MINERSVILLE - Looking for a break.

It is becoming a familiar refrain for Marian’s youthful football team that continues to go through growing pains.

Now two games into the 2021 season, the Colts are still searching for answers after dropping their second game of the season, falling 20-0 to Minersville on Friday night.

Even venerable Marian coach Stan Dakosty knows his team needs to start to execute better.

The margin for error is slim, as Dakosty watched his club give up a pair of first-half touchdowns, then dug in deep in the trenches, but just didn’t have enough offensive firepower to garner a win.

“As you can see, every time we seem to catch a break, we give the football away at a crucial time in the game,” Dakosty said. “We gave them two early scores, then I thought we played really good defense. We were down two scores, had a chance to score and then fumbled the ball away.”

Minersville (1-1) on the other hand, were basking in the glow of a passing attack, which featured senior Josh Adams uncorking 40 tosses, connecting on 22 of them for 286 yards and three touchdowns.

His go-to-guy with steady hands was fellow senior Jared Graeff, who had a bonanza of a night with 10 receptions for 129 yards. He hooked up with Adams for the game’s first touchdown, a catch of 21 yards.

Adams also found junior Brock Polinsky six times for 110 yards and two sweet touchdown passes, both of which went for 11 yards.

The Battlin’ Miners dominated to open the game on their first offensive series.

Their defense quickly subdued the Colts’ offense, forcing a three-and-out, then proceeded to mount a nine-play scoring drive to traverse 60 yards to pay dirt. Adams let loose with five completions in the drive, the last to Graeff for a 21-yard touchdown. Jason Cullen’s kick made it 7-0.

While Marian’s offense sputtered on its second possession, the Miners looked ready to punch home a second touchdown, but Marian’s defense kept pelting away, getting big plays from Joey Walko and James Rodino.

The Colts managed to thwart a score at their six-yard line on Minersville’s second offensive series, turned away a third threat thanks to John Milosh, Walko and Rehrig.

But the fourth try wasn’t as fortunate for Marian.

With 2:08 remaining in the first half, Minersville capped off an eight-play, 44-yard drive when Adams found Polinsky uncovered for an 11-yard touchdown toss to head to the locker room with a 13-0 lead.

“We missed some shots,” Dakosty would lament as he thought back to the second half with his team still in the hunt. “I thought our kids rallied defensively. Right now we’re not a really good football team… we’re a work in progress. This is not a quick-fix, but we are getting there.”

To be sure, not as fast as he would like.

BRIGHT SPOTS

… Marian’s defense is the heart of the team for now. Though it was burned for 286 yards passing, the run defense was very solid most of the evening.

BIG ARM

… Adams, who is an outstanding three-sport athlete, has a big arm. He cranked it up 40 times and was successful 22. There were four or five other catchable balls.

UP NEXT

... Marian will face Catasauqua next week in its first taste of the Schuylkill League-Colonial League crossover. Minersville will face Shenandoah Valley.