Photos: Lennie Malmgren, Kathy Leister, Krystal Williams
By: John Knebels
PHILADELPHIA – Drama in Philadelphia Catholic League football?
Not this year.
Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, Neumann-Goretti has formally wrapped up the Blue Division. Barring a monumental upset, St. Joseph’s Prep should clinch the Red Division.
Then comes the PIAA state tournament for those teams that qualify.
About those Saints at Neumann-Goretti . . . Led by a defense that held their opponent to 79 yards passing and negative-13 yards rushing, N-G seized its fourth title in six years by defeating host Archbishop Carroll, 28-0.
In their six PCL victories, the Saints have engineered four shutouts and surrendered only 21 points. Against Carroll, Neumann-Goretti rushed for 195 yards while quarterback Mehki Wharton tossed two touchdown passes.
Neumann-Goretti QB Mehki Wharton #10 - PSD Photo by Lennie Malmgren
“It was very important that we won it this year,” Wharton said. “We should’ve won last year. Everybody had a different mindset this year because of the loss in last year’s state championship.
Bonner & Prendie quaterback Noel Campbell #15 - PSD Photo by Kathy Leister
Bonner-Prendergast raised its record to 5-1 after upending Conwell-Egan, 14-7. Quarterback Noel Campbell completed seven-of-eight passes for 66 yards and a touchdown to Jalil Hall.
“It was a screen we have been practicing for long, and we finally ran it at the right time,” said Campbell, who often splits QB duties and has thrown three TDs in two weeks. “We exceeded it with timing and ball placement.”
Isaiah Session added a rushing touchdown. Both Session and Hall helped B-P’s defense – which has allowed only 49 points in six league games – shut down the Eagles’ passing game (34 yards on 11 attempts). Tayshaun Thenor rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown for the Eagles, who lost their third straight.
Cardinal O’Hara defeated host Archbishop Ryan, 21-14, for its third straight win while raising its record to 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the Blue.
Approaching this week’s season finale against visiting Lansdale Catholic, the Lions have put themselves in position to record their best winning percentage since 2016.
With 101 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries, Keon Powell surpassed triple digits for a second straight week. Sidique Kamara also scored a touchdown. John Brown’s interception aided a Lions defense that has given up only 62 points against PCL foes.
Cardinal O'Hara senior Keon Powell #1 - PSD Photo by Krystal Williams
“It’s important for me to run for a lot of yards because I know that if I do my job, we have a very good chance of winning,” said Powell, who has gained 821 yards this fall. “I also want to rush for as many yards as I can because I want to hit 1,000 yards, which would not only be a great achievement for me, but for my teammates on the offensive and our coaches as well.
“This week’s game means everything to us. It’s the most important game because it’s the next one. We want to close out the regular season strong and have the most wins we can.”
The Lions will face a Lansdale Catholic team that is also riding some momentum.
Lansdale Catholic Quarterback Cole Meehan #7 - PSD Photo by Zack Beavers
With Jacahi Streeter breaking loose for a career-high 201 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries, the visiting Crusaders beat West Catholic, 28-6.
Quarterback Cole Meehan found Darren Jackson for a touchdown pass while James Webb scored on an interception return.
“That ‘W’ was definitely needed because it gives us energy,” Meehan said. “It’s always fun when you can get everyone to play.
“We really want to finish the year strong. Our mindset is to just focus. Every game we play, we go into them all the same. O’Hara is a good team, and it’s gonna be a great game.”
The PCL Red Division has come down to annual defending champion St. Joseph’s Prep competing with Roman Catholic. Both squads are 3-0 and will meet on Saturday at Upper Dublin High School to decide the championship.
While the Prep (7-1 overall) played a non-league game – a 24-6 win at Maryland’s Spalding High School behind a running game that amassed a staggering 309 rushes on 57 carries led by quarterback Samaj Jones (19 carries, 102 yards, touchdown) and Isaiah West (14-for-87, two scores) – Roman edged La Salle, 27-21.
The sack-happy Cahillites (7-1 overall) spent significant time in La Salle’s backfield – leading to a negative-35 yards in rushing losses – and captured their fourth straight win and third straight regular-season victory over La Salle.
Quarterback Semaj Beals fired three touchdowns for a third consecutive week and has thrown three or more TDs in six of Roman’s eight games. La Salle counterpart Gavin Sidwar tossed a pair of scores.
“I felt like our kids were ready to play and were able to execute the game plan we had for La Salle,” Roman coach Rick Prete said. “Prep is a great program, and we’re excited for the opportunity to compete against them for the Catholic League title.”
Roman Catholic vs. La Salle - PSD Gallery by Kathy Leister
Father Judge used three touchdowns by Eric Smith to overwhelm Archbishop Wood, 35-0. Smith scored on two rushes and added a 46-yard scoring reception off one of two touchdown passes by Tyler Yerkov.
Leading Judge’s first shutout since 2021 were tackle Sean Broderick, safety Rocco Westfield, and cornerback Derrick Kennedy, who ignited the defense with an interception touchdown return.
“It was a good win,” Judge coach Frank McArdle said. “Kids played hard. We need to be sharper, but I was happy with our effort.”
Smith thoroughly enjoyed the touchdown execution.
“It was just a trick play we have been practicing and waiting to use, and it worked the same way it did in practice,” Smith said. “It’s really fun especially after going to the sideline and laughing about it with my coaches.”
Father Judge vs. Archbishop Wood - PSD Gallery by Krystal Williams
(Contact John Knebels @jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)
Tag(s): Home Schools Philadelphia Catholic Football Red Division Father Judge Football 6A La Salle Football 6A Roman Catholic Football 6A Saint Joe's Prep Football 6A Arch. Ryan Football 5A Arch. Wood Football 5A Blue Division Bonner & Prendie Football Cardinal O'Hara Football Conwell-Egan Football Lansdale Cath. Football Neumann/Goretti Football West Catholic Football Arch. Carroll Football 5A