Traditionally, the Royals have always given teams fits with their spread offensive attack. That proved to be the case last year as Pius X ripped off eight consecutive victories and reached the District 11 A championship game opposite Schuylkill Haven with a unit that averaged 397.5 yards (237.7 pass, 159.8 rush) and 41 points per game, scoring 65 total offensive touchdowns (37 rushing, 28 passing).
One of the headliners, is rising sophomore field general A.J. Long, who has already generated interest from programs like Oklahoma, Alabama, Florida, Oregon, TCU, Pitt, West Virginia, Maryland, Miami (FL) and Nebraska, among others. Long threw for 2,852 yards and 28 touchdowns as a freshman, and both totals are believed to be state records for a 9th-grader at the varsity level. Long’s four top returning targets, DuBois Ross, Matt Camilleti (the top career receiver at Pius X), Joey Dalessandro and Anthony Martino, combined for 114 receptions, 1,648 yards and 16 touchdowns. Ross and Camilleti are potential Division-1 prospects.
Pius X’ ground game, featuring its four top returning rushers, Long, Ross, Dashon Russell and Nick DeRea, combined for 287 rushes, 1,690 yards and 33 touchdowns, so it’s not like the Royals will only be a passing team in 2011. Helping to pave the way for this high-flying attack are five returning starters: Zeke Cinelli, Steve Juarbe, Nico Goffredo, Matt Gist and Kyle Kokawski.
Defensively, Pius did give up its share of points last year (320, 26.7 points per game), but players like Ross, Russell, Dalessandro, DeRea, Goffredo, Pat Douglas, Shaquone Williams and Sam Bacon all made notable impacts on that side of the ball for the Royals last year.
