FOOTBALL: Rare Drama Unfolds in PCL Red and Blue Divisions

Photos/Videos: Zack Beavers, Jahmir Dunbar, Donna Eckert, John Knebels & Aaron Mitchell

By: John Knebels

PHILADELPHIA – Rarely have the Philadelphia Catholic League Red Division standings felt so precarious. Roughly at the halfway mark, three teams remain in contention for the PCL crown.

Same theme applies for the PCL Blue, as outlined later.

With defending champion La Salle and St. Joseph’s Prep sitting at 1-1, undefeated Roman Catholic (2-0) currently holds the inside track.

Some clarity should arrive after this Friday night’s high-stakes matchup between St. Joseph’s Prep and Roman Catholic at Widener University. A Roman victory would allow the Cahillites to control their destiny. The Prep, however, faces a steep climb: because of tiebreaker implications, the Hawks not only need to win, but do so decisively. Nothing short of a 20-point triumph would keep their championship hopes realistically alive.

And don’t count out Bonner-Prendergast. The Friars (2-0) still must face La Salle, Prep, and Roman in successive weeks, meaning the race could tighten even further before it’s done.

How it got this way

This uncommon drama stems from two pivotal games over the past two weeks.

On September 26, social media lit up during a back-and-forth thriller between La Salle and Roman Catholic. The Explorers entered unbeaten, and many assumed the Cahillites might be overmatched.

Not so fast.

Behind senior quarterback Semaj Beals (25-of-40, 355 yards, five touchdowns) and standout receivers Ashdan Roberts (9 catches, 132 yards, three touchdowns) and Eyan Stead (6 catches, 106 yards, a touchdown, and one of Roman’s three interceptions on defense), Roman stunned La Salle, 39-36.

Coach Rick Prete praised his team’s resilience.

“Proud of our guys for the way they compete week to week,” said Prete. “There was never a doubt on our side about the opportunity we would have if we executed correctly. Our execution was just okay, which is exciting because we have room for growth. Playing a national schedule the past two years has elevated our program. It’s made us ready to compete in one of the best leagues in the country, and it’s great to see our kids don’t take a backseat to anyone. We don’t shy away from anything.”

Roman Catholic vs. La Salle - PSD Game Highlights by Aaron Mitchell

Roman Catholic vs. La Salle College HS - PSD Photos by Aaron Mitchell

While some labeled the win an upset, Beals paid little attention to the pregame narrative.

“We just kept working,” said Beals. “Our coaches prepared us for it, and we just had to stay focused and execute the game plan.”

Roman Catholic Head coach Rick Prete recaps game vs. La Salle - PSD Video by Aaron Mitchell

QB Semaj Beals was confident to get the win vs. La Salle - PSD Video by Aaron Mitchell

Eyan Stead says this victory was important to begin PCL play- PSD Video by Aaron Mitchell

That focus won’t change for the Prep matchup.

“We play a nameless and faceless opponent every week,” said Beals. “It’s one game at a time – a 1-0 mindset every week.”

The Next Chapter

Fast forward to October 4 at Franklin Field, where a huge crowd gathered for one of the nation’s oldest rivalries. They witnessed another memorable clash.

La Salle raced to a 17-0 halftime lead and never looked back, defeating St. Joseph’s Prep, 31-20. At no point did the Explorers seem in danger of surrendering their three-score cushion.

Whenever the Prep crept close – thanks largely to electric sophomore receiver Jett Harrison, who torched the defense for 13 receptions, 166 yards, and three touchdowns from junior quarterback Charlie Foulke – the Explorers had an answer.

Senior quarterback Gavin Sidwar (20-of-34, 324 yards, four touchdowns) and two-way standout Joey O’Brien (10 catches for 141 yards on offense; six tackles and three pass breakups on defense) led the charge. Senior Jimmy Mahoney contributed an interception and a touchdown catch, while senior Colton McAleer also picked off a pass. Junior Trey Hopkins tallied seven tackles, helping to counter Prep senior Brandon Lockley, who notched 10 tackles, three of them for losses.

O’Brien credited La Salle’s vocal fan base for fueling the team’s intensity.

“We build off their energy,” said O’Brien, a Notre Dame commit. “I kind of had a smile on my face the whole time because it was just so much fun. We didn’t get complacent. We weren’t looking at the scoreboard.”

That earlier loss to Roman, he said, was a wake-up call.

“The loss definitely helped us because we knew we didn’t play as well as we could,” said O’Brien. “It was a reality check. We thought we could just show up and beat anybody, and that wasn’t the case.”

La Salle vs. St. Joseph's Prep - PSD Photos by Aaron Mitchell

La Salle vs. St. Joseph's Prep - Game Highlights by John Knebels for PSD:

Quarterback Sidwar echoed that mindset.

“It was huge for us to get back on track,” he said. “Against Roman, we didn’t play to our standards at all – myself included. We had two options: dwell on it or attack the rest of the year. That’s what we did – come out and execute on all levels.”

Sidwar praised his offensive line for setting the tone.

“It’s really a credit to the way they block and protect,” he said. “That’s how you move the ball downfield.”

Unstoppable QB Gavin Sidwar fired four touchdown passes - PSD video by John Knebels

Jimmy Mahoney twice altered momentum with a TD & an interception - Video by John Knebels

Joey O’Brien never backs down when the spotlight shines brightest - PSD Video by John Knebels

JP Oates sums up his all-around terrific performance vs. St. Joe's Prep - PSD Video by John Knebels

To some, Bonner-Prendergast remains under the radar despite being the defending Class 4A state champion and standing 5-1 overall. That’s just fine with the Friars, who have handled their first two league contests with ease.

In a 22–10 win over Cardinal O’Hara, quarterback Noel Campbell tossed three touchdown passes – one apiece to Danny Buxton (52-yarder), Tarif Nixon (29-yarder), and Dylan Abram.

Ty Morris caught six passes for 56 yards, while Saleem Frank took care of business on the ground with 114 yards on 19 carries. The Lions’ defense contributed a safety and an interception by Nixon.

Against Father Judge, four different players found the end zone in a 31–0 shutout. The Friars’ balanced attack combined Campbell’s accuracy (14-of-23, 175 yards, two touchdowns) and Morris’s consistency (six catches, 64 yards, one touchdown) with the running trio of Frank (10 carries, 63 yards, 11th touchdown), Mekhi Martin (seven carries, 49 yards), and Omarie Demercado (five carries, 27 yards, one touchdown).

Bonner & Prendergast vs. Cardinal O'Hara - PSD Photos by Jahmir Dunbar

This Friday, Father Judge (0-2) travels to Cardinal O’Hara (0-2) as both search for their first league win.

Blue Division Theater

Lansdale Catholic (4-0) and defending champion Archbishop Ryan (3-0) appear headed for a collision course, but this weekend’s games could shake up those expectations.

If LC defeats visiting Archbishop Wood (2-1) on Friday and Archbishop Ryan avoids an upset against Archbishop Carroll (0-4) on Saturday, the two meet October 18 at Northeast High School for what could decide the division crown.

Lansdale Catholic has surely been studying the tape from Ryan’s nail-biting 28–26 win over Wood this past Friday. Raiders senior quarterback Dave Spinelli completed 16 of 24 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns while adding 42 yards rushing. Classmate Jordan Cotton chipped in 95 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and one of two team interceptions.

In defeat, Wood junior quarterback Jack Drakeley tied a career high with four touchdown passes, three of them to senior Trey Smith (6 catches, 152 yards). The Vikings still have championship hopes, but that requires a win over Lansdale Catholic – followed by an LC win over Ryan. Since point differential among three teams is the second tiebreaker, the Vikings would also need to score plenty.

Archbishop Ryan vs. Archbishop Wood - PSD Game Highlights by Donna Eckert

Archbishop Ryan vs. Conwell-Egan - PSD Photos by Zack Beavers

The same goes for West Catholic. At 2-1, the Burrs must sweep their final three games and pile up points, including at Archbishop Ryan in the October 26 season finale.

After an uncharacteristic 0-2 start, Neumann-Goretti bounced back with consecutive wins over Archbishop Carroll, 32-12 and Conwell-Egan, 12-6. That clinches a spot in the PIAA Class 3A clash on November 8.

Struggling uncharacteristically at 0-4, Conwell-Egan came close in a 26-23 overtime loss at West Catholic despite key production by Sekai Hall (season-best 93 yards rushing and a touchdown), Joel Joseph (74 yards and a TD on six carries), and a 31-yard touchdown catch by Jaeden Thenor; in a subsequent 48-13 defeat at Archbishop Ryan, Thenor caught three passes for 99 yards and a touchdown from quarterback Aubrey Kimbrough.

But West Catholic survived behind quarterback Josiah Everett’s four touchdown passes and two scores by Sya’mir Jackson. This past Saturday, Everett threw three more scores in a 24-6 victory at Archbishop Carroll.

Though few support deciding PCL football division titles without a traditional playoff, the upcoming showdowns in both the Red and Blue Divisions might as well be considered playoff games.

(Contact John Knebels at jknebels@gmail.com or on ‘X’ @johnknebels.)