Marist School survived to play another week in the state football playoffs after a 42-0 victory over Northgate High School, Newnan, Nov. 14. It was the second consecutive game in which the Marist team scored over 40 points and shut out its opponent at the same time. Marist scored 14 points in the first half and doubled its point production in the second half with 28. Five of the six touchdowns came on runs by running back Patrick Sullivan and quarterbacks Kyle Farmer and Sam McNearny. On defense, junior outside linebacker Philip Wood recovered a fumble and ran it back for a touchdown. Marist piled up 374 yards of offense, while holding Northgate to 115 yards. In the next round Marist (10-1) will play at home against Sequoyah High School (10-1) of Canton, Friday, Nov. 21.

Holy Spirit Preparatory School, Atlanta, lost its second round playoff game in Albany 49-13 to Deerfield-Windsor School, Nov. 14. Deerfield-Windsor scored on its first possession to go up 7-0. Holy Spirit scored on its second possession, set up by an 11-play, 85-yard scoring drive, ending on a 15-yard touchdown run by quarterback Curtis Johnson. Holy Spirit missed the extra point, trailing by 7-6. Four first-half turnovers by Holy Spirit, all converted to scores by Deerfield-Windsor, created a hole from which the team was not able to climb out. In the loss Holy Spirit head coach Dan Pepitone cited two outgoing seniors for their effort on both sides of the ball: running back and strong safety Ben Watson and guard and linebacker Taylor Thomas. Holy Spirit ended the 2008 season at 6-6.

Pinecrest Academy, Cumming, closed out its first season in the Georgia Independent School Association AAA classification with a second round loss in the state playoffs to Macon’s Tattnall Square Academy 47-0, Nov. 14. Pinecrest held the two-time defending state champions to only 13 points for most of the first half, while even having some success moving the ball. However, just before halftime Pinecrest gave up an interception for one touchdown and Tattnall Square scored another one on a long run to go up 27-0 at the half. Tattnall Square dominated the second half as it continued to shut out Pinecrest and add 20 more points of its own. Pinecrest finished the season 7-4-1, which includes the school’s second state playoff appearance and its first state playoff victory.

St. Pius X High School, Atlanta, will not vie for the Class AAA state championship after a 34-31 upset loss to Cartersville High School in the first round of the playoffs, Nov. 14. It was an abrupt end to Coach Paul Standard and his squad’s outstanding season. Junior running back Cole Moon led the offensive attack once again with nearly 100 yards rushing and two touchdowns. St. Pius finishes the season 9-2 after back-to-back losses in the month of November.