The Pilots' offense remained red hot on the red turf of Msgr. Milewski Field on the campus of Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Friday night, defeating the Eaglets, 49-25. The Pilots dominated the ground game, rushing for 431 yards, with six of their seven scores coming via the run. 

Junior quarterback Brady Drogosh got the ball rolling on the Pilots’ opening drive, with a 22-yard designed draw to put the Pilots up 7-0. The Eaglets responded on the ensuing possession, with junior quarterback Brayden Ledin finding senior DC Temple on a 26-yard pass. But, a missed PAT left the Pilots in the lead. 

The Pilots responded quickly with a 59-yard touchdown run by Drogosh, giving DLS a 14-6 lead. The Eaglets cut the lead with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Ledin to senior tight end Ben Meathe on fourth-and-4. It made the score, 14-13.

DLS senior running back DeNiro Johnson -- four carries for 24 yards and one TD -- answered with a 10-yard TD run, to give the Pilots a 21-13 at the half. 

“They (OLSM) started really loading the box up and started doing things we didn’t see them do on film, so we had to make a couple of adjustments," DLS head coach Dan Rohn said after the game. “We live and die with our O-line. The group has a lot of three-year starters, and they played really well. And, we have a plethora of backs that were able to get in and make some plays.”

Eight different Pilots carried the ball Friday night, with Drogosh leading the way with 15 carries for 186 yards and four TDs. Sophomore RB Rhett Roeser had 139 yards on 11 carries. Meanwhile, senior Alton McCullum finished with three carries for 47 yards. 

The Eaglets intercepted a tipped pass on the Pilots' opening possession of the second half. Ledin connected with Temple again for a 26-yard score. A missed 2-point conversion kept the Pilots ahead, 21-19.

From there, Drogosh and the Pilots’ ground game responded with scores on consecutive possessions: Drogosh with a 43-yard score and a Drogosh QB sneak, which was set up by a 48-yard run from Roeser to the 1-yard line.

“The offensive line did a great job all game long. They had some tough, big defensive linemen to go up against, and they did a great job opening up holes for me, Rhett Roeser, DeNiro (Johnson), Seth Ray -- all of us,” Drogosh said. 

The Pilots intercepted a Ledin pass on the next series. This time, the Pilots’ air attack took over. Drogosh connected with McCullum on a play-action pass for 46 yards, which took DLS inside the Eaglets' 10-yard line. Drogosh and McCullum completed the drive with a 5-yard pass, giving the Pilots a 42-19 lead. Dogosh finished 6-for-11 for 96 yards. 

“Brady continues to get better and better. It’s impressive. Not only is he a good leader, but a good teammate and he can make a lot of plays. As he continues to grow, we’re going to be a better football team," Rohn said. 

Senior backup QB Jack Hall added his own score late in the fourth quarter, to cap the Pilots' scoring. The Eaglets added a late score, as well. 

The Pilots' defense stepped up in the second half, stymieing the Eaglets’ air attack and limiting OLSM to only one TD, albeit on a short pass after a Pilots turnover at the start of the second half.

Rohn was very complimentary of his defense following the game. 

“I think our kids were in position a lot tonight, and we got some pressure on the quarterback. The problem is when you have a kid like that (Temple), it’s tough to guard him, and he’s going to make some plays," Rohn commented. "I  know our defense was a little frustrated about what they did tonight. I’m not. I think we can build on it and get better.”

The Pilots (4-0, 2-0 Catholic League Central Division) head home to host Detroit Catholic Central on Friday, as part of Alumni Reunion Weekend. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Wayne State University’s Tom Adams Field.