Pius X rolls, 42-14

NAZARETH – Sophomore quarterback AJ Long paced Pius X passing for four touchdowns and running for another in a 42-14 win over Williams Valley in a first round of District 11 Class A game Saturday afternoon at Andrew S. Leh Stadium.

Williams Valley took the opening kick off and drove all the way down to the Royals 19 yard line. But Pius’ defense stopped them on fourth down and took over on downs.

On their drive Pius X had a 50-yard score called back. But they stayed strong. Long found Joey Dalessandro for a 26-yard score. The two-point conversion put Pius X up 8-0.

Williams Valley answered the Royals drive going 57 yards for the score. Logan Fetterhoff went in 26-yards for the score with 2:29 left in the first quarter. The two-point conversion failed and Pius X led 8-6.

After both teams exchanged punts, Pius X was on the move at the start of the second quarter. Long missed a wide-open Matt Camilletti. But on the next play he took off for the 34-yard gain.  A face mask penalty on Williams Valley put the ball on the 32. A few plays later, Long went in for the 15-yard score. Pius X led 15-6.

Williams Valley tried to match the Royals scoring. They drove down to the Pius X one-yard line and were faced with a fourth and goal. Pius’ defense bent but didn’t break stopping Williams Valley. They took over on their three-yard line.

Pius X drove 97 yards for the score. It was setup by a Long to DuBois Ross 48-yard completion down to Williams Valley’s 36. Nick DeRea capped off the drive going in from seven-yards out.

“The offensive line played amazing today”, said DeRea. “This drive took the wind out of Williams Valley.”

They weren’t done scoring in the half. The Royals got the ball back with 44 seconds remaining in the first half.  But a holding penalty pushed the Royals back to the 25.

It took one play for the Royals to score. Long said, “We wanted to take advantage of the middle.” Long hit Drake Freeman down the middle.  Camilletti’s crushing block allowed Freeman to go 75-yards for the score. Pius X went into halftime leading 28-6.

The Royals opened up their lead in the third quarter. AJ Long threw two more touchdown passes. He connected on a 20-yard strike to Ross and a 50-yard bomb to Freeman.

Williams Valley got their second score of the game when quarterback Mason Shomper hit Jack Birchfield for a 12-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion made it 42-14 Pius X with 44:3 seconds left in the third quarter.

Abu Shaw had two big sacks late in the fourth quarter and recovered a fumble ending Williams Valley drives. Pius X ran out the clock.

AJ Long finished the game completing 10 of 13 for 314 yards and four touchdowns. He added 102 yards on 11 carries and one score.

Ross and Dalessandro added one score and Freeman caught two touchdown passes. “They are a great group of guys. I know I can count on them to make a play and if I throw it up they will get it”, said Long.

Williams Valley was led by Logan Fetterhoff 120 yards rushing and Trevor Whelski 97 yards.

Up next for Pius X is the winner of the Minersville vs. Shenandoah Valley game Saturday night. The Royals are one win away from winning a District 11 Class A title since 2004. Last year they lost to Schuylkill Haven in the title game 37-14.

“We have been in this position the last two years and now we are here again”, said Phil Stambaugh. “I told the kids that we wouldn’t accept second place and I’m not settling for anything less than a gold metal.”

stats provided by Dean Beers of D11football.com