Pius X High School football team wins District 11 Class A championship

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES

After falling short of the gold for the past two years, Pius X can finally call itself District 11 Class A football champion.


The Royals scored five straight touchdowns in a 50-12 victory over Shenandoah Valley in the final today at Andrew Leh Stadium.

"It's a great feeling, and we have worked hard for this," coach Phil Stambaugh said. "I told the kids that there are not many things you work 365 days for and our kids put in the time for it, I put in the time for it and I am very proud of these guys and their effort today."

Pius X will play Calvary Christian in the first round of the state playoffs. The game is tentatively set for 1 p.m. Saturday at Salisbury High School.

Calvary Christian is coached by former Liberty High School, East Stroudsburg University and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Mike Reichenbach.

AJ Long rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns, Boise Ross added 110 yards and a touchdown and Nick DeRea scored twice. Ross also caught four passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns.

Long passed for 206 yards and broke the school record of 35 TD passes in a season. He currently has 37.

Pius scored first on a 52-yard pass from Long to Ross. Shenandoah Valley answered early in the second quarter with a 59-yard run by Eric Whalen.

Pius X then ran off five straight touchdowns to take control, beginning with a 2-yard run by DeRea, a senior.

Late in the second quarter, Long had a 34-yard run for a touchdown to put Pius X up 22-6 at the half.

Early in the third quarter, Pius X ran a reverse play to Ross, and the wide receiver went 44 yards for the score.

"I just wanted to be as active as I could be on the football field," Ross said. "It was a team effort out there and we all did it together."

Late in the third quarter, Long scored on a 60-yard run. That preceded a 59-yard touchdown pass from Long to Ross.

In the fourth quarter, Shenandoah Valley scored on a 20-yard pass from Chris Palibunsky to John Storm.

DeRea closed out the scoring for Pius with a 7-yard run.

"It means a lot knowing that we came back from last year losing to Schuylkill Haven and now we won this one," Long said. "We know we have gotten better and we have worked hard in the offseason to get to this point."

Senior Matt Camilletti has twice experienced defeat in the District 11 championship. With tears of joy, he accepted the District 11 gold medal around his neck. While kissing his medal, Camilletti said the feeling of winning is like nothing he has ever experienced.

"This team has battled through adversity all year," Camilletti said. "We have come together so well, we are a family."

Everyone on the team was happy to give the seniors the send-off they deserved.

"It's an incredible thing we did for our seniors," Long said. "This group of guys is like no other people I have played with. This year we were a lot like a brotherhood."

"The senior class, I can't say enough about," Stambaugh said. "These kids truly wanted to be a part of this program. They worked very hard day in and day out and it means a lot to them and their families to be a part of this program and get this district medal."

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