Marist School, Atlanta, is making its first trip back to the Georgia Dome for a semifinal game since 2003, after defeating Fairburn’s Creekside High School 24-6. Although Marist went scoreless for three quarters in their previous game, they managed to score one touchdown in each of the first three quarters of the game against Creekside. Marist quarterback Gary Marshall snatched the spotlight from Creekside quarterback Eric Berry, running for 129 yards and passing for 76 yards, including one 25-yard pass for a touchdown. On Friday, Dec. 8, at 9 p.m. Marist (12-1) will face East Paulding High School of Dallas, who is a playoff contender for the first time in that school’s history.

St. Pius X High School, Atlanta, is the second of two Catholic schools who punched their ticket for the Class AAAA semifinal game on Friday, Dec. 8, at the Georgia Dome. With minutes remaining in the third quarter, St. Pius had to overcome a 20-point deficit to defeat Thomasville’s Thomas County Central High School 34-33 in overtime. Senior running back Wil Asip led the offense with 106 yards on 12 carries. He also accounted for two of the touchdowns during the team’s comeback. The St. Pius defense also stiffened in the second half, holding Thomas County Central to fewer than 100 yards of offense. St. Pius (11-2) will make its first semifinal appearance at the Georgia Dome at 6 p.m. as they take on Northside High School of Warner Robins (13-0).

Both games will be televised on Georgia Public Broadcasting stations.