For the third consecutive season, Schuylkill League rivals square off in the District 11 1A quarterfinals, as second-seeded Marian (7-3) plays host to three-seeded Tri-Valley (6-4).

The two squads are very familiar with each other.

“This is the third straight year we’re playing them in this round of the playoffs, Week 11,” said Colts’ coach Billy O’Gurek. “So we got them two years ago at home. They got us last year. So this is a rubber match. But we knew going into the season that this was a possibility.”

In 2023, Marian earned a tight 14-6 triumph after falling 16-6 two weeks prior. TV responded the following year beating the Colts twice, including a 24-0 victory in the regular season and a 27-0 win in the playoffs.

Now in 2025, Marian held off a Bulldog comeback to win 17-14 in Week 2; a game that ultimately made a difference in home field advantage for Friday’s matchup.

“We played great defense that game,” O’Gurek said. “We had the one long offensive touchdown, (Tyler) Price had the 85-yard touchdown catch and our other touchdown was a defensive touchdown. Our field goal ended up being the difference ... that came after a fake punt by Jake Tom that picked up about 35-40 yards, it got us down there in field-goal range.

“We need to play better offense than we did Week 2. They’re a good defensive team, but looking back on it, I thought there were a lot of nice things that we did on both sides of the ball that we can do again.”

The Colt offense has been led by junior running back Rory Dixon, who rushed for over 1,000 yards in his previous two seasons, and is just 16 away from his third straight four-digit milestone.

Unlike previous seasons, Marian has found ways to insulate Dixon and disguise its offensive attack. QB Greg Tirpak has thrown for 884 yards, while Tom and Price have been dual-offensive threats.

“It’s good complementary football,” O’Gurek said. “Week 2, that was the second football game (Tom) ever played in his life. I think now at this point of the season, he knows what he can do and what’s possible. Tyler Price, he’s like a (multi-tool) player for us. When we need a tight end, he goes on tight end. When we need a fullback, he goes to fullback. But when we get the ball in his hands, he could do a lot of good things.”

A big difference between Marian’s most recent matchup with Tri-Valley and Friday night’s will be the experience the players have gained during a difficult stretch of the schedule.

After facing powerhouse teams Minersville, Schuylkill Haven and Williams Valley three straight weeks, the Colts learned some valuable lessons.

“Sometimes I think the best lessons learned come through failure. So we were riding high, we were 5-0, and then we went through that run of three teams and we lost to them. To go through that and for our guys to see that caliber of play, now it’s just putting it all together and being a more consistent team. We’ve been able to do that most of the time this year.

“But now you get into the postseason, and every snap and every possession is amplified and the margin for error shrinks. Tri-Valley is going to have tough kids, and it’s going to be a physical football game, and the team that makes the least mistakes is going to win.”