ROSETO – The field general AJ Long led the way rushing for 112 yards and three touchdowns. Long completed 13 of 20 passes for 265 yards and two scores to lead Pius X over Marian Catholic 45-13 Saturday afternoon at Amelio Scott Alumni Stadium.
It was Pius X’s defense that set the tone. They stopped Marian Catholic on their opening drive. Pius X’s Boise Ross took the punt and returned it to the Colts 32 yard line. AJ Long only needed one play to find the end zone. He took the snap and went right down the sideline for the score. Pius X led 6-0 after the missed extra point.
The Colts drove deep in Pius X territory to only come up empty. Ross intercepted the ball in the end zone to end the drive. Off the turnover, Pius X drove 90 yards. Petey Hernandez finished off the drive plowing his way into the end zone for the two-yard score. The two-point conversion was no good and with 10:14 remaining in the first half Pius X led 12-0.
Another turnover by the Colts with 8:08 remaining in the half gave Pius X good field position. Three plays later Long went 14-yard for a score. Long’s pass to Matt Camilletti for the two-point conversion increased their lead to 20-0.
The Royals used a balanced running and passing attack to keep the Colts’ defense on their heels. With 1:44 remaining in the first half, Long weaved his way through the defense for the 26-yard run. Pius X increased their lead, 26-0. AJ Long said, “We wanted to come out and have a physical presence. We ran the ball efficiently in the first half and it opened up the pass in the second half.”
The first half came to an end on a Hernandez interception. The Royals dominated the first half running the ball and on defense forced three turnovers. They went into halftime with a commanding 26-0 lead.
Head coach Phil Stambaugh talked about AJ Long’s first half, ”AJ did a excellent job today and I made a comment to him about the first half. I said the reason the score is the way it is is because you are playing to that level. He did a lot of nice things with his feet and throwing the ball.”
In the second half Pius X started where they left off, driving right down the field. Long threw a 27-yard dart to Camilletti for the score.
Long’s pass to Camilletti two-plays earlier broke the all-time receiving record. Camilletti now holds the all-time receiving mark. He broke Wade Williams record of 2,026 yards. He also holds the school record 136 catches going into the game.
Long threw his second touchdown pass in the third quarter. His 36-yard pass to Anthony Martino put Pius X up 39-0.
Marian Catholic finally got on the scoreboard with four seconds remaining in the third quarter. They put together a ten-play drive as the offensive line pushed Paul Martin into the end zone from five-yards out. The Colts trailed Pius X, 39-6.
The fourth quarter saw both teams scoring; Boise Ross of Pius X took the pitch made one cut and took off for a 53-yard run.
Pius X put in their second team defense. It took one play for Anthony Agosti to find the end zone for the Colts.
Pius X finished with a balanced attack. They passed for 267 yards and rushed for 311 yards.
Matt Camilletti finished the game catching five passes for 116 yards and a score. He now has 2,103 yards receiving in his career.
Camilletti talked about how important it was to break the record at home, “It definitetly was, growing up here my parents went to Pius. My grandparents live here and my sisters went here. I always came here as a little kid and watched Pius games and for me it’s a dream come true.”
NOTE: Ace Long of Pius X and Brendan McGowan of Marian Catholic where named MVP’s of the game.
