It was a feat the Marauders pulled off last year.

Guilfoyle topped Purchase Line, 38-0, Friday night inside Mansion Park to get win No. 1, and start its defense of the PIAA Class 1A title.

Play of the game: Bishop Guilfoyle’s Justin Wheeler Jr. returned a punt 52 yards for a score to give the Marauders a three-score advantage with 9:34 left in the first half.

Player of the game: Wheeler Jr., who plays quarterback, had 124 yards passing on 5-of-9 throwing, and added another score to go with his punt return.

BG’s Justin Wheeler lowers his shoulders to run through a Purchase Line defender on his way to the end zone. Photos for the Mirror by Jeremy Boland

Unsung heroes: Bishop Guilfoyle’s defensive line lived in the Red Dragons’ backfield all game long, combining for two sacks and three tackles for loss.

Most vital statistic: Purchase Line had 83 total yards of offense for the game –only 3 yards of passing.

Coach Wheeler: “I thought we played pretty well on both sides of the ball. The defense was swarming around and doing some good things. Offensively, besides some penalties early on, I thought we played pretty well and made plays. It’s a playoff win, so we’ll take those. Purchase Line, their kids battle, nothing comes easy, and they fought us. It was a good win for round one.”

Purchase Line coach Matt Falisec: “We knew what we were facing. People asked, ‘Are you gonna play the game?’ I said, ‘Yeah, we’re playing the game, to teach kids football’s life lessons, and you don’t quit. You play what you have scheduled.’ That team (BG) is very good, and a ton of speed. Their speed does not relate to anything we have in our conference. Their defense was all over the field.”

Notable: BG’s defense gave up a total of 20 yards in the first half. … The Marauders had nine penalties for 90 yards. … BG kicker Carter Boland had a 38-yard field goal. … The Red Dragons had six total punts — five alone in the first half.

Photo for the Mirror by Jeremy Boland BG's Jake Kissell takes the ball up field against Purchase Line.

Records: Purchase Line (3-8); Bishop Guilfoyle (9-2).

Next week: Purchase Line’s season is complete; Bishop Guilfoyle will be the home team against Homer-Center in the District 6 Class 1A semifinals. The game might be played on Saturday, Nov. 8.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Purchase Line 0 0 0 0 — 0

Bishop Guilfoyle 7 21 7 3 — 38

Photo for the Mirror by Jeremy Boland BG's Rocco Cacciotti (60) celebrates a touchdown with Evan Schimminger.

First Quarter

BG–Kissell 1 run (Cart. Boland kick), 7:42

Second Quarter

BG–Schimminger 49 pass from Wheeler (Boland kick), 11:51

BG–Wheeler 52 punt return (Boland kick), 9:34

BG–Kissell 7 run (Boland kick), 3:30

Third Quarter

BG–Hewitt 5 run (Boland kick), 6:43

Fourth Quarter

BG–Boland 38 FG, 11:06

TEAM STATISTICS PL BG

First downs 8 11

Total yards 83 277

Rushes-yards 43-80 26-153

Yards passing 3 124

Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 1-2-0 5-10-1

Punts-avg. 6-29.5 1-55

Fumbles-lost 3-1 0-0

Penalties-yards 5-40 9-90

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–Purchase Line, Bartlebaugh 23-43, Lotson 12-26, Frantz 2-8, Engle 1-7, Davis 2-1, Johnston 2-(-3), TEAM 1-(-2). Bishop Guilfoyle, Hewitt 11-65, Kissell 10-62, Wheeler 1-19, Lawson 2-9, Taddei 1-0, Criste 1-(-2).

PASSING–Purchase Line, Engle 1-2-0-3. Bishop Guilfoyle, Wheeler 5-9-1-124, Kissell 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING–Purchase Line, Bartlebaugh 1-3. Bishop Guilfoyle, Schimminger 2-72, Kissell 2-34, Gioiosa 1-18.