History tells us that when Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon River, he uttered the phrase “the die is cast,” to signify there was no turning back.

Legendary Marian football coach Stan Dakosty can relate to that with his current group of football players.

The Colts’ 39-8 victory over visiting Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech on Thursday capped a four-game, season-ending win streak.

For the Marian program, the late-season surge is hopefully a sign that the die has indeed been cast.

With a young and tenacious defense and a highly-improved running game, the Colts have laid the foundation for 2022 and beyond.

When asked if the strong finish was a steppingstone toward the ultimate goal of returning the program to its past success, Dakosty said, “I hope so,” as he clutched the game ball that his players had just presented him. “I’m pleased with the way we finished up.

“This was another great overall team win - one that will hopefully carry over into next season.”

Marian would churn out 187 yards rushing in the game, and another 80 in the air. The Colts also saw junior running back Matt Martin go over the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season.

Despite chilly temperatures that had dipped to the freezing mark by game’s end, the Colts’ offense started hot

Marian scored on its first two possessions, zipping in front 12-0 and needing just three offensive plays to set the tone.

On their first play from scrimmage, the Colts called wide receiver Luis Teron’s number, and he responded by latching onto a pass from Andrew Baran for a 45-yard touchdown.

Marian needed just two more plays the next time it had the ball to double the lead. Jake Fenstermaker produced the TD when he took a handoff from Baran, glided around right end, kicked it into extra gear and raced 44 yards to the end zone.

Marian’s defense set up the next score when it forced CMVT into a three-and-out deep in its own territory. A shanked punt then gave the Colts the ball at the Rams’ nine-yard line.

It took all of one play to hit the house as Martin swept around the right side and pranced easily into the end zone for an 18-0 lead.

“We now have a number of our (injured) kids back and the way we finished, we’re feeling really good about the direction of the program,” Dakosty said.

It was clear that the Colts were riding the crest of a season-ending win streak when they reeled off five scores in their first six possessions.

Leading 18-0. Marian had a short field to work with again thanks to Matt Rehrig, who picked up a fumble and rumbled to the Rams’ 20.

Baran and junior Joey Walko hooked up for an 11-yard pass, and the latter would tote the pigskin two straight times - the last a two-yard blast into the end zone that made it 24-0.

“A big factor in how we finished is that we are finally a healthy football team,” Dakosty said. “We were also very young. As the season went on, we started to grow, and the results showed that.”

Marian’s final first-half touchdown was set up by another short field as the Colts needed but two plays to get in the end zone. Bruce Hopeck found Mike Gelatko for a 26-yard touchdown pass, and Caden Kash booted the conversion to make it made it 31-0.

Marian kicked in the running clock when it took the second-half kickoff, put the ball in Martin’s hands on the first play from scrimmage, and watched him bolt 54 yards for a touchdown.

“We’re going to use this as a springboard for next season,” Dakosty said. “That’s four in a row ... 95-percent of our players are coming back ... we’re excited.”

For the Colts, it definitely appears like the die has been cast.

DEFENSE! DEFENSE!

... Marian’s defense has grown leaps and bounds from the onset of the season.

GRAND! GRAND!

... Both teams had a player go over 1,000-yards rushing for the season, as Martin ran for 94 yards - he needed 65 coming into the contest. CMVT junior Toby Sajac did it all for his team. A bruising 6-2, 220-pound back, Sajac finished with 103 yards on 30 carries.