It had to be a good omen for host Marian Catholic when senior Josh Coats returned the game’s opening kickoff for a 91-yard touchdown.
Good vibes it was on August 30. The Spartans scored in six different ways and rolled to a 63-7 non-conference demolition of Oak Lawn to avenge back-to-back season-opening losses. The Spartans scored by rush, pass, two kickoff returns, a safety, and fumble and interception returns, as all facets of the Marian game got into the act.
Marian, which tied a school-record for points and margin of victory, swelled the lead to 50-0 by halftime and scored the contest’s first 63 points before Oak Lawn found the end zone in the game’s final two minutes.
Seeking its first 2-0 start since 2013, Marian will host Gary Bowman Academy September 6 at 7 p.m.
The Spartan defense forced a punt on its first opportunity, and the offense responded with a 22-yard drive that culminated when 335-pound fullback Darius Mahone barreled into the end zone. One drive later, Spartan quarterback Ronald Thomas hit Tajheem Lawson with an 8-yard scoring toss.
Rounding out the opening period, Spartan Justin Stallworth picked up a fumble and rambled 32 yards for a score. When Ray Cantelo booted his fourth-of-seven conversion kicks, Marian held a 28-0 command with 2:17 to play in the first quarter.
Lawson added three more touchdowns in the second quarter on runs of 38 and four yards, to go with a 49-yard kickoff return for a score. The final tally followed an Oak Lawn safety when a bad snap forced the punter to kick the ball out of the end zone.
For the night, Lawson finished with 86 rushing yards on nine tries, 39 receiving yards on a pair of catches, and four total touchdowns.
With a defense led up front by Stallworth, Mahone, and Kendall Thomas, along with linebackers Beckett Clasen, Fred Garcia and Joe Mascolino, Marian had the outcome well in hand by halftime.
Nevertheless, the Spartans scored the first two times they touched the ball in the second half.
On the opening drive of the third period, Elijah Barnes picked off a pass and raced 85 yards for a score. Following a three-and-out, Marian completed a four-play, 54-yard march when quarterback Kevin Johnson skipped around the end for a 10-yard score.
Behind strong offensive line play from Josh Hybert, Aidan Vanderwall, Craig Morrison, Dylan Ross, Zack Carson and Kendall Thomas, Marian averaged 7.5 yards per rushing attempt.