8th-ranked St. Pius X too much for Colonels in playoff return
The Cass Colonels’ return to the state playoffs was short-lived Friday night with a 42-9 loss at eighth-ranked St. Pius X in DeKalb County.
Cass, making its first state playoff appearance in 15 years, moved the football into Golden Lions’ territory on each of its first three possessions and ultimately reached St. Pius territory on six of their eight possessions, but failed to finish drives in the loss.
The Lions got on the scoreboard first with a scoop-and-score. Jack Tchienchou picked up a Cass fumble and raced 58 yards to give St. Pius an early 7-0 lead.
The Colonels responded with a drive into the Lions’ red zone, but settled for a 32-yard field goal by Saul Villeda to cut the St. Pius lead to 7-3.
The Lions’ first offensive drive resulted in an unconventional touchdown. After the St. Pius triple-option attack methodically moved the ball down the field, quarterback Alex Possert fumbled near the goal line. The ball rolled into the end zone and was recovered by the Lions for a 14-3 lead.
St. Pius wasted a scoring opportunity just before the intermission. Close enough for a short field goal attempt, the Lions spiked the football on a fourth down play giving Cass a turnover on downs.
The teams went to halftime with St. Pius leading 14-3.
The second half belonged to the Lions.
Possert culminated a five minute drive with a 4-yard run then a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown lifted St. Pius to a 28-3 advantage.
Shug Bentley and Liam Whitlark added short touchdown runs to finish off two more St. Pius drives as the Lions stretched out their lead to 42-3.
Cass added a late score on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Devin Henderson to Tino Jones, but the extra point failed.
Henderson finished the game 8-for-18 passing for 77 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed for 72 yards on 11 carries.
St. Pius (9-2) advances to the second round and will host Creekside next Friday. The Seminoles topped Coffee 28-18 in the first round.
The Colonels season ends with a 5-6 mark.
