Marian seems to have more rivalries than ever these days.

It found another team eager to play spoiler Friday night at Men of Marian Stadium on Stan Dakosty Field. And it didn’t like the outcome.

Mahanoy Area pulled off another upset in this storied rivalry, defeating Marian 24-21 as the Golden Bears (4-5) spoiled Senior Night for the Colts (4-5) in their final regular-season home game.

Using its midline offense, a blend of veer, wishbone and triple-option schemes, Mahanoy jumped out to an early lead and never let up. Coach Mick Connolly called it “the greatest win of my coaching career.”

Despite having a small roster and only five seniors, Mahanoy leaned on rising sophomore Quinton Rucker, who rushed for 110 yards, and senior Will Stoyer, who added 83 yards and eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards for the season. The Bears finished with 207 rushing yards.

The only slowdown came in the second half when Marian switched to a six-man front to contain the Bears’ ground game. By then, however, the damage had been done.

Mahanoy built a 12-0 lead in the first half. Rucker capped a 50-yard scoring drive with a 19-yard touchdown run. Sophomore quarterback Taten Matrician helped set up the score with three carries before Rucker turned the corner and raced into the end zone.

With 9:06 left in the opening quarter, Marian appeared ready to answer. The Colts mounted a 12-play drive that reached field-goal range, but a 30-yard attempt sailed wide right, leaving the home team empty-handed.

Mahanoy responded with a 79-yard scoring drive. While Rucker kept Marian’s defense off balance, Stoyer powered his way to 35 yards on the march. Then, just when the Colts were focused on stopping the run, the Bears struck through the air.

Matrician connected with sophomore tight end John Redgate for a 16-yard touchdown pass.

“Our game is not passing, we rather run the ball,” Connolly said.

Even Stoyer affirmed that.

“It is unusual for us to pass,” he said.

So unusual, in fact, that Marian was caught flat-footed on the play, giving the Bears a 12-0 lead with 6:37 remaining in the first half.

Marian answered behind junior standout Tyler Price, who enjoyed a phenomenal night. Whether he was running the ball or catching passes, Price was making plays. He finished with 278 total yards, including 160 rushing yards and 118 receiving yards.

Price scored the first of his two touchdowns on a 22-yard run, helping revive the Colts’ spirits. He would later add Marian’s final touchdown as well.

The Bears quickly responded.

Following a strong kick return by senior Yaniel Vega to the 38-yard line, Rucker needed just one play to erase Price’s score. The speedy sophomore found the edge, burst through the secondary and raced to the end zone, extending the Bears’ lead to 18-7 at halftime.

“That was one fantastic (score) by Rucker. He is incredible,” Connolly said. “That really gave us a boost.”

The score proved important because Marian opened the second half with a touchdown drive of its own.

The Colts marched 80 yards in six plays, with quarterback Greg Tirpak completing three consecutive passes. The final completion went 35 yards to sophomore Cole Grochowski for his first varsity touchdown. He broke free along the sideline before hauling in Tirpak’s pass and diving into the end zone.

When Vinny Miranda added his second of three PATs, Marian trimmed the deficit to 18-14.

“When we cut that lead I thought we had a good chance to get going with our offense,” Marian coach Billy O’Gurek said.

But what looked like a potential turning point slipped away in the fourth quarter.

Marian drove to the Mahanoy 26-yard line before turning the ball over. Earlier in the possession, Tirpak had converted a fourth-and-8 with a 16-yard completion to Price. Later, the Colts came up short on a fourth-down attempt, then gambled again on another fourth down from their own 11-yard line.

That gave Mahanoy Area a short field, and Stoyer capitalized with an 11-yard touchdown run to make it 24-14.

Price scored his second touchdown with just 41 seconds remaining, but it was too little, too late.

SUPER EFFORT ... Price was thrust into the running back role a week before camp opened when Rory Dixon decided not to play his senior season. He embraced the challenge and is now drawing interest from FBS programs.

THEY DID IT ... The Golden Bears executed their offensive game plan brilliantly in the first half, using outside runs to set up their midline attack. Credit also goes to Marian for its halftime adjustment to a six-man front.

ON THE HORIZON ... Marian travels to Schuylkill Haven on Friday to close the regular season. Mahanoy hosts rival Shenandoah Valley the same night.

Mahanoy Area 24, Marian 21

Mahanoy Area 6 12 0 6 - 24

Marian 7 7 0 7 - 21

MA - Rucker 19 run (run failed)

MA - Redgate 16 pass from Matrician (run failed)

M - Price 22 run (Miranda kick)

MA - Rucker 38 run (run failed)

M - Grochowski 35 pass from Tirpak (Miranda kick)

MA - Stoyer 11 run (pass failed)

M - Price 11 run (Miranda kick)