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Behind Rory Dixon’s five touchdowns Marian Catholic ruins Hanover Area’s return to stadium.

Tagged under: District 11, District 2, Gameday Hub, News, pfn

| August 23, 2025

Dixon’s big game propels Colts to wire-to-wire win over Hanover Area

HANOVER TWP- Friday night marked the beginning of the 101st season of Hanover football at legendary Memorial Stadium, The 100th year celebration was not to be in 2024, being during renovations to the bleacher area, lead was found and got into the duct work, and the Hawkeyes had to play there games at other stadiums.

The stage was set for the return of football back to the stadium Friday night, but the visiting Colts of Marion Catholic spoiled the return to the tune of 42-24 before a packed stadium on a fabulous evening to open the high school football season in Luzerne County.

Marian Catholic opened up the game with marched 77 yards on the opening drive using nearly half the quarter before running back Rory Dixon busted up the middle for a 15 yard score and a 7-0 lead.

Hanover would turn the ball over on their opening drive, as Dixon made an easy interception of a Logan Richardson pass, and the Colts took advantage as Dixon would score from 23 yards out making the score 14-0 with 3:59 to play in the first quarter.

Dixon was far from finished on the Colts third drive of the quarter Dixon would catch a screen pass from quarterback Greg Tirpack and scamper down the sidelines for a 48 yard score and 21-0 lead with 1:14 on the clock.

Hanover Area got things going in the second quarter as Logan Richardson hooked up with Connor Richardson in man-on-man coverage and dropped in perfect from 38 yards out cutting the deficit to 21-7 at the 8:29 mark.

The Hawkeyes were poised to strike again from inside the Marian Catholic 20, but defensive lineman Dominick Roadano, at 6-1 210 pounds stepped in front of a Richardson pass and rumbled 88 yards for a Colt touchdown making the score 28-7.

After a Hanover turnover deep in there end of the field, The Men of Marian were looking to put the game possibly out of reach, but a great defensive play by CB Dawin Downey, stripped the ball from a Colt receiver and proceeded down the sidelines for a 90 yard score cutting the deficit to 28-14 with just five seconds left before intermission.

The second began with Hanover having possession and march right down the field capped off with a 24 yard touchdown pass from Richardson to Dewayne Downey, who eluded several would-be-tacklers before crossing the goal line making it 28-21 with just 1:34 taken off the clock.

The closest the Hanover squad would get is 28-24, when placekicker Chance Hall drilled a 43 yard field goal at the 3:57 mark of the third quarter.

Dixon, who was shut down by the Hanover defense in the second and 3rd quarter would rise to the occasion as he would do much of the work on a 77 yard drive culminating with a 6 yard score with 9:02 left in the contest to make the score 35-24.

He would close out the game with his fifth score on a 1 yard score with 5:54 left making it what would by the final score 42-24.

“He is our workhorse(Dixon) We are going to ride him, he told me to put it on him at halftime, but we want to be multi-dimensional going forward but when we needed him, he made the plays.” Coach Billy O’Gurek of Marian stated after the game.

Marian Catholic (1-0) will be at home against Tri-Valley next Friday night. The Bulldogs defeated York Catholic 50-14. Hanover Area (0-1) will face another tough opponent, on the road, Riverside Vikings, Riverside edged Dunmore 17-14.

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