Southern Secures State Title Appearance Over Lansdale Catholic

Tagged under: District 12, District 4, Gameday Hub, News, Playoffs

Dave Fegley | November 29, 2025

Tigers beat Crusaders 24-7

Heading into the locker room tied at 7-7, Southern Columbia realized that Lansdale Catholic was the toughest opponent that it had faced all season.

It makes sense considering it was the Eastern Final, but the Crusaders appeared as if they were a play from striking at any moment.

After halftime, Southern did what it has done time after time. The Tigers defeated the Crusaders 24-7 and will take on the Farrell/Seton LaSalle winner in Friday afternoon’s PIAA Class 2A State Championship. SCA will by vying to extend their Keystone State record to 15 state golds.

“After falling short last season with losing in our district playoffs, just getting back a year later is a huge accomplishment for this group of players,” said Southern head coach Jim Roth. “It can be a lot mentally for these guys. We have a lot of returning starters and they were disappointed with the way last year ended. They wanted to get back to the final and they earned the right to do so.”

Southern quarterback Ayden Hockenbroch put his team in front with a score on the opening drive. The Tigers used a seven-play drive full of runs to take the initial lead on his 13-yard carry.

Less than two minutes later, Nick O’Brien tied the game after busting off a 43-yard carry down the right sideline to give Lansdale Catholic something to cheer about.

Neither team scored again in the first half, and Lansdale Catholic got the ball first in the third quarter.

Then, the Tiger program showed why it has now remarkably won a 23rd Eastern Final in 24 attempts since 1994.

Less than two minutes into the third quarter, the Tigers scored nine points while running just one play offensively.

Preston Shadle’s third quarter kickoff stopped at the one as the Crusader return man was hoping it went into the endzone. SCA’s Keagan Diehl tackled James Webb at the two as the Tigers would get two on the scoreboard moments later.

Following a safety on a high snap, Lansdale got the ball right back as the ensuing kick ricocheted off a Tiger player in the front line. Two plays later, on another high snap, Southern defensive end Chase Williams recovered a fumble at the three.

“I saw the ball on the ground, so I just went flying after it,” said Williams. “Their quarterback was trying to muffle with it at first, but I went in with the mentality that it was my ball. The momentum was huge as early in the third quarter was a huge turning point in the game.”

Grady Garcia punched it in on the next play from three yards out to make the score 16-7.

Hockenbroch would later score in the third quarter on a 31-yard carry. Brayden Andrews added a two-point conversion to make the score 24-7 with 3:51 left in the third quarter.

“That’s a machine of a program we just lost to. I am proud of our guys. Our seniors gave it their all and that’s all you can ask for from a great group of young men,” Lansdale Catholic head coach Dom D’Addona said.

From that point, the Tigers feasted defensively. As any championship caliber program does, they didn’t stop until the clock hit zero.

“We approach it as you don’t consider the game over until it is really over, but we were feeling the momentum,” said Southern senior Ethan Makowski who had a strip sack in the fourth quarter.

The Tigers didn’t attempt a pass after halftime. Not because Hockenbroch wasn’t capable. After all, he had gone 15 for 17 the previous two games through the air. It was simply because they didn’t need to.

Following the win, the junior quarterback was satisfied that his team is headed back to Cumberland Valley as they will have a shot at a 15th Pennsylvania title overall.

“Our fans provide us with so much momentum. Their cheering gives us the motivation that we need,” said Hockenbroch. “As a player, it is nice having them provide the energy and excitement in supporting our play on the field.”

Over the final 24 minutes, Southern’s defense limited the Crusaders to negative yardage on the ground.

“As the game went on, especially in the second half, our kids played with more confidence. That was pretty evident, and the pursuit to the football was much better after halftime,” said Tiger defensive coordinator Andy Mills. “We were sloppy in the first half between coverage and tackling. Give our kids credit though, they responded with a great performance in the final two quarters.”

Southern Columbia 24, Lansdale Catholic 7

Lansdale Catholic (12-3): 7-0-0-0 — 7

Southern Columbia (14-1): 7-0-17-0 — 24

SCORING:

First quarter

SC – Ayden Hockenbroch 13 run (Preston Shadle kick), 7:53.

LC – Nick O’Brien 43 run (Raymond Williamson kick), 5:54.

Second quarter

None.

Third quarter

SC – Safety, 10:51.

SC – Grady Garcia 2 run (Shadle kick), 10:03.

SC – Hockenbroch 31 run (Brayden Andrews run), 3:51.

Fourth quarter

None.

TEAM STATISTICS

LC – SC

First downs 8 – 15

Rushing-yards 25-45 – 46-273

Passing (C-A-I) 14-19-0 – 3-6-0

Passing yards 151 – 35

Total yards 196 – 308

Fumbles-lost 3-2 – 3-2

Penalties-yards 10-79 – 3-25

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Southern Columbia — Grady Garcia 11-77, TD; Joey Williams 9-66; Ayden Hockenbroch 10-61, 2 TDs; Brayden Andrews 13-57; Parker Pesarchick 2-13; Team 1-(-1). Lansdale Catholic — Nick O’Brien 5-43, TD; Boa Cobbold 12-12; Braeden Smith 1-6; John Cobbold 3-3; Asher Thickening 1-2; Team 2-(-21).

PASSING: Southern Columbia — Ayden Hockenbroch 3-6-0, 35 yds. Lansdale Catholic — Boa Cobbold 14-19-0, 150 yds.

RECEIVING: Southern Columbia — Blaise Kissinger 2-27; Brayden Andrews 1-8. Lansdale Catholic — Asher Thickening 5-50; James Webb 2-27; Nick O’Brien 2-23; Saeed Robinson 2-18; Braeden Smith 1-17; Darren Jackson 2-16.

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