It's not often that a team doubles its win total from the previous season in its first two games, but St. Mary's Ryken accomplished that following a 27-6 football win at Pallotti of Prince George's County on Friday.
The Knights (2-0 overall), who led 14-0 at halftime, gave up a meaningless touchdown late in the game.
“We're really excited,” St. Mary's Ryken first-year head coach Aaron Brady said. “We didn't expect going into the season to be 2-0 to be honest. The first two teams are very high level teams and these kids have played very well and have bought into the team, and it's a total team win.”
The Knights won just one game all of last season, which was the season finale, and the road win was the first in three years.
“They're sky-high,” Brady said of the win over the Panthers, who were ranked No. 11 in the state last year.
Kristian Marks completed 19 of 22 passes for 176 yards and a score. Eight different receivers caught at least one pass with Cam Boyle (8 catches, 88 yards) and Colyn Webster (7 catches, 62 yards) leading the way.
“He did a great job of just making the passes he had to make,” Brady said of Marks. “[And with our receivers] you really can't key on one guy for us and that's our design and it's more fun for the kids because they're a part of it.”
Calvin Bell had 152 yards rushing.
St. Mary's Ryken was also able to contain Panthers star running back Blake Corum, who Brady said has multiple offers from BCS schools, thanks in large part to defenders Mike McIntosh, Will McKay and AJ Wilson.
“He had a big run early that was called back because of holding and that was the big break we needed,” Brady said, “because after that we settled in and we played great team defense.”
The Knights grabbed a 7-0 lead on Marks' 3-yard keeper.
“We always talk about coming out and going down [the field] on our first drive and moving the football and putting it in the end zone, and we did that,” Brady said.
St. Mary's Ryken will host Dunbar of Washington, D.C., at 7 p.m. Friday. Brady said overconfidence won't be an issue.
“No, we'll bring them back down to earth on Monday,” he said. “We do a good job of that. I told them to enjoy the win, but [next week] we'll get back to work and take on a new challenge. Our challenge is to get better every day, and that's in all parts of their life as a student, a person and an athlete.”
Twitter: @SOMDhabsfan
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