SAINT CLAIR — From its first drive, Nativity fired on all cylinders.
A 54-yard touchdown pass from Dominic Piccioni to Jeff Yordy set the tone for the Green Wave offense and the rest of the game as Nativity blew out Carson Long 42-6 on Friday night in an All-American Conference game at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Piccioni finished with three passing touchdowns and 147 yards through the air. He added two rushing TDs and 61 yards on the ground.
Yordy had three touchdowns on four receptions for 132 yards.
“They’re both great kids,” Nativity coach Tony Klazas said of the two seniors. “They work hard and they learn every day. I wish I had them for more than just this year.”
After the Green Wave (3-4, 3-0 AAFC) went up 7-0 on its first drive, the defense forced a Warriors three-and-out.
Nativity picked up right where it left off, scoring on a 6-yard pass from Piccioni to Yordy. Their second connection of the game put the Green Wave on top 14-0.
On Nativity’s next posession, running back Gino DiNicola broke off a 38-yard touchdown run to put the Green Wave ahead 21-0 at the end of the opening quarter.
“Our line blocked very well tonight, especially on that play,” Klazas said.
By the second quarter, Carson Long (0-5, 0-1) was opting to go for it on fourth down, but to no avail.
Nativity forced a turnover on downs before putting together another scoring drive. A 28-yard pass from Piccioni to Yordy set up a 7-yard touchdown run by Piccioni to give the Green Wave a 28-0 lead.
Nativity’s defense continuously applied pressure on Warriors quarterback John Proia, forcing him to throw two interceptions and compile just 38 passing yards in the first half.
Yordy recorded the first of those interceptions, and then capitalized on it by catching a 44-yard touchdown pass from Piccioni, the duo’s third scoring play of the night. The PAT put the Green Wave on top 35-0.
After Nativity recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, Piccioni scrambled into the end zone on a 17-yard run.
Kicker Cullen Hoppel was 6-for-6 on extra points, putting Nativity up 42-0 after its final touchdown.
“It was nice to be up like that at halftime,” Klazas said. “We’ve been on the wrong end of that too often.”
With a running clock in effect because of the mercy rule, the Green Wave cruised through the third quarter before finally giving up a touchdown in the fourth.
Backed up at its own 26-yard line, Carson Long prevented a shutout when Proia found wide receiver Afernee Brice for a 74-yard touchdown pass.
“Except for our last one, it was difficult to get any sustainable drives,” Warriors head coach Michael Pray said. “There were some good passes that got dropped, and Nativity was difficult to defend.”
Nativity’s stingy defense allowed only two first downs and gave up just 141 total yards in the game.
“Our defense played well tonight,” Klazas said. “They made some good tackles, put in a great effort, and everyone played a complete game. This was fundamental football.”
Game Summary
CL (0-5, 0-1) 0 0 0 6 — 6 Nat. (3-4, 3-0) 21 21 0 0 — 42
N —Yordy 54 pass from Piccioni (Hoppel kick)
N —Yordy 6 pass from Piccioni (Hoppel kick)
N —DiNicola 38 run (Hoppel kick)
N — Piccioni 7 run (Hoppel kick)
N —Yordy 44 pass from Piccioni (Hoppel kick)
N —Piccioni 17 run (Hoppel kick)
CL —Brice 74 pass from Proia (run failed)
CL Nat
First Downs 2 8
Rushes-Yards 20-28 28-167
Passes 4-14-2 7-11-1
Passing Yards 113 147
Total Yards 141 314
Fumbles-Lost 2-2 0-0
Penalties 2-15 3-20
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Carson Long — Proia 9-11, Watson 5-7, Estep 2-6, Keefer 3-3, Romberger 1-1. Nativity — DiNicola 4-65, Piccioni 7-61, Shellhammer 8-22, McDonald 6-21, Yordy 1-1, Opolsky 1-1, Moser 1-(-4).
PASSING: Carson Long — Proia 4-14-2, 113. Nativity — Piccioni 7-11-1, 147.
RECEIVING: Carson Long — Brice 1-74, Johnson 2-32, Estep 1-7. Nativity — Yordy 4-132, Hunyara 2-13, Moser 1-2.
INTERCEPTIONS: Carson Long — Johnson. Nativity — Yordy, Yourey.