Rory Dixon, Marian (Photo courtesy of First Class School Photography)

HANOVER TOWNSHIP — They’ll remember the name Rory Dixon here at the home of the Hanover Area Hawkeyes football stadium for a long time.

That’s because Marian’s heralded junior running back had a game of his life Friday, helping coach Billy O’Gurek’s Colts win their season opener, 42-24, and ruining the host’s stadium-opening fanfare after they had played all away games in 2024.

The Colts had plenty of key players in the tilt, but none stood out as bright as Dixon, who picked up where he left off a year ago when he rushed for over 1,000 yards in his second consecutive season.

Consider these numbers: 25 carries for 226 yards; two receptions for 48 yards; an interception followed by a 33-yard return; five touchdowns; and a tipped Hanover pass into teammate Jake Tom’s hands to aid a second interception.

And when the Hawkeyes cut Marian’s once 21-0 lead to 28-24 at the 3:57 mark of the third quarter, Dixon was at his best, rushing eight times for 62 of Marian’s 70-yard drive that all but spelled doom for the host’s comeback plans.

O’Gurek’s squad wasted little time in jumping out to a 21-0 lead, initially going 81 yards in nine plays with sophomore quarterback Greg Tirpak barking out the signals. They used five different offensive players in the march before Dixon’s 15-yard run, and the first of six Jah Bushati placements made it 7-0 with 6:35 on the board.

Then Dixon picked off a Logan Richardson pass and returned it to the Hawkeyes’ 27. On second down, he marched 23 yards for a 14-0 lead.

And after Hanover went three-and-out, Tirpak passed a nifty screen to Dixon that he carried 47 yards to the end zone and Marian was in front 21-0 with 1:14 left in the first stanza.

“I was happy with the way we started out,” O’Gurek said, attributing the success to an offensive line that helped pave the way for Dixon. “Our O-line really controlled the tempo of the game. They’re coached well by our coaches, and know how to do their job.”

Still, Hanover wouldn’t go down without a fight, as they outpointed the Colts 14-7 in the second stanza, scoring initially on a 37-yard pass from Logan Richardson to his brother, Conor, with 8:34 left before intermission.

Miscues by each team followed, as Marian’s Dominick Rodino picked off a Richardson pass and returned it 85 yards for a 28-7 Marian lead. The Colts threatened to put the game away after Damian Rodino recovered a fumble with 1:22 left before the break. But with just 15 seconds on the board and the Colts at the Hanover 11, Hawkeye Dawin Downey wrestled a pass off Colt Rocco Griguoli at the 15 and returned it all the way to the other end zone to make it 28-14 at the break.

O’Gurek said, “Turnovers in the second quarter hurt us, and we took a punch, but I was pleased with how our guys fought back and punched back.”

Still not done, Hanover added a TD on a 22-yard Dewayne Downey reception and a 42-year booming field goal by Chance Hill, and with 3:57 left in the third stanza, the Hawkeyes cut the Colt lead to 28-24.

Here’s where O’Gurek went to his key offensive stud, Dixon, as he led a 70-yard TD drive that took 11 plays, scoring at the 9:07 mark of the fourth stanza on a 4-yard bolt, making it 35-24 and a two-score game. Dixon’s tip of Richardson’s pass on the next possession allowed Tom to come up with Marian’s fourth interception, after which Dixon raced 31 yards to the Marian 16 and scored two plays later to round out the scoring with 5:54 on the board.

“Rory’s a big-time player,” his coach said. “When it comes to the nitty-gritty, we’re going to go with our guy. He told me at halftime, ‘Coach, put it on my shoulders,’ and he certainly backed that up in the second half.”

Losing coach Eric Richardson, meanwhile, said the Hawkeyes had no answer for Dixon. “We knew he was going to get it (the ball) and we still couldn’t stop him. Kudos to them, they executed well. And he‘s just a tough runner who’s hard to bring down.”

Afterward, the junior back said, “We did what Marian does, played hard and played together. I’m proud of us. I’m proud of our team. This night is not just (special) for me. It’s for all of us. We played to the best of our abilities.”

BRING ON THE PICKLE JUICE … The game was marred by lots and lots of leg cramps, as the Colts had numerous players hit the sidelines on several occasions, forcing the staff to juggle the lineups.

COACH CREDITS LINE … O’Gurek praised the line of Dominick Rodino, Damian Rodino, Jah Bushati, Walker Sheer and Billy Ebert for the jobs they did on the offensive line, saying the work of line coaches headed by Chink Connely paid dividends.

TURNOVERS TELL TALE … Richardson said his team “got lazy with the ball,” committing five turnovers that helped seal their fate. They included two pickoffs by Tom, one each by Dixon and Dominick Rodino and a recovery by Damian Rodino.

TRI-VALLEY UP NEXT … The Colts will hold their home opener at the Stan Dakosty Field of the Men of Marian Stadium next Friday.

Game Summary

Marian 42, Hanover Area 24

M — Dixon 15 run (Bushati kick)

M — Dixon 23 run (Bushati kick)

M — Dixon 47 pass from Tirpak (Bushati kick)

HA — Richardson 37 pass from Richardson (Hill kick)

M — Dominick Rodino 85 interception return (Bushati kick)

HA — Downey 85 fumble return (Hill kick)

HA — Downey 22 pass from Richardson (Hill kick)

HA — FG Hill 42

M — Dixon 4 run (Bushati kick)

M — Dixon 1 run (Bushati kick)

Team Statistics

Mar-HA

First Downs —- 18      11

Rushes-Yards — 39-283      21-27

Passes —- 7-12-1      11-23-4

Passing Yards —- 79      177

Total Yards —- 362      204

Fumbles/Lost —- 1-1      3-1

Penalties — 7-58      1-5

Individual Statistics

RUSHING: Marian — Dixon 25-226, Tirpak 7-35, Ashfield 7-22. Hanover Area — Downey 15-54, L. Richardson 6-(-27).

PASSING: Marian — Tirpak 7-12-1, 79. Hanover Area — L. Richardson 11-23-4, 177.

RECEIVING: Marian — Dixon 2-48, Price 1-15, Griguoli 2-9, Tom 2-7. Hanover Area — Eisenbach 4-87, C. Richardson 1-37, D. Downey 2-22, Safriwe 1-12, Tejeda 1-10, McCoy 1-5, Cruz 1-4.