On a rather chilly Friday night, the Pius X Royals came into Veteran’s Memorial Stadium and rushed the ball effectively.
The Royals offense was explosive all night, dancing around Green Wave defenders. The speed of the Royals was too much to handle,as they ended the Wave’s three-game winning streak with a 55-21 All-American Conference victory.
The Royals rushed the ball 22 times for 260 yards as senior tailback Dashon Russel carried seven times for a 152 yards and three scores, one of which came through the air.
Nativity rushed for 88 yards as freshman quarterback Dan Lozada carried the ball 13 times for 28 yards.
The Green Wave (4-4, 2-1 AAFC) started off sluggish as the Royals scored on four of their first five drives. The Royals opened up a commanding 28-0 lead after one quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Nativity got on the board with a 4-yard Marcus Renninger run. Pius X added another score late in the second quarter, giving the Royals a 35-7 lead at halftime.
Early in the third quarter, Pius X junior wide receiver Eric Marbury caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Tre Jordan., giving the Royals a 42-7 lead. On the Wave’s ensuing possession, a 54-yard interception return by Eric Marbury gave the Royals an insurmountable 49-7 lead.
Midway through the fourth, Nativity senior Jeremy Hoban ran eight yards for a touchdown, and later in the quarter, senior wide receiver Kyle Kaledas caught a 32-yard strike from Lozada.
Pius X (4-4 2-0) notched a late score to make the final 55-21
Playoff hopes are not lost on Lawtons Hill, but a berth may be a difficult chorse. Eastern Conference hopes are still alive if the Green Wave can end the season on a high note.
Nativity ends the season with two away games. Next week they travel to Renovo to face fellow AAFC member Bucktail (2-6 1-1). Then the Green Wave travel out of state to play Hancock (Md.) for their final game of the regular season. A win in either contest could clinch that EC berth.
