By Robert Wilson
Madison St. Joseph won its first football game this season after seven consecutive losses with a 42-27 victory over Natchez Cathedral Friday night on St. Joe’s homecoming in Madison.
And the Bruins can thank junior wide receiver-defensive back Riley Bianchini for playing a huge role in ending the losing streak.
The 6-foot-2, 170-pound Bianchini caught eight passes for a career-high 228 yards and one touchdown and ran four times for 25 yards and two TDs and had seven tackles and an interception in the victory.
For his outstanding performance, Bianchini has been named the Taste Restaurant/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Football Player of the Week.
Bianchini scored on a 10-yard run and a 1-yard run in the final two minutes of the second quarter and a 35-yard reception from junior quarterback Thomas Vanderloo in the third quarter.
Bianchini caught passes of 73 yards, 61 yards, 37 yards and 35 yards and intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter.
St. Joe hadn’t won a game since a 34-27 victory over St. Aloysius in the final game of last season.
Cathedral came into Friday’s game with a 4-3 record and a No. 138 ranking in MaxPreps. St. Joe came in ranked No. 213.
Bianchini has caught 31 passes for 703 yards, a 22.7-yard average, and four TDs and ran five times for 54 yards and two TDs and 33 tackles, 1 interception and 1 pass breakup this season.
“Riley has been one of the most consistent players throughout the year,” first-year St. Joe head coach Sam Vincent said. “He is a hard-working kid that makes a lot of big plays for us on both side of the ball. Riley has stepped into a big role for us and I”m excited to see him continue to grow. This week it kind of all came together for Riley. We were able to the him involved a few different ways offensively and he was able to execute at a high level. Then Riley helped seal it with a late interception. He had a great night. Riley made explosive plays and put us in great position to be successful.”
Bianchini is the son of Ryan and Haley Bianchini. Ryan played soccer, football and swimming at Brother Martin High in New Orleans and played soccer at Meridian Community College where they finished ranked seventh in the country in Ryan’s sophomore year. Haley played softball and basketball at Enterprise-Clarke High and graduated from Mississippi College. Bianchini’s sister Emma played softball, volleyball and was a cheerleader at Berwick, La., High and graduated from LSU. His other sister, Ella, played softball, volleyball and ran track at Berwick and played softball at LSU Eunice. She played travel softball team and won the Babe Ruth World Series in 2017.
Madison St. Joe goes its second straight victory with a non-district game Friday night at St. Aloysius, 2-5, in Vicksburg.
Robert Wilson selects a football player of the week each week from teams from Hinds, Madison and Rankin counties. To contact Robert, text him at 601.506.2276.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
WEEK ONE: Junior Wilson, Central Hinds Academy
WEEK TWO: Langston Branson, Germantown
WEEK THREE: Rod Murray, Murrah
WEEK FOUR: Luke Essary, Jackson Prep
WEEK FIVE: De’Montre Strange, Velma Jackson
WEEK SIX: Tyrone Robinson, Brandon
WEEK SEVEN: Aayden Spires, Callaway
