The high school football season kicked off in DeKalb last Friday and one of the biggest games of the evening featured two rivals that represent the change that has ushered in the 2008 season. Across the state, big-name coaches have either retired or changed schools, and reclassification and region realignment has teams trying to get used to new rivals. In the Fish Bowl (as the Marist vs. St. Pius game is referred to), the old rivalry is as intense as ever. The result was unusual, however, as St. Pius prevailed 21-10. “I’m really happy,” said Golden Eagles quarterback P.G. Standard. “It feels good. I hope we can make it a normal thing year-in and year-out.”
In Marist head coach Alan Chadwick’s first 23 games of the series, the only time the Golden Lions played within single digits of the War Eagles was the 2003 20-17 St. Pius victory, their last win in the matchup before last Friday.
“Our last couple of teams played their hearts out, we just didn’t win,” said head coach Paul Standard. “This win was for them and for our school community.”
“I’ve been playing in this program since sixth grade and I’ve never beaten them,” said running back Cole Moon. “It’s one of the best feelings I’ve ever felt in my life.”
Moon finished the game with 120 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries.
NEW BEGINNINGS
This Marist team experienced what few War Eagle teams have against St. Pius. “We got outplayed, we got outcoached, we got out-physicalled,” Chadwick said. “We played scared, we played young, which we are, we played soft, and I thought that was the difference in the ballgame.”
After trailing 21-7 at halftime, the War Eagles played better in the second half, outgaining St. Pius in yardage 122-74. The War Eagles, however, had to settle for a field goal on a crucial possession after a penalty took a touchdown off the board.
“That could have been a big momentum builder for us,” Chadwick said. “We played better, but we’ve still got to make plays”
Both teams have new-look regions, as St. Pius moves from being neighbors with the War Eagles in Region 6-AAAA and drops to Region 5-AAA. That does not mean they will have an easier time, however. “There are no easy teams in the region we’re in and we’re going to have to be ready every week,” Paul Standard said.
Marist’s region will have a different makeup, with some good teams like St. Pius leaving, but he knows that it is still tough.
“Five or six teams [are good enough] to make it to the playoffs,” Chadwick said. “So some good teams will be left out.”
Much has been made about Marist being youthful this season, and Paul Standard does not see his squad as a veteran one either.
“We’re real young. […] we’ve got a lot of inexperienced guys. But I’ll tell you one thing, they grew up tonight.”
It will be interesting to see how much growing both teams do over the course of the season.
Butler can be reached at jbutler@scoreatl.com.
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