SAINT CLAIR — For Marian freshman running back Tyler Price, his time has arrived.

With the Colts trailing by four points in the fourth quarter and their fate uncertain for the upcoming District 2/11 Class A sub-regional playoffs, they needed a spark to rally past Nativity yet again.

Well, Price was right on the money in a 10-play, 76-yard drive that gave the Colts a 21-18 Schuylkill/Colonial Blue Division victory that improved their playoff seeding for the upcoming semifinal round Friday. Operating out of a Wildcat formation, Price had five carries for 50 yards — the last 40 coming with 9:19 remaining for the winning touchdown that overcame the 18-14 lead Nativity had forged with a third-quarter rally.

Marian (6-4, 5-4 Blue) rallied to take a 14-6 halftime lead with two second-quarter touchdowns and the all-so important extra-point kicks by Jah Bushati. Nativity (6-4, 5-4 Blue) was unsuccessful in any of its three conversion attempts — the extra-point kick hitting the left upright after Sam Walborn’s 4-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, and failing on both two-point attempts in the third quarter.

“We wanted to pick the right spot to go with Price because it was a new look for them,” Marian head coach Bill O’Gurek said. “I almost went to it in the first half, but I knew they would make adjustments at halftime to stop that play.”

As has been their wont, the Colts pounded away with the punishing runs of sophomore Rory Dixon, who carried 24 times for 95 yards, giving him 1,179 yards on 226 carries for the season. When the Colts changed up and went with Price running the option, the Green Wave had no answer, and he finished with 10 carries for 110 yards.

“No, we hadn’t seen that,” Nativity coach Pat Mason said. “What was the big thing was not being able to get anything going and find consistency on offense.”

With two-way starter and U.S. Naval Academy recruit Sam Spolski still sidelined with an injury, Sam Walborn was the main running threat with 17 carries for 70 yards. Running for third-quarter touchdowns were Nick Wagner and Ben Kreitzer, but on a combined 11 carries that netted minus-11 yards.

Noah Dolbin added to his standout season with four receptions for 70 yards, but the pressure on Kreitzer was relentless.

And although Marian’s Dylan Rodino completed just 3-of-4 passes, his 47-yard touchdown pass to Michael Gelatko in the final two minutes of the half was a stunner and made the score 14-6.

With the playoffs opening next weekend, the injury jinx continues to hurt the Green Wave. Guard George Shimko and two-way back Mike Stank left in the third quarter with injuries.

Marian 21, Nativity 18

Marian 0 14 0 7 - 21

Nativity 6 0 12 0 - 18

Nat. - Walborn 4 run (kick failed)

Mar. - Dixon 2 run (Bushati kick)

Mar. - Galetko 47 pass from Rodino (Bushati kick)

Nat. - Wagner 6 run (run failed)

Nat. - Kreitzer 5 run (pass failed)

Mar. - Price 40 run (Bushati kick)