Corky Kell & Dave Hunter Classic Team Previews - St. Pius X

St. Pius X has not been past the second round of the playoffs since a semifinals appearance in 2017 under head coach Paul Standard, and entering Chad Garrison’s fourth season at the helm, Pius is poised. Garrison led the Golden Lions to the second round in his first two seasons – 2021 and 2022 – but has lost out in the first round of the playoffs in each of the past two seasons after his best finish at Pius, 7-4.

Mascot: Golden Lions

County: DeKalb

Head Coach: Chad Garrison

Coach’s School Record: 25-21

Coach’s Overall Record: 25-21

2024 Record: 7-4

2024 Region Record: 6-2

2024 Region Rank: 4th

2024 Playoff Finish: First Round (L 38-13, Perry)

Overall School Record: 411-291-13

State Championships: 1968 (2A)

Returning Offensive Starters: Dexter Mosley (QB), Tyler Luse (LT), Sam Laughter (C), Scott Ivey II (RB), Aiden Francois (RB), JJ Rogowski (FB)

Returning Defensive Starters: Chris Kitchin (FS), Wyatt Daniels (LB), Oladimeji Adekey (DT), John Taylor (DE)

Returning Kickers: Aiden Magee (KO/ FG/PAT), Stevie Maloof (P)

Key Newcomers: Will Shearer (G), Jack Randa (G), Daniel Stribling (DT/N), Casen Bosseler (WR, DB), Khairi Davis (CB), Nathan Hildreth (CB), Carter Schwalb (DE/TE), Lands Kelly (DE/TE), Conley Goodlife (WR/DB)

Offensive Formation: Flexbone

Defensive Formation: Multiple

School Enrollment: 2,191

With a 25-21 record in four seasons running the St. Pius X football team, Chad Garrison and the Golden Lions look to extend their streak of making the postseason to 20 years in Garrison’s fifth season with the program. Following a 7-4 season last year where they started out the year 6-1, the Golden Lions lost in the first round of the playoffs to Perry and finished fourth in the region behind Marist, Southwest DeKalb and Tucker.

The Golden Lions had 12 players selected to All-Region teams as voted on by the coaches at the conclusion of last season, and will only have three returning to the roster this season after graduating the other nine. Rising junior, fullback John Taylor, is back for another season in the Golden Lions run-heavy offense following a first-team All-Region Region 5-4A selection in 2024. Taylor is a bruiser of a running back as he is used not only in the short yardage situations, but is a valuable run and pass blocker for St. Pius when they need him to be.

Junior punter Stevie Maloof returns to the Golden Lions proving a reliable option in the special teams department for St. Pius. Junior running back Dexter Mosley is another name that the Golden Lions return in their backfield. Mosley recently picked up an Arkansas-Pine Bluff offer in June. For the first time in the football program's history, the Golden Lions will kick off their season at the Corky Kell & Dave Hunter Classic in Mercedes-Benz Stadium when they will face Dunwoody.

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