WASHINGTON — For the fourth time in its non-region schedule, Marietta hung close to a nationally ranked program. But just like against Rome, Good Counsel and Grayson, the Blue Devils came out on the short end of the scoreboard. Sol-Jay Maiava scored with 9 minutes to go in the fourth quarter to lift St. John’s College High School — the No. 4 team in the country — to a 21-14 victory Saturday in the nation’s capital.
Marietta (1-4) still had a chance to pull out the game, but the Blue Devils were forced to turn the ball over on downs on successive drives — first with 5 minutes left to play and then with 1:27 to go. Despite the loss, fans who made the trip said the players will remember this game for a long time. “This game was like a college game for these boys,” said Andy Pieroni, whose son, William, is a Marietta lineman. “It was a great experience regardless.”
Marietta’s coaches declined comment after the game.
Early on, it looked like it may be the Blue Devils’ day.
Marietta got on the board first after driving 80 yards, with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Harrison Bailey to Kobe Stewart giving the Blue Devils an early 7-0 lead. Two long passes from Bailey to Arik Gilbert put the Blue Devils in position again, and they scored when Bailey connected on a 6-yard pass to Taji Johnson.
Marietta was in position to go up 21-0 late in the second quarter. Bailey completed a pass to Ramel Keyton to the St. John’s 5-yard line, but the Blue Devils failed to capitalize when Cadets defensive back Quinten Johnson intercepted the ball at the goal line and returned it to the Marietta 18.
Maiava finally got St. John’s (4-0) on the scoreboard when he completed a 5-yard pass to Rakim Jarret for a touchdown with 3 minutes left to go in the first half. Early in the third quarter, Maiava connected with Jarrett for a 44-yard touchdown pass to tie the game.