The Catholic Central Shamrocks kicked off their season with a commanding 56-12 victory over the Dearborn Pioneers on August 29th in Dearborn. The Shamrocks' defense set the tone early, forcing a turnover on Dearborn's opening drive. On the first offensive play of the game, Senior Captain Jaden Pydyn broke through the Pioneers' defense, sprinting into the end zone for a touchdown. Kicker Jake Matigian followed with a successful extra point, giving the Shamrocks a quick 7-0 lead.

Pydyn continued to dominate, adding another rushing touchdown with 9:30 left in the first quarter. Dearborn responded with a quick touchdown but missed the extra point, leaving the score at 14-6. Pydyn struck again with his third touchdown of the quarter, with 2:30 left on the clock, and Matigian remained perfect, making it 21-6.

In the second quarter, Skylar Hunter extended the Shamrocks' lead with a remarkable touchdown pass at 11:45. The defense held strong, making a crucial fourth-down stop with 8:55 remaining in the half, allowing the Shamrocks to take over on their own 25-yard line. Lee Kreuger added his first touchdown of the game with 4:56 left in the half, pushing the score to 35-6.

Just before halftime, Pydyn scored his fourth touchdown, and the Shamrocks headed into the break with a commanding 42-12 lead. The game was firmly in hand, but the Shamrocks didn't let up. Samson Gash scored a touchdown in the third quarter, thanks to a short pass from Hunter and a pivotal block from Kas Moir. Cedric Williams sealed the game with another touchdown, and Matigian's consistent kicking brought the final score to 56-12.

Player Highlights:

• Offensive Player of the Game: Senior Captain Jaden Pydyn (RB) – 12 rushes, 113 yards, 4 touchdowns, 9.4 avg yards per carry.
• X-Factor: Senior Kicker Jake Matigian – 8/8 on PATs.
• Defensive Player of the Game: Senior Jack McHugh (DE/TE) – 3 tackles, 2 sacks.

The Shamrocks' dominant performance sets a strong tone for the rest of the season, they play Toledo Central Catholic at home this Friday, at 7p EST.