St. Pius dominates archrival Marist

Sparking the Golden Lions, who spotted Marist a field goal off a muffed punt in the first quarter, was sophomore Trey White, who led the option offense with both his arm and his legs. White finished with 121 yards on 13 carries and made it matter when he had to throw the ball.

In the first half, White was 2-of-3 and both completions finished in the end zone. The first was an 18-yard completion to senior receiver Aiden Homrich that capped a 12-play, 80-yard drive that took up the majority of the first quarter.

His next pass also found the end zone.

With the Golden Lions leading 7-3, White and company went on another 80-yard scoring drive. However, this drive took just three plays.

Facing third-and-6 on the 24-yard line, White, who finished with 94 passing yards, tossed a screen to Homrich. The senior receiver broke a tackle and scampered down the sideline for the 76-yard touchdown, stunning the crowd at Hughes Spalding Stadium.

Although the War Eagles had success moving the ball against the Golden Lions in the first half, they turned the ball over twice inside the 30-yard line. The War Eagles turned the ball over four times, including a pair of interceptions by junior quarterback Andy Perez, who was making his debut in the option offense.

Perez had 21 carries for 84 yards and was 3-for-10 for 35 yards.

The War Eagles’ best touchdown opportunity of the half came early in the second quarter. Perez moved the War Eagles to the St. Pius 7-yard line, where he was picked off in the end zone by defensive back Geno Smith.

Leading 14-3 at the half, St. Pius added to its lead on the opening possession of the third quarter, thanks to the running of White.

Slipping on the newly installed synthetic turf for a 10-yard loss, White kept the ball on third-and-14 and split the Marist defense.

White, who finished with 215 total yards, went 76 yards before he was hauled down from behind 4 yards away from the end zone.

Three plays later, George Kennedy, who finished with 63 yards on 10 carries, took a pitch along right side of the line for a touchdown and a commanding 21-3 lead midway through the third quarter.

The Golden Lions put an exclamation point on the victory when Smith, in the backfield for the first time, took a handoff and scampered 22 yards with 36 seconds left to play.

While the Golden Lions were having success running the option, the defense was stopping the War Eagles.

Marist, which was a win away from capturing the school’s 10th state championship last year, was stymied by the Golden Lions. The War Eagles were held to 161 total yards and managed only 36 yards in the second half.

Marist has dominated this rivalry. The War Eagles own a 30-15-3 advantage in the series and have won 25 of the past 28 meetings, but St. Pius snapped a 13-game losing streak at Marist on Friday.

ST. PIUS 28, MARIST 3

St. Pius 7 7 7 7 — 28

Marist 3 0 0 0 — 3

M — Justin Moore 27 FG

SP — Aiden Homrich 18 pass from Trey White (Cleve Kellogg kick)

SP — Homrich 76 pass from White (Kellogg kick)

SP — George Kennedy 3 run (Kellogg kick)

SP — Geno Smith 22 run (Kellogg kick)