THE ST. PIUS X GOLDEN LIONS TRAVELED TO ROME, GA TO TAKE ON THE ROME WOLVES IN THE SECOND ROUND OF THE STATE PLAYOFFS. THE GOLDEN LIONS PLAYED WITH GREAT HEART, DESIRE, AND DETERMINATION BUT CAME UP SHORT 14-10. ST. PIUS X BROUGHT ANOTHER TREMENDOUS CROWD!!! ROME STARTED THE GAME WITH AN 80 YARD TD RUN, BUT AFTER THAT THE GOLDEN LIONS KEPT THE EXPLOSIVE ROME OFFENSE OUT OF THE ENDZONE FORCING TWO BIG TURNOVERS DEEP IN GOLDEN LION TERRITORY-ONE BY PG STANDARD AND ONE BY SENIOR PATRICK NILAN. THE DEFENSE WAS LED BY SR. LB GREG FOSTER (16 TACKLES, 1 FOR LOSS), SOPHOMORE ROBERT LUCISANO (10 TACKLES, 1 FUM RECOVERY), JR. MATT PIERCE (5 TACKLES, 1 PASS BREAK UP), SR DE KYLE CLELAND (9 TACKLES), JR. DT JAMIE SLAUGHTER (8 TACKLES, 1 FOR LOSS), SR. DB CHRIS PHILPOTT (7 TACKLES, 1 PASS BREAK UP, 1 FORCED FUMBLE, 1 RECOVERED FUMBLE), JR. LB DAVID HAMBRICK (9 TACKLES, 1 FOR LOSS, AND 1 SACK), SR. DB JACK PENDERGAST (7 TACKLES). THE OFFENSE WAS LED BY JR. QB PG STANDARD (43 YARDS RUSHING AND 100 YARDS PASSING-1 TD), JR. TB JONATHAN CARTER (71 YARDS RUSHING ON 17 CARRIES), SR. RECEIVER JACK PENDERGAST 3 RECEPTIONS FOR 59 YARDS AND 1 TD, SR. RECEIVER MACKEY RAWLS WITH 2 RECEPTIONS FOR 17 YARDS. THIS WAS THE LAST GAME FOR THE SENIOR CLASS OF 2008-THEY HAVE THE BEST RECORD OVER TWO YEARS (19-7) SINCE THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 1969 (22-2)! WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR SENIORS WHO HAVE LED THIS TEAM THROUGH MUCH ADVERSITY THIS YEAR IN TERMS OF INJURIES. WHEN THEIR BACKS WERE AGAINST THE WALL THEY WON THREE STRAIGHT “MUST-WIN” GAMES (SWD, MAYS, AND MILLER GROVE) TO GET INTO THE PLAYOFFS, AND BOUNCED BACK AFTER THE MARIST LOSS TO DEFEAT SALEM HIGH (#1 RANKED TEAM FROM 8-AAAA) IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE STATE PLAYOFFS. THEY HAVE CERTAINLY “CONTINUED THE TRADITION” OF FOOTBALL EXCELLENCE OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS AT PI-HI! WE SALUTE OUR SENIORS OF 2008!

THE ST. PIUS X GOLDEN LIONS TRAVELED TO CONYERS, GA TO TAKE ON THE SALEM SEMINOLES IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE STATE PLAYOFFS. ONCE AGAIN THE YOUNG MEN WEARING THE GOLDEN HELMETS BOUNCED BACK FROM AN EMOTIONAL DEFEAT AND WON THE FIRST PLAYOFF GAME IN CONVINCING STYLE 24-0 IN FRONT OF ANOTHER TREMENDOUS GOLDEN LION CROWD!!! WOW! WHAT A TOTAL TEAM EFFORT IT WAS AS THE GOLDEN LIONS DEFEATED THE #1 RANKED TEAM FROM REGION 8-AAAA. SALEM HAD BEEN AVERAGING 27 POINTS PER GAME AND ONLY GIVING UP 9 POINTS A GAME. THE STORY OF THE NIGHT WAS THE DEFENSE THAT KEPT THE EXPLOSIVE SEMINOLE OFFENSE OUT OF THE END ZONE AND THE OFFENSIVE LINE-“THE HAWGS” TAKING OVER THE GAME IN THE SECOND HALF. CATES. ST. PIUS HELD THE VAUNTED MARIST WISHBONE OFFENSE TO 199 YARDS RUSHING AS THE DEFENSE PLAYED WITH TREMENDOUS HEART AND INTENSITY. THE DEFENSIVE EFFORT WAS LED BY SENIOR GREG FOSTER (8 TACKLES), SENIOR PATRICK NILAN (6 TACKLES), SOPHOMORE ROBERT LUCISANO (11 TACKLES-ONE FOR LOSS), SOPHOMORE ANDREW BUTLER (5 TACKLES, 1 FOR LOSS, 1 FORCED FUMBLE AND 1 RECOVERED FUMBLE), JUNIOR DAVID HAMBRICK (6 TACKLES), SENIOR KYLE CLELAND (8 TACKLES, 1 PASS BREAK UP AND 1 FUMBLE RECOVERY). THE DEFENSIVE LINE WAS LED BY SENIOR JAVOD SEWELL AND JUNIOR JAMIE SLAUGHTER (7 TACKLES AND 3 TACKLES RESPECTIVELY). SLAUGHTER ALSO CAUSED TWO FUMBLES. JUNIOR CORNER MATT PIERCE ADDED 4 TACKLES AND TWO PASS BREAK UPS. THE GOLDEN LION OFFENSE CONTROLLED THE BALL ALL NIGHT WHICH INCLUDED 29+ MINUTES OF POSSESSION, 57 TOTAL PLAYS, AND NO TURNOVERS. THE OFFENSE HAD A TOTAL 259 YARDS (204 RUSHING AND 55 YARDS PASSING). AGAIN THE OFFENSIVE LINE (KENT CLEVELAND, WILSON FISH, KEVIN HATTER, MATT SIMZIK, RICHARD TAYLOR, JEREMY SORRENTION, AND JACK STORRS) CONTROLLED A VERY LARGE AND AGGRESSIVE SEMINOLE DEFENSE. THE OFFENSE WAS LED BY JUNIOOR TAILBACK J.C. CARTER (15 CARRIES FOR 64 YARDS), SOPHOMORE COLE MOON (20 CARRIES FOR 80 YARDS AND 3 TOUCHDOWNS), JUNIOR PG STANDARD (16 CARRIES FOR 52 YARDS). STANDARD WAS 3 OUT OF 5 PASSING FOR 55 YARDS. COLE MOON HAD TWO RECEPTIONS FOR 48 YARDS, AND TE JEREMY SORRENTINO HAD ONE CATCH FOR 7 YARDS.

THE GOLDEN LIONS WILL TRAVEL TO ROME TO TAKE ON THE ROME WOLVES IN ROUND #2 OF THE STATE PLAYOFFS. KICK-OFF IS SET FOR 8:00 PM

THE ST. PIUS X GOLDEN LIONS TRAVELED TO MARIST FRIDAY NIGHT TO RENEW THE “FISH BOWL” RIVALRY. THE GOLDEN LIONS WERE DEFEATED 21-7 IN A GAME THAT WAS MUCH CLOSER THAN THE SCORE INDICATES. ST. PIUS HELD THE VAUNTED MARIST WISHBONE OFFENSE TO 199 YARDS RUSHING AS THE DEFENSE PLAYED WITH TREMENDOUS HEART AND INTENSITY. THE GOLDEN LION OFFENSE STRUGGLED AT TIMES AS THEY LOST THEIR SENIOR QB-DYLAN KNIGHT TO A SHOULDER INJURY. KNIGHT WAS REPLACED BY JR. P.G. STANDARD IN THE FIRST QUARTER THE DEFENSIVE EFFORT WAS LED BY SENIOR GREG FOSTER (14 TACKLES), SENIOR PATRICK NILAN (7 TACKLES), SOPHOMORE ANDREW BUTLER-STARTING HIS FIRST VARSITY GAME AT DEFENSIVE END (7 TACKLES), JUNIOR P.G. STANDARD (6 TACKLES), SENIOR KYLE CLELAND (5 TACKLES, 1 QB HURRY). THE DEFENSIVE LINE WAS LED BY SENIOR JAVOD SEWELL AND JUNIOR JAMIE SLAUGHTER (6 TACKLES AND 4 TACKLES RESPECTIVELY). JUNIOR CORNER MATT PIERCE ADDED 6 TACKLES, SENIOR LB MICHAEL KOLSHAK RECORDED 6 TACKLES AND JR. LB DAVID HAMBRICK ADDED 5 TACKLES. THE GOLDEN LION OFFENSE INCLUDED 33 YARDS RUSHING BY COLE MOON, 36 YARDS BY JONATHAN CARTER. PG STANDARD WENT 10 FOR 17 PASSING FOR 168 YARDS AND ONE TD TO SR JACK PENDERGAST. PENDERGAST HAD 3 RECEPTIONS FOR 41 YARDS, SR TE JEREMY SORRENTINO HAD 2 RECEPTIONS FOR 73 YARDS (ONE FOR 65 YARDS), AND COLE MOON HAD TWO CATCHES FOR 24 YARDS.

THE GOLDEN LIONS WILL TRAVEL TO ROCKDALE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL TO PLAY THE SALEM SEMINOLES FRIDAY NIGHT AT 7:30 PM AT REID STADIUM IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE STATE PLAYOFFS.

THE GOLDEN LIONS HOSTED THE MILLER GROVE WOLVERINES FOR THE 50 TH SENIOR NIGHT AT ST. PIUS X. THE GOLDEN LIONS CAME AWAY WITH A HARD FOUGHT 25-20 VICTORY! THE GAME WAS NOT DECIDED UNTIL THE FINAL MINUTES WHEN THE GOLDEN LION DEFENSE HELD MILLER GROVE ON DOWNS WITH 1:20 LEFT IN THE GAME! THE GAME WAS AN OFFENSIVE SHOOTOUT AS BOTH TEAMS COMBINED FOR 935 YARDS-MILLER GROVE MAINLY THROUGHT THE AIR AND ST. PIUS X ON THE GROUND. THE GOLDEN LION DEFENSE WAS LED BY SENIOR DT JAVOD SEWELL WITH 12 TACKLES, SENIOR LB GREG FOSTER (9 TACKLES AND 1 QB HURRY), JR DB MATT PIERCE (8 TACKLES), SENIOR SAFETY PATRICK NILAN (8 TACKLES AND 1 PASS BREAK UP), SOPHOMORE LB ROBERT LUCISANO (8 TACKLES), SR DB/REC JACK PENDERGAST (6 TACKLES, AND 1 INTERCEPTION). THE OFFENSE WAS LED BY THE OFFENSIVE LINE THAT PAVED THE WAY FOR 431 RUSHING YARDS. TOP RUNNERS WERE JUNIOR TB JC CARTER (14 CARRIES FOR 144 YARDS AND 1 TD), SOPHOMORE FB COLE MOON (26 CARRIES FOR 185 YARDS AND 1 TD), AND THE LEADER OF THE OFFENSE-SENIOR QB DYLAN KNIGHT (13 CARRIES FOR 103 YARDS AND 1 TD). JC CARTER HAD 2 RECEPTIONS FOR 18 YARDS AND PG STANDARD HAD 1 RECEPTION FOR 9 YARDS. BUT THE STORY OF THE NIGHT WERE THE “HAWGS!” WHO BLOCKED A VERY ATHLETIC MILLER GROVE DEFENSE WELL ALL NIGHT! THE HAWGS (KENT CLEVELAND, JONATHAN ROBERTS, WILSON FISH, KEVIN HATTER, MATT SIMZIK, RICHARD TAYLOR, JEREMY SORRENTINO, AND JACK STORRS) OPENED UP HOLES ALL NIGHT LONG! NEXT WEEK THE GOLDEN LIONS WILL TRAVEL TO MARIST IN THE FINAL REGULAR SEASON GAME TO DETERMINE WHO WILL BE THE #2 SEED FROM REGION 6-AAAA.

THE ST. PIUS X GOLDEN LIONS TRAVELED TO LAKEWOOD STADIUM FRIDAY AFTERNOON IN A “MUST WIN” SITUATION TO TAKE ON THE MAYS RAIDERS. WHAT TRANSPIRED OVER THE NEXT 2 ½ HOURS WAS AN OUTSTANDING DIPLAY OF “GOLDEN LION FOOTBALL TRADITION” AS THE GOLDEN LIONS PLAYED INSPIRED IN EVERY PHASE OF THE GAME AND CAME AWAY WITH A 17-7 VICTORY OVER THE #8 RANKED MASYS TEAM. THE GREAT DEFENSIVE EFFORT WAS LED BY SENIOR GREG FOSTER (10 TACKLES), JUNIOR PG STANDARD (9 TACKLES, 2 FOR LOSS, 2 PASS BREAK UPS AND ONE FUMBLE RECOVERY), SENIOR JONATHAN ROBERTS (8 TACKLES, 1 SACK, 1 QB HURRY, SENIOR PATRICK NILAN WHO PLAYED BANGED UP THIS WEEK (7 TACKLES AND 1 PASS BREAK UP), SOPHOMORE ROBERT LUCISANO (7 TACKLES AND 1 QB HURRY), SENIOR KYLE CLELAND (7 TACKLES, 1 FOR LOSS AND 1 FUMBLE RECOVERY). THE DEFENSIVE LINE LED BY SENIOR JAVOD SEWELL AND JUNIOR JAMIE SLAUGHTER (7 TACKLES AND 4 TACKLES RESPECTIVELY) KEPT THE MAYS OFFENSIVE LILNE FROM GETTING TO THE LB’S ALL NIGHT AND HELD MAYS RUSHING ATTACKE TO 84 TOTAL YARDS RUSHING. JUNIOR LB DAVID HAMBRICK ADDED 5 TACKLES, AND JUNIOR CORNER MATT PIERCE HAD 3 SOLO TACKLES, 1 FORCED FUMBLE, 1 INTERCEPTION, AND 1 PASS BREAK UP. THE OFFENSE WHO HAD A TREMENDOUS CHALLENGE AGAINST A MAYS DEFENSE THAT WAS ONLY ALLLOWING 6.9 POINTS PER GAME. MAYS HAS A TREMENDOUS DEFENSIVE FRONT THAT HAS HELD THE ENTRIE REGION IN CHECK THIS YEAR. THE GOLDEN LIONS WERE ONCE AGAIN LED BY THE OFFENSIVE LINE “THE HOGS” ALLOWED THE GOLDEN LIONS TO RUSH FOR 179 YARDS: SOPHOMORE COLE MOON 17 CARRIES FOR 91 YARDS, JUNIOR J.C. CARTER 12 CARRIES FOR 42 YARDS, SENIOR QB DYLAN KNIGHT 7 CARRIES FOR 10 YARDS AND 1 TD, AND SENIOR GREG FOSTER PRESSED INTO SERVICE DUE TO AN INJURY CARRIED 6 TIMES FOR 36 YARDS AND 1 TD.

SENIOR DYLYAN KNIGHT COMPLETED 5 OUT OF 6 PASSES FOR 47 YARDS. SENIOR JACK PENDERGAST HAD 3 RECEPTIONS FOR 40 YARDS, AND SENIOR MACKEY RAWLSHAD ONE RECEPTION FOR 12 YARDS. SENIOR KICKER CHRIS PHILPOTT PLAYED A HUGE ROLE FRIDAY NIGHT-2 FOR 2 PAT’S, 1 FOR 2 FG ATTEMPTS- A 49 YARD FIELD GOAL AS THE SECOND QUARTER EXPIRED TO GIVE ST. PIUS X A 10-7 LEAD. PHILPOTT ALSO PUNTED THREE TIMES IN THE SECOND HALF TO KEEP MAYS BACKED UP ALL NIGHT.

THE SOUTHWEST DEKLAB PANTHERS TRAVELED TO GEORGE B. MALOOF STADIUM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN COACH BUCK GODFREY’S 25 YEARS AT THE HELM TO MEET THE GOLDEN LIONS. ST. PIUS CAME AWAY WITH A 25-7 VICTORY. THIS GAME WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO ST. PIUS AS THEY LOOK TO CONTINUE THEIR QUEST FOR ANOTHER PLAYOFF BERTH. ST. PIUS CURRENTLY HOLDS THE FINAL PLAYOFF SPOT, BUT HAS THREE VERY TOUGH OPPONENTS AHEAD (MAYS, MILLER GROVE, AND MARIST). THE GOLDEN LION DEFENSE PLAYED WITH GREAT EMOTION AND INTENSTITY IN THE FIRST HALF LIMITING SWD TO 101 YARDS OF OFFENSE. THE DEFENSE WAS LED BY SENIOR GREG FOSTER (14 TACKLES), SENIOR JONATHAN ROBERTS (7 TACKLES), JUNIOR PG STANDARD (7 TACKLES ONE FOR LOSS), JUNIOR JAMIE SLAUGHTER (6 TACKLES), SENIOR JAVOD SEWELL (6 TACKLES), JUNIOR DAVID HAMBRICK (6 TACKLES, 1 FOR LOSS, AND 2 SACKS), AND SENIOR CHRIS PHILPOTT (2 TACKLES AND 1 INTERCEPTION IN THE END ZONE). THE GOLDEN LION OFFENSE LED BY SENIOR QB DYLAN KNIGHT RUSHED FOR 201 YARDS THANKS TO THE PLAY OF THE OFFENSIVE LINE (THE “HOGS”!). KNIGHT RUSHED FOR 31 YARDS AND COMPLETED 4 OF 10 PASSES FOR 42 YARDS. SOPHOMORE COLE MOON RUSHED 17 TIMES FOR 98 YARDS AND 2 TD’S, HE ALSO HAD 1 RECEPTION FOR 8 YARDS. JUNIOR JONATHAN CARTER RUSHED 9 TIMES FOR 50 YARDS. SENIOR JACK PENDERGAST HAD TWO RECEPTIONS FOR 25 YARDS, SENIOR MACKEY RAWLS HAD ONE RECEPTION FOR 9 YARDS. THE GOLDEN LIONS SET THE TONE EARLY IN THE GAME WITH GREAT DEFENSE AND SPECIAL TEAMS PLAY AND BUILT A 19-0 HALFTIME LEAD. SENIOR CHRIS PHILPOTT KICKED A CAREER GAME HIGH 3 FIELD GOALS (46, 32, AND 34 YARDS). HE ALSO KICKED ALL 6 KICK-OFFS EITHER IN OUR OUT OF THE ENDZONE. THE GOLDEN LIONS WILL TRAVEL TO LAKEWOOD STADIUM TO TAKE ON CURRENTLY 2 ND PLACE MAYS RAIDERS IN AN IMPORTANT REGION 6-AAAA GAME FRIDAY OCTOBER 26.

THE ST. PIUS X GOLDEN LIONS LOST A HEARTBREAKER SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT HALLFORD STADIUM 17-20. THE GOLDEN LIONS PLAYED WITH A LOT OF HEART AND INTENSITY AGAINST A VERY ATHLETIC CEDAR GROVE TEAM, BUT CAME UP SHORT IN THE FINAL SCORE. THE OFFENSE WAS LED BY THE OFFENSIVE LINE (KENT CLEVELAND, WILSON FISH, KEVIN HATTER, JONATHAN ROBERTS, MATT SIMZIK, RICHARD TAYLOR, AND JEREMY SORRENTINO) WHICH BLOCKED WELL ALL AFTERNOON ALLOWING FULLBACK COLE MOON TO RUSH FOR 128 YARDS ON 22 CARRIES, J.C. CARTER 80 YARDS ON 9 CARRIES, AND QUARTERBACK DYLAN KNIGHT 22 YARDS ON 12 CARRIES. KNIGHT WAS ALSO 2-2 PASSING FOR 22 YARDS. THE DEFENSE WAS LED BY GREG FOSTER (15 TACKLES), PATRICK NILAN (12 TACKLES), JAVOD SEWELL (10 TACKLES), MATT PIERCE (5 TACKLES AND 3 PASS BREAK UPS AND 1 INTERCEPTION AND 1 CAUSED FUMBLE), AND ROBERT LUCISANO (9 TACKLES AND 1 PASS BREAK UP).

THE GOLDEN LIONS WILL HOST SOUTHWEST DEKALB THIS FRIDAY NIGHT AT GEORGE B. MALOOF STADIUM AT 7:30 PM.

THE GOLDEN LIONS HOSTED THE WASHINGTON BULLDOGS FOR THE 50 TH HOMECOMING GAME AT ST. PIUS X. THE GOLDEN LIONS OVERCAME SEVERAL TURNOVERS AND PENALTIES AND FOUND A WAY TO WIN A HUGE REGION VICTORY. THE GAME WAS NOT DECIDED UNTIL THE FINAL MINUTE WHEN JUNIOR DEFENSIVE BACK MATT PIERCE INTERCEPTED A PASS AND SENIOR KICKER CHRIS PHILPOTT KICKED A 36 YARD FIELD GOAL AS TIME EXPIRED TO GIVE THE GOLDEN LIONS A 17-14 VICTORY. THE GOLDEN LION DEFENSE PLAYED WITH GREAT INTENSITY AND EMOTION AS THEY HELD A VERY ATHLETIC WASHINGTON OFFENSE TO A TOTAL OF 143 YARDS (106 RUSHING AND 37 PASSING) AND ONLY ONE TOUCHDOWN. THE DEFENSE WAS LED BY SENIOR LB GREG FOSTER WITH 10 TACKLES (1 FOR LOSS AND 1 CAUSED FUMBLE), SOPHOMORE LB ROBERT LUCISANO 10 TACKLES (1 FOR LOSS AND 1 CAUSED FUMBLE), SENIOR DEFENSIVE LINEMAN JAVOD SEWELL 8 TACKLES (1 FOR LOSS), JUNIOR DB MATT PIERCE HAD 2 TACKLES AND 1 PASS BREAK UP AND ONE INTERCEPTION. JUNIOR SAFETY PG STANDARD ADDED 5 TACKLES AND TWO FUMBLE RECOVERIES. THE OFFENSE WAS LED BY JUNIOR TB JC CARTER (14 CARRIES FOR 66 YARDS), SOPHOMORE FB COLE MOON (15 CARRIES FOR 55 YARDS AND 1 TD). THE LEADER OF THE OFFENSE-SENIOR QB DYLAN KNIGHT WHO PLAYED WELL AGAINST A VERY FAST DEFENSE ADDED 37 YARDS ON 19 CARRIES AND WAS 6 FOR 9 FOR 92 YARDS PASSING. THE RECEIVING CORPS HAD ITS BEST NIGHT TO DATE WITH PIERCE (1 RECEPTION FOR 28 YARDS), SENIOR JACK PENDERGAST (2 RECEPTIONS FOR 24 YARDS) AND COLE MOON ADDED 20 YARDS ON 2 RECEPTIONS. THE GOLDEN LIONS HAVE NEXT WEEK OFF AND WILL RESUME REGION PLAY WHEN THEY TRAVEL TO HALLFORD STADIUM ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 13 TO PLAY THE CEDAR GROVE SAINTS IN ANOTHER REGION 6-AAAA GAME.

ST. PIUS X WAS DEFEATED BY AN OUTSTANDING TUCKER TIGER TEAM 35-0. TUCKER’S TEAM SPEED AND BIG PLAYS GAVE THE GOLDEN LIONS THEIR FIRST LOSS OF THE SEASON. ST. PIUS WAS LED ON DEFENSE BY SENIOR LINEBACKER GREG FOSTER WITH 9 TACKLES, SOPHOMORE LINEBACKER ROBERT LUCISANO WITH 6 TACKLES, SENIOR LB MICHAEL KOLSHAK WITH 8 TACKLES. THERE WAS NOT TOO MUCH OFFENSE FOR THE GOLDEN LIONS BEING SHUTOUT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE 2005 SEASON. SOPHOMORE FB COLE MOON LED ALL RUSHERS WITH 15 CARRIES FOR 44 YARDS, SENIOR QB DYLAN KNIGHT WENT 6 FOR 12 PASSING FOR 60 YARDS AND 1 INTERCEPTION. THE GOLDEN LIONS WILL LOOK TO REBOUND NEXT WEEK AS THEY WILL HOST THE WASHINGTON HIGH BULLDOGS FOR THE 50 TH HOMECOMING GAME FOR ST. PIUS X!

ST. PIUS X EXTENDED THEIR WINNING STREAK TO THREE GAMES WITH A 37-14 VICTORY OVER THE VISITING COLUMBIA EAGLES ON PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS NIGHT. THE GOLDEN LIONS PLAYED WELL DEFENSIVELY HOLDING THE EAGLES POTENT RUSHING ATTACK TO 137 YARDS. THE DEFENSE WAS LED BY RST DOWNS AND KEPT THEIR SPEED IN CHECK MOST OF THE NIGHT. THE LIONS WERE LED ON DEFENSE BY SOPHOMORE LB ROBERT LUCISANO WITH 14 TACKLES (4 SOLO/10 ASSISTS) AND 1 CAUSED FUMBLE, SENIOR STRONG SAFETY PATRICK NILAN (9 TACKLES), SENIOR DE/OG JONATHAN ROBERTS (6 TACKLES AND 1 SACK). JUNIOR DT JAMIE SLAUGHTER ADDED (9 TACKLES), JUNIOR LB DAVID HAMBRICK (8 TACKLES), JUNIOR NG PAX VESTAL (7 TACKLES). OFFENSIVELY THE GOLDEN LIONS WERE AGAIN LED BY THE OFFENSIVE LINE-“THE HOGS” LED A RUSHING ATTACK THAT NETTED 266 YARDS. SENIOR DYLAN KNIGHT HAD 11 CARRIES FOR 105 YARDS AND 1 TD, SOPHOMORE FB COLE MOON HAD 21 CARRIES FOR 98 YARDS AND 2 TD’S, JUNIOR TB JONATHAN CARTER ADDED 42 YARDS ON 10 CARRIES AND 1 TD. SENIOR JACK PENDERGAST HAD THE ONE RECEPTION FOR 13 YARDS. THE GOLDEN LIONS TURNED THE GAME AROUND AT THE END OF THE 2 ND QUARTER WITH A BIG SPECIAL TEAMS PLAY-CAUSING A BAD SNAP AND RECOVERY OF A PUNT ATTEMPT GAVE THE LIONS THE BALL ON THE COLUMBIA 20 YARD LINE WITH 26 SECONDS REMAING. KNIGHT HIT PENDERGAST FOR 13 YARDS AND FB COLE MOON SCORED ON A 7 YARD DRAW PLAY AS THE HALF ENDED EXTENDING THE SCORE TO 16-8. SENIOR KICKER CHRIS PHILPOTT HAD A GREAT NIGHT KICKING-ONE 51 YARD FG, 5 FOR 5 ON PAT’S, AND KICKED ALL 7 KICK-OFFS WELL INTO THE BACK OF THE ENDZONE. HE ALSO ADDED 4 TACKLES ON DEFENSE. THE RECEIVING CORPS (PENDERGAST, MATT PIERCE, RAUL ALFONSO, ZACH RETHERFORD, AND MACKEY RAWLS) HAD A GREAT NIGHT BLOCKING DOWNFIELD WHICH SPRANG THE GOLDEN LION RUNNERS FOR BIG GAINS! THIS FRIDAY ST. PIUS WILL TRAVEL TO ADAMS STADIUM TO FACE THE #4 RANKED TUCKER TIGERS. BOTH TEAMS ARE 3-0 IN REGION 6-AAAA.

ST. PIUS X STARTED THE 2007 SEASON AGAINST NORTH SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL. THE GOLDEN LIONS WON 55-0 OVER THE SPARTANS. ST. PIUS PLAYED WELL DEFENSIVELY HOLDING THE SPARTANS TO 5 FIRST DOWNS AND KEPT THEIR SPEED IN CHECK MOST OF THE NIGHT. THE LIONS WERE LED ON DEFENSE BY MICHAEL KOLSHAK (7 TACKLES), KYLE CLELAND (5 TACKLES), PATRICK NILAN (5 TACKLES). THE LIONS BLOCKED TWO PUNTS IN THE FIRST QUARTER THAT RESULTED IN TOUCHDOWNS-SOPHOMORE LB/FB COLE MOON BLOCKED THE 1ST PUNT THAT SOPHOMORE MLB ROBERT LUCISANO SCOOPED AND RETURNED 22 YARDS FOR A TD, SENIOR LB/FB GREG FOSTER BLOCKED THE 2ND PUNT AND RETURNED IT 12 YARDS FOR THE SECOND TD OF THE GAME. THE GOLDEN LIONS ALSO INTERCEPTED 2 PASSES-SR. CHRIS PHILPOTT RETURNED HIS INTERCEPTION 25 YARDS FOR A TD, AND SR. JACK PENDERGAST ALSO ADDED AN INTERCEPTION. OFFENSIVELY THE LIONS WERE A LITTLE RUSTY COMMITTING 5 PENALTIES FOR 34 YARDS AND HAD 1 FUMBLE AND 1 INTERCEPTION. LED BY QB DYLAN KNIGHT (20YARDS RUSHING 2 FOR 5 PASSING FOR 64 YARDS AND 1 TD) THE GOLDEN LIONS DROVE 29 YARDS IN 7 PLAYS TO SCORE THE FIRST OFFENSIVE TD MAKING THE SCORE 21-0, LEADING RUSHER FOR THE GOLDEN LIONS WAS SR. WB ZACK KLINGER (38 YARDS ON 4 CARRIES), COLE MOON (26 YARDS RUSHING ON 5 CARRIES). JACK PENDERGAST SCORED THE 4TH TD ON A 43 PASS RECEPTION TO MAKE THE SCORE 28-0. IN THE 2ND HALF JR. TB J.C. CARTER TOOK THE KICK-OFF 84 YARDS FOR A TD. ZACK KLINGER AND JR. RESERVE FB CHRISTIAN WASHINGTON SCORED THE FINAL TWO OFFENSIVE TD’S. THE LIONS WILL TRAVEL TO ADAMS STADIUM TO MEET THE STONE MOUNTAIN PIRATES FOR THEIR SECOND GAME FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 7 AT 8:00 PM.