In recent years, the magic number for qualifying for the District 11 Class 1A playoffs has been six.

Stan Dakosty, the long-time legendary coach at Marian, was well aware of that.

Dakosty and the Colts have been searching for the sixth win for the last several weeks.

They now have it.

It may have taken to the last weekend of the regular season, but the Colts nailed it down, then got a double bonus in the process with this 20-7 home win over Pine Grove Friday evening.

Marian will likely be the second seed in district after Tri-Valley lost to Williams Valley and Nativity was knocked off by Minersville.

The points, which determine the seeding in the four-team field, were enough to push Marian up to that second spot, behind No. 1 seed Minersville. And it also gives Marian a home opener in the postseason tournament, next Friday against Tri-Valley.

“The kids played very hard, I’m very proud of them, we are banged up,” Dakosty said.

Marian was without three starters and a fourth, Jayden Fermin, has been out since the sixth week.

The Colts ran off a pair of quick touchdowns, riding the legs of freshman back Rory Dixon, who pounded away for 163 yards on 28 carries. One of which included a nifty cutback run to the end zone from 21 yards out.

Senior Jess Rodino gained 93 yards on 9 carries, racing 41 yards for Marian’s first touchdown.

Marian’s first touchdown culminated a 4-play march with 10:01 on the first quarter clock. Rodino was the key in the second scoring drive, paving the way for Dixon as he mowed down potential tacklers at his fullback spot, helping to spring Dixon for his touchdown run.

“These guys played so hard,” Dakosty said. “There were four-five teams that were rated ahead of us when the season started.”

While the early offensive fireworks fueled the lead, it was Marian’s defense that came up big. It shutdown one of the area’s premier running backs in Lane Lehman, who was held to 23 yards on 11 carries.

He did catch six passes from Evan Karenda for 109 yards. In total, the Cardinals were forced into a passing attack, giving them their best offensive output of the contest (226 yards) and their only touchdown - a 48-yard pass to Robbie Schaeffer.

By the time Pine Grove found the end zone there was only 2:26 to play. Marian had basically put the game out of reach when superb talented end Mike Gelatko hooked up with quarterback Bruce Hopeck for a 23-yard scoring strike.

“The way our defense played, considering we had four players who are jayvees and just played Monday, it was a great effort,” Dakosty said.

That shored-up defense held Pine Grove to a total of 12 net yards rushing on 18 attempts. It was spearheaded by Jess and James Rodino, Gelatko, Dixon, and Julian Hermany.

Pine Grove hardly found Marian territory until late in the second half.

Marian’s defense forced six punts.

Pine Grove’s touchdown was on a 65-yard drive. Karenda tossed a 12-yard completion to Owen Hannevig on a third-down play, before Schaeffer caught the scoring pass.

“That long touchdown pass took some wind out of our sails,” Dakosty said. “Hats off to Pine Grove for the way they battled.”

“It’s a great win for the school, great win for the program,” Dakosty said.

HE SURE CAN RUN ... For a freshman, Dixon has stepped up when his number was called in the Nativity game. That’s when the Colts lost Fermin to a season-ending foot injury.

HE CAN RUN AND BLOCK ... Dixon rode the tail of powerful Jess Rodino at fullback.

UP NEXT ... Colts host Tri-Valley Friday and will get a chance to atone for a loss to the Bulldogs. “I was disappointed the way we didn’t finish,” Dakosty said about the lack of energy in Week 9.