(KLZA)-- The reigning D2 State Champoions opened the 2014 playoffs with a 52-13 win over the Emerson-Hubbard Pirates Thursday afternoon at Jug Brown Stadium. 

The Irish jumped to a 22-0 lead after one quarter.  Austin Malone scored first on a 4-yard run to make it 8-0.  Malone then passed 43 yards to Sawyer Kean to go up 16-0 as Kean scored a pair of 2-point converstions. 

Malone then scored again from 1 yard away to go up 22-0.  Kean carried 20 times for 194 yards and three td's on the day.  He also caught a 43 yard scoring pass.  

The Pirates got two field goals from Leo Lauko including a 46-yarder and a 2-yard run from Nathan Hogan for their points.

Bailey Witt also caught a scoring pass for the Irish.

With the win the Irish are 7-2 on the season and will travel to Stuart next Wednesday for a 3 p-m game against the team Sacred Heart beat in the state championship game in Lincoln last year.