District 12/Inter-Ac Week 2 Preview & Notes

Tagged under: District 1, District 12, News, Non-PIAA, pfn

Anthony Franklin | September 5, 2025

We are officially 2 weeks into the season and things are starting to shake out in all 3 Philly City Leagues as all teams have at least 1 game under their belt. In the Public League Imhotep looks to be the king while Lincoln is just behind them. Northeast, Washington, John Bartram & all are behind those two. In the Catholic League La Salle and Bonner are both off to a 2-0 start, while Roman Catholic split their games in NC and FL. Defending state champ St. Joes Prep is 0-2 for the first time since 2007 with a bye this week to heal up and prepare for another nationally ranked program next week. Cardinal O’Hara looks to be formidable at 2-0 but the roughest part of their schedule is approaching. In the Inter-Ac Malvern Prep gave La Salle everything they could handle in a 7 point defeat that came down to 1 play. SCHA made quick work of Central in route to a shutout victory and Episcopal had no issues with Simon Gratz rolling to a 52-0 victory. After 2 weeks here are my city rankings (Top 10 and 5 Honorable Mention)

District 12 Week 2 Preview:

City Top 10:

1. La Salle
2. St. Joes Prep
3. Roman Catholic
4. Bonner-Prendie
5. Imhotep
6. Malvern Prep
7. Cardinal O’Hara
8. Lincoln
9. Archbishop Wood
10. Springside Chestnut Hill Academy

Honorable Mention

1. John Bartram
2. Lansdale Catholic
3. Belmont Charter
4. Archbishop Ryan
5. West Catholic

Best Games of the Week:

Imhotep @ DeMatha: The Tep is fresh off a huge victory over Eagle Academy 43-18 in which Jr. QB Joe McLeish threw for 407 yards and 4 touchdowns with two receivers going for 100+ yards each to even their record at 1-1. DeMatha is coming off a huge win over SJ Prep (45-17) in which they dominated the 2^nd half running away with the ball game. QB Tristian Stagg threw for 116 yards & rushed for a touchdown. RB Elijah Lee ran for 82 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively Jr. S Kynair Crumb hauled in two interceptions including returning one for a touchdown. DeMatha is in the middle of a D12 schedule as they beat SJ Prep last week, host Tep this week and will travel to Roman Catholic next weekend.

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy @ Roman Catholic: Roman improved to 1-1 on the season with an impressive 49-35 road win over Cardinal Newman (FL). Sr. QB Semaj Beals (Akron) threw for 336 yards & 6 touchdowns. Sr. WR Ashdan Roberts (5-107-3 touchdowns), Jr. WR Jayden Alford (2-106-1 touchdown) and So. RB Tre Montgomery (2-41-1 touchdown) led the offense. Defensively Sr. Eyan Stead and So. Sabir Dawson both recorded interceptions. Springside Chestnut Hill is led by Sr. QB Liam Zelman (Holy Cross), Sr. OL Kyle Cameron, Jr. PK James Brenan-Rothschild, Sr. DL Amari Fallen, Sr. WR Aaron Clark (Buffalo), Sr. DL Sadeik Willis and Sr. LB Harry Kull. Both programs feature talent looking to take the next step. SCH is a senior led team hoping to finally break through and win the Inter-Ac while Roman is looking for their first state title in program history.

Abraham Lincoln @ Coatesville: Lincoln defeated Germantown Academy for the second consecutive season down at the Battle of the Beach to earn their first win of the season. Sr. QB Kareem Moore Jr. lit Germantown Academy up in the air passing three touchdown passes to Sr. WR Elvin Beh in the win. Coatesville defeated Smyrna (Delaware) 46-42 in a shootout in which QB Matt Ortega Jr. threw for 238 yards & 5 touchdowns. RB Sage Bradshaw led the team in rushing with 80 yards on the ground. This figures to be a great District 12 v District 1 matchup.

Archbishop Wood @ Bonner: Wood fell narrowly to Cardinal O’Hara in what could be a playoff preview later in the season. QB Jake Drakeley threw for 285 yards & 3 touchdowns with Sr. WR Tery Smith going off for 151 yards & 2 touchdowns along with an interception on defense. Sr. Kenny Montgomery chipped in with 74 receiving yards & a touchdown. Bonner continued their title defense with a stout win over Ryan (26-0) with Jr. Noah Campbell (163 yards & 1 touchdown) leading the way. Sr. Ty Morris led the team in receiving with 93 yards and Sr. WR/DB Dylan Abram (Temple) chipped in with 55 yards. Sr. RB Saleem Frink rushed for 2 touchdowns in the win. This game features two 4A programs and playoff seeding could very well come into play later this season.

LaSalle @ Salesianum: LaSalle is the top ranked team in the state sitting at 2-0 with wins over top programs PCC & Malvern Prep. Last week they held off Malvern for a 42-35 win down at the shore behind Missouri commit Sr. QB Gavin Sidwar (14-18 222 yards & 3 touchdowns), Jr. RB Ahzir Nelson (66 yards & 1 touchdown) & Sr. WR/DB Joey O’Brien a Notre Dame commit (5 receptions, 123 yards & 3 touchdowns). Salesianum opened their season with a dominating 52-6 win over Red Lion Christian Academy (DE). Jr. DB Jett Healey shined with a 94-yard interception returned for a score, Sr. LB Ryan VanKerkhoven added 4.5 tackles and a fumble recovered & Sr. Athlete Jasir Gaymon pitched in with 71 rushing yards. Sallies is the state runner up in 2024 in Delaware and should be a formidable opponent for LaSalle.

Northeast @ Chester: The Vikings are reeling dealing with injuries and still trying to find their identity. In their two first games they’ve been outscored 26-6 and 36-0 by suburban opponents. Game three they travel to Chester in search of their first win of the season. Chester on the other hand is flying high at 2-0 with shoutout wins over their first two public league opponents defeating Lincoln 20-0 and George Washington last week 55-0 behind stellar play from Sr. RB Shadrach George (56 yards, 1 touchdown & 1 interception returned for a touchdown), Fr. RB Kanif Doward (103 yards & 2 touchdowns) and Temple commit Sr. DB Daron Harris (72 yard punt return for touchdown). Chester looks to go 3-0 against the Philly Public League after this weekend.

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