The St. Pius offense put the pedal to the metal and the results were a fourth consecutive victory to open the 2016 high school football season and a demoralizing loss for Chavez.
Panthers’ quarterback Grant Gunnell threw for 303 yards and five touchdowns. Wide receiver Bryson Jackson had TD receptions of 10, 24, 60 and 25 yards. Running back Justin Hull rushed for 251 yards on 18 carries, including touchdown runs of 8 and 56 yards, as St. Pius rolled to a 61-20 victory at Barnett Stadium.
The Gunnell-Jackson connection wasted little time getting warmed up with two touchdowns in the first quarter to give the Panthers a 14-0 advantage.
Chavez (2-2) answered with a 70-yard TD pass from quarterback Davaziea Wilson to Tavoris Mitchell.
Then lightning caused a 30-minute break in the action as game officials instructed both teams to leave the field.
When play resumed, St. Pius continued the offensive onslaught with 24 points in the second quarter as Gunnell scored on a 31-yard keeper and then connected with his brother William on a 20-yard TD reception.
David John Selby concluded the first-half scoring with a 40-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter giving the Panthers a 38-14 lead at intermission.
Grant Gunnell, a 6-foot-6 sophomore, is the top-rated quarterback in the nation for the 2019 graduating class.