Fullback Jack Graham rushed for three touchdowns to lead the St. Pius X Golden Lions to a 42-12 Region 5-5A victory over the Lithonia Bulldogs at Hallford Stadium on Thursday night.

The St. Pius (5-1, 3-0) defense struck first on a Jack Tchienchou 17-yard interception return for a score on the first offensive play of the game. Jack Kirschner converted the PAT for the 7-0 lead with just 15 seconds gone in the game.

Shug Bentley picked off the second pass of the night for the Lions to set St. Pius up on the Lithonia 34. Five plays later Graham went in from six yards out to pick up his first touchdown. Kirschner again hit the PAT to make it 14-0 with 7:46 remaining the first quarter.

Graham finished off a 12-play, 68-yard drive with a five-yard TD run with 10:36 left in the first half. Dennis O’Shea passed to tight end Casey Ver Meulen for the two-point conversion to make it 22-0.

St. Pius went into the half up 29-0 behind Tchienchou’s 72-yard touchdown run. Kirschner made it 3-3 on PATS.

The third touchdown of the night for Graham came on an eight-yard run to cap a nine-play, 74-yard drive to open the second half for the Lions as they increased the lead to 35-0 with 7:39 left in the third period.

Luke Jacobellis closed out the Lions scoring with a one-yard touchdown with 2:37 to play. Kirschner kicked the PAT to make it 42-0 with 2:37 left in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs (0-4, 0-3) got on the scoreboard via a 34-yard touchdown run by Antonio Hayes Jr. with 21 seconds left in the third period. The two-point conversion was no good.

Lithonia’s Andrew Pierre closed the gap to 42-12 with a three-yard touchdown run with 2:05 to play.

Graham finished with 101 yards on 18 carries with the three touchdowns as the Lions rushed for 303 yards on 42 carries and five touchdowns.

Hayes finished with 76 yards on seven carries and the one touchdown to lead the Bulldogs.

In other action in DeKalb on Thursday, the Towers Titans (1-2, 1-1) battled South Atlanta to a 6-6 tie at the half before falling 28-12 in a Region 6-2A matchup at Avondale Stadium.

DCSD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE – WEEK 4
Thursday, Oct. 22
ADAMS STADIUM
Lovejoy (6-0, 1-0) vs. Tucker (2-1, 1-0),Postponed

AVONDALE STADIUM
South Atlanta (4-3, 4-1) 28, Towers (1-2, 1-1) 12

HALLFORD STADIUM
St. Pius (5-1, 3-0) vs. Lithonia (0-4, 0-3) 12

AWAY
Redan (2-1, 0-1) vs. Carver-Atl (1-4, 1-1), Lakewood, 7:00 pm

Friday, Oct. 23
AVONDALE STADIUM
Northview (1-3, 0-1) vs. Stone Mountain (1-2, 0-2), 7:30 pm

GODFREY STADIUM
SW DeKalb (1-2, 1-1) vs. M.L. King (1-2, 1-0), 7:30 pm

HALLFORD STADIUM
Miller Grove (1-2, 1-1) vs. Stephenson (2-0, 1-0), 8:00 pm

AWAY
Arabia Mountain (1-2, 1-1) vs. Mays (3-3, 1-1), Lakewood, 8:00 pm
Cedar Grove (3-0, 2-0) at Greater Atlanta Christian (5-0, 2-0), 7:30 pm
Chamblee (2-0) at Mt. Pisgah (2-3), 7:30 pm
Dunwoody (0-3) at Fellowship Christian (6-0), 7:30 pm
Lakeside (0-3) at Berkmar (0-5), 7:30 pm

Saturday, Oct. 24
GODFREY STADIUM
Columbia (2-1, 2-1) vs. McNair (0-3, 0-3), 7:30 pm