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Smooth Sailing: LaSalle Reaches First State Championship Game in 15 Years with Rout of North Penn

Tagged under: District 1, District 12, Gameday Hub, News, Playoffs

| November 29, 2025

WARRINGTON: Every championship-caliber team has its stars that get all the attention, then they have players who fly under the radar but make big contributions. In an offense that features Missouri commit Gavin Sidwar, JMU commit JP Oates, and Notre Dame commit Joey O’Brein, it’s easy to forget about Jimmy Mahoney. On Saturday, Mahoney caught three passes, two of which went for scores, helping the LaSalle Explorers rout the North Penn Knights 49-14 and earn their first appearance in the PIAA State Championships in 15 years.

The game marked the first game back from an ankle injury that sidelined Mahoney for the Explorers’ last three games. “It feels great to be back on the field making big plays, scoring touchdowns.” Mahoney said, adding, “I was really disappointed the last two weeks that I couldn’t be out there with my guys, but they show up every single day, grind and make it easy to make plays.

“He got hurt on the first drive of the St Joe’s Prep game, so we haven’t had him for three games, so it was great to get back on the field, his speed, he’s a complete player, and he really completes our offense, and I’m just happy to have him back,” Sidwar said of Mahoney.  Those sentiments were echoed by Explorers Head Coach Brett Gordon, who said, “ Jimmy’s been banged up a little bit, so we haven’t had a chance to see much of Jimmy, so glad he’s back there; he gives us a different aspect to our offense.”

When asked about what it’s like playing on an offense with so much D1 talent, Mahoney said, “They make it really easy surrounded by a ton of guys, big-time players, great athletes, great people. They make it easy to make plays on and off the field. I wouldn’t want to be with any other group.

Things didn’t start off the way the Explorers expected them to, as on the game’s second play, they were bitten by the turnover bug. Mahoney fumbled the ball, and the Knights fell on it. The Explorers’ defense quickly forced the Knights to go three and out. On their second possession, the Explorers drove 35 yards on four plays with Sidwar finding O’Brein for the 13-yard touchdown and 7-0 lead.

On the ensuing Knights’ drive, the Explorers’ defense forced a turnover on downs, and on their first play following the turnover, the Explorers added to their lead with Sidwar connecting with Zykee Scott for a 40-yard touchdown.

On the next Explorer drive, Ahzir Nelson extended the lead to 21 with his 19-yard touchdown run.

On their ensuing drive, the Knights showed signs of life, reaching Explorers 28 before Matt Buckstar was intercepted by Oates. Two plays the Knights got their second turnover of the game, recovering an O’Brein fumble. On their next play, the Knights coughed the ball up, and the Explorers recovered.

Four plays after recovering the fumble, the Explorers extended their lead to 28 when Sidwar connected with Mahoney on a screen play and raced 72 yards for the touchdown.

On the Explorers’ next possession, Sidwar and Mahoney connected again, this time for a 24-yard touchdown, bringing the score up to 35-0. In the first half, Sidwar completed 16 of 20 passes for 247 yards and four touchdowns.  Mahoney finished the game with 3 catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns.

On their first possession of the second half, the Explorers made it 42-0 when Luke Gordon connected with O’Brein on a screen pass and raced 51 yards for the touchdown.

Aiden Ashley broke the Explorers’ shutout with his one-yard touchdown plunge with 5:31 left in the third quarter. The Knights then got another score when Buckstar connected with Mason Franek for a 16-yard touchdown.

Brandon Murray capped the day’s scoring with a 54-yard touchdown run for the Explorers.

For Photos from PFN Photographer Ryan Scipio click Here

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