As the long, Labor Day weekend approached the athletic program at St. Pius, only three teams saw action with only two on the weekend. Football, ranked No. 4 in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution AAA poll opened its season while the third-ranked volleyball squad traveled to Huntsville, AL for a two-day tournament. The boys' and girls' cross country teams continue to sit in the top spot and No. 2 spot in AAA in their respective ga.milesplit.com polls while the male harriers are No. 2 in the all-classification poll.
The football team lifted the lid on its season with a 21-3 victory over Westminster. Ryan Braswell (Atlanta) rushed for 141 yards and 2 touchdowns while Nick Ruffin (Johns Creek) added a TD and 53 yards as the Golden Lions (1-0) piled up 308 yards on the ground. Nick Glass (Tucker) and Daniel Crochet (Stone Mountain) had an interception apiece to lead a defense that allowed just 123 total yards on the night. St. Pius opens up the home season at George B. Maloof Stadium Friday night at 7:30pm against No. 5 North Oconee.
Volleyball split eight matches over the weekend at a team tournament in Huntsville, AL. The Golden Lions (12-9) took four matches, all by a 2-0 score, over Bob Jones (AL), Woodward, Guntersville (AL) and Hartselle (AL). St. Pius dropped four matches to Ravenwood (TN), Brentwood (TN), Grissom (AL) and Huntsville (AL). The netters will be back in action on Friday and Saturday at a tournament at Lovett; opening with Whitewater at 5pm on Friday.
Softball split its two games last week while having the first Region 6-AAA game of the season rescheduled. St. Pius (2-7) knocked off Riverwood 9-3 as Natasha Sherrod (Atlanta) continued her blistering performance at the plate, going 2-3 and scored two runs. Sarah Rawls (Norcross) and Madison Jenkins (Roswell) each drove in two runs. The Golden Lions travel to Lovett Tuesday and to Cedar Grove in region play on Thursday before heading to a tournament at Shaw on Friday and Saturday.
Both cross country teams were off over the weekend. The boys' will participate in a multiple team meet at Mill Creek on Thursday before joining up with the lady harriers at the Berry Invitational in Rome on Saturday.