Ninth-ranked St. Mary’s used a balanced attack and an opportunistic defense to subdue Mount Carmel, 41-14, in a key MIAA B Conference matchup Saturday night at CCBC-Dundalk.

Senior running back Patrick Cary rushed for 108 yards on 20 carries for the undefeated Saints (6-0 overall, 3-0 MIAA B). Carson Petitbon added two rushing scores while completing 9-of-15 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns.

Saints coach Jason Budroni, whose team played just its second road game, was impressed.

“Things were clicking pretty well offensively tonight. I’ll take it. It was pretty good,” said Budroni, whose team’s prior road effort was a thrilling 36-30 overtime win against Loyola Blakefield last month.

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“Pat (Cary) ran the ball hard tonight. He’s a tough, strong kid. We just let him do his thing. 19 (Petitbon) can throw the ball. He did a good job of reading the defense. We caught them a couple of times with the RPO, and he caught them with the bootleg.”

St. Mary’s established a 21-0 halftime lead on Mount Carmel (3-2, 1-1 MIAA B), in its first season in the MIAA B after winning the C crown last fall. The Saints upped the lead to 41-8 entering the fourth.

Petitbon, a transfer from Gonzaga (D.C.) and Cary agreed the Saints’ offensive show on Saturday started with the line.

“They created the holes, I found them, ran through them and got to the second level,” Cary said.

“O-line definitely played well. Being able to run the ball allowed us to open up the passing game more than we have in the past,” said Petitbon. “It was great to see the pass game be successful.”

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Senior defensive back Nick Golini led the Saints’ defense with two interceptions, including a pick-six in the third quarter to put St. Mary’s up 28-0. Senior defensive back Gabe Villatoro chipped in with a third quarter interception, and junior linebacker Teddy Androus blocked a Cougar punt late in the second quarter to set up another Saint touchdown.

St. Mary’s turns its attention to No. 8 and reigning MIAA B champ Concordia Prep, which comes to Pascal Field in Annapolis, Friday night for a first-place showdown.

Concordia (3-0 MIAA B), which rallied past John Carroll Friday evening (30-14), defeated St. Mary’s twice last season.

“”It’s going to be a tough one. It’s going to be a battle,” said Budroni. “It’s going to be a short week, so we got to get ready.”