PFN’s Willie is Cookin’ in Philly Week Zero
Tagged under: District 1, District 12, News
Willie McGonigle | August 21, 2025
Hello and welcome to PFN’s Willie is Cookin’ In Philly. I’ve decided to rebrand my weekly notes column from What’s Happening in District I & XII to this. Join me each week as I tell you what’s cookin’ around the Philadelphia Area.
PCL Team’s hitting the road to begin season: St Joseph’s Prep and Roman Catholic will be heading out of the state to begin their seasons. The reigning 6A Champion Hawks will travel down to Florida to battle American Heritage High School on Friday Night in the Broward County National Football Showcase, which is held at Brian Piccolo Stadium on the campus of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Ft Lauderdale. The game, which kicks off at 6 pm, will be televised nationally on ESPN2. The Cahillites, fresh off their 5A Championship game appearance last season will open at Providence Day in Charlotte, NC.
Garnet Valley Hosts Annual Toy Drive: During heat acclimation week two weeks ago, the Garnet Valley Jaguars took time to host their annual toy drive. This season, the Jaguars collected over 1,000 toys, which were then dropped off at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Wilmington DE.
Cardinal O’Hara to Honor Championship Football Teams: On Friday, September 5, when the Cardinal O’Hara Lions host Archbishop Ryan, they will honor the 1985 team for their 40th anniversary of winning the Philadelphia Catholic League Championships. On September 12, when the Lions host Upper Darby, they will celebrate the 2000 team that won the PCL Red Division that team which was headlined by future NFL’er Kevin Jones.
Welcome to a new team: After playing last season as a JV team, the Audenried Charter Rockets will be moving up and playing Varsity this season. The Rockets’ first game will be against Cardinal O’Hara on Friday at 7 pm. The Rockets are led by former Strath Haven standout Roy Al Edwards and will compete in the American Division of the Philadelphia Public League.
New Faces on the sideline: The following coaches will be entering their first season at their respective schools: Ryan Nase (Father Judge) Brian Goettner (Archbishop Wood), Steve Honick (Archbishop Carroll) Brian O’Hara (Conwell-Egan), Bruce Fleming (Abington), Terrence Tolbert (Cheltenham), Gary Phillips (Great Valley, was previously head coach at school), Nick Felus (Neshaminy), Dale Smith (New-Hope Solebury) Darren Ryals (Penn Wood) Drew Devitt (Radnor) Dean Owens (West Chester East) Mike Palmer (Spring-Ford) Darrell Scott (Pope John Paul II) Corey Keen (Morrisville), Jordan Alexander (M.L. King) Frank McArdle (Harry S Truman)
Where Will PFN Be this weekend: For updates on the following games, here’s who to follow on X:
North-Penn at Downingtown East @williepafn
Garnet Valley at Coatesville @markayzeesports
Upper Merion at Lower Merion @jasonnapolimedia
Interboro at Strath Haven @nickmash2010
Quakertown at Southern Lehigh @LSVSports
Ben Franklin at Overbrook @afrankl3
LaSalle at Pittsburgh Central Catholic @cchastings1863
CB West at Easton @ScipScip @DanDiEdwardo
West Catholic at York Suburban @carterwphotos
Father Judge at Archbishop Ryan Saturday @afrankl3
Downingtown West at Bethlehem Freedom Saturday @ScipScip @DanDiEdwardo
Imhotep at Harrisburg Saturday @carterwphotos
Big Will’s Signature Dishes (Best Games of the Week)
LaSalle at Pittsburgh Central Catholic Friday, 7 p.m. What a way to start the season than a match-up between the number PFN #2 and #3 Ranked Teams in 6A
North Penn at Downingtown East, Friday, 7 pm North Penn appears motivated after losing in the District 1 6A Championship a year ago. They begin their revenge tour in the same place their season ended, Kottmeyer Stadium, although against a different opponent in Downingtown East
Unionville at West Chester Rustin Friday 7 pm: The reigning District 1 5A Champion Golden Knights kickoff their title defense against Chest-Mont rival Longhorns.
St Joseph’s Prep at American Heritage, Friday, 6 pm: The reigning 6A Champion Hawks get to showcase their talents in front of a National Audience on ESPN 2
Father Judge at Archbishop Ryan at Northeast High, Saturday Noon: The Ryan Nase era begins at Father Judge with the Battle of Northeast. There’s no love lost between these two long-time Catholic League rivals.
Imhotep Charter vs Harrisburg, Saturday, 7:30 at Small’s Athletic Field in York: The number 7th-ranked Panthers travel to York to battle the 4th-ranked Cougars
That’s it for this week, folks. As always, if you have something you feel should be featured in this notes column send a pm on X @williepafn or email me williepafootballnews@gmail.com
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