first play from scrimmage, St. Pius tailback Jonathan Carter sprinted 58 yards to the Marist 14, setting up a 28-yard touchdown pass from P.G. Standard to Matt Pierce.

A few minutes later, St. Pius took advantage of a Marist turnover. On fourth-and-1 from the 23, the Golden Lions lined up in a regular formation and Standard barked signals until a few defenders jumped offsides.

The 5-yard penalty gave St. Pius an automatic first down, and five plays later Cole Moon scored the first of his two rushing touchdowns. He had 25 carries for 120 yards.