2023 District XII Catholic League Red Division Preview
Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 12, News
Anthony Franklin | August 22, 2023
Catholic League Red Division
The CL Red Division will remain the big school CL Division for the 2023 season. Defending CL/City/State Champions St. Joes Prep, La Salle, Archbishop Wood, Father Judge and Roman Catholic all return vying for the league championship. There is continuity within this division with no new head coaches.
St. Joes Prep: 2022 record 13-1: The 2022 season started on the road against nationally ranked St. Aquinas (FL) and Prep despite being down big early mounted a comeback that would ultimately fall short in a 48-37 loss. That loss would be the only time the Hawks loss the duration of the season. They’d run through their league competition until the CL 6A title game where they eeked out a 21-13 win over rival LaSalle. The state playoffs they would go on to outscore their 4 opponents by an average of 48-10. The 2023 team returns all state performers on both sides of the ball in Sr. QB Semaj Jones (Cincinnati), Sr. WR David Washington Jr (Kentucky), Sr. WR Brandon Rehmann (WVU), Sr. WR Elijah Jones (Cincinnati), Sr. RB Kahseim Phillips (Towson) & CB Omilio Agard (Wisconsin). Also, a newcomer who will make an immediate impact on the Hawks will be Junior OT Kahlil Stewart who played the last two seasons at rival Roman Catholic. Coach Tim Roken has once again set a demanding out of conference schedule starting with national powerhouse IMG Academy which will air on ESPN2, followed by St. Peter’s Prep (NJ), a trip to Lakeland (FL) and Don Bosco Prep (NJ). The CL league games should be more challenging for the Hawks this year and yet they’ll be favored to their 3rd state title in 4 seasons.
Roman Catholic: 2022 record 9-3: The Cahillites return for another chance at the CL Red Division title. Last season in an hyped game they fell to SJ Prep 42-0. Head Coach Prete returns for his 5th season at the helm with his most experienced team to date. They return super soph QB Semaj Beals, Jr. DE Lazaryus Toombs (Northeast Transfer), Sr. RB Jah Jah Boyd (James Madison) & rising So. WR Ash Roberts. Gone are DL. Jamiel Lyons (Penn State), WR Tyseer Denmark (Imhotep/Penn State commit) and Jr OL Khalil Stewart (SJP). Look for Roman to be competitive in the CL Red Division and ultimately have a return matchup in the 5A City Title game with Imhotep. Roman’s non-league schedule includes games against Wilson, Abraham Lincoln & Episcopal Academy, DeMatha (MD) and Cheltenham.
La Salle College: 2022 record 5-6: The Explorers are led by HC Drew Gordon and look to rebound from the rare sub .500 season in which they uncharacteristically lost 2 games by more than 30 points (Malvern 35, Bishop McDevitt 48). The 2022 season was a year of youth and inexperience however some bright spots did occur giving hope for a promising 2023 season led by now Soph. QB Gavin Sidwar who as a freshman last year threw for 651 yards & 7 TDs in only 5 games before suffering a season ending injury early in the first SJP game. The Explorers also return sensational Sr. RB Stevie Davis who missed 3 games last season due to injury. Stevie in just 8 games rushed for 619 yards & totaled 4 TDs. Sr OL/DL Lukas Donahue (Merrimack) leads the hogs upfront. Defensively they’ll have to replace all state and all league performer DL Darnold Dengohe (James Madison) but return a strong secondary. The Explorers will open the season with local rival North Penn before taking on Inter-Ac program Malvern prep, Bishop McDevitt and Haverford School.
Archbishop Wood: 2022 record 1-7: The Vikings lost lots of talent leading up to the 2022 season due to graduation & transfer however they pulled together and battled their CL foes and even upset PL member Northeast for their lone win of the season. Gone are All-State performer TE Markus Dixon (Clemson), All State DL Eric Gardner (Army) and All League OL Cole Evans (Army) but the Vikings offense will return starting Jr. QB Frankie Mawson (460 yards with 3 TDS, 2 rushing TDs) & Jr. RB/LB Naikai Robinson. The Vikings will face off with Northeast once again in non-league play while also taking on Archbishop Ryan, George Washington & High School of the Future. Look for the Vikings to compete a lot better this year in CL play while getting back to their winning ways.
Father Judge: 2022 record 4-8: The Crusaders are led by HC Mike McKay and are anxious to rebound from a disappointing 2022 season. The year started off on the wrong foot losing to Olney and Pope John Paul II in one score games. As good as the wins were against Frankford (49-14) & Ryan (38-6) the losses to SJP (48-14) negated any momentum. The season ended on a great note as they continued their thanksgiving winning streak (since 1989) over neighboring Lincoln HS. Returning are Sr. WR/CB Nymeir Appling (41/603 6 TDs, 3 interceptions), Sr. WR Eric Smith (6 total TDs), Sr. QB Tyler Yerkov (9 rushing TDs & 9 passing TDs) and Sr. OL Sean Broderick (LIU Post commit). Aside from their CL Red schedule the Crusaders will open the season with CB South, Spring-Ford, neighboring rival Archbishop Ryan, Pope John Paul II, William Tennant & the Thanksgiving rivalry game with Lincoln.
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