PFN’s Willie is Cookin’ In Philly Week 1
Tagged under: District 1, District 12, News, pfn
Willie McGonigle | August 27, 2026
Growing up, I used to dread August because it always meant summer was coming to a close and school would start soon. But since I started following and covering High School over 20 years ago, I now look forward to August because that means the high school football season is approaching. While many who know me will say baseball season is my favorite season of the year, they would be correct; football season is closely behind it and, on some days, takes the top spot. After spending the spring/summer months calling balls and strikes and, at times, getting yelled at by parents over calls and sweating it out in the kitchen at work, it’s great to be on the sidelines covering a game. The beautiful thing about this time of year is that every team, no matter who they are, has the dream and goal of ending their season walking off Cumberland Valley’s Chapman Field after being crowned State Champions. Now that we’ve gotten through Heat acclimation and camp week, it’s finally game week and time for our weekly look at What’s Cookin’ In Philly.
More Than Football: For the Garnet Valley Jaguars, Heat Acclimation week was more than just football. On Tuesday, the Jaguars hosted their Fifth Annual Toy Drive benefiting the Nemours Children’s Hospital in Wilmington, DE. The toy drive was a smashing success as the team and community donated over 1000 toys. On Wednesday, the team received CPR Training in addition to being shown how to use an AED.
Helping Their Catholic League Brothers: Over the summer, the practice facility that Roman Catholic is using was vandalized, causing thousands of dollars in damages and leaving them with a facility without restrooms and running water. This past Tuesday, the Cahillites received a donation of water and Gatorade from Catholic League rival Bonner.
Leaving on a Jet Plane: Philadelphia teams heading down out of state and taking some of the top teams in the nation is happening more frequently, and this season is no different. Fresh off their 5A State Championship, the Roman Catholic Cahillites are heading out to California, where they will battle St John Bosco Braves on Friday night. The Braves are currently ranked number 5 in the nation by Max Preps and are coming off a 38-28 loss to the number 1-ranked team, Bishop Gorman. On September 3rd, Simon Gratz will head down to Texas to battle Lone Star High School at The Star Ford Center Stadium, a 12,000-seat stadium that is at the Dallas Cowboys Practice Complex that is also partially owned by Frisco ISD and frequently used as one of their three stadiums for their football teams. St Joseph’s Prep is traveling down Tennessee to battle Brentwood Academy on September 4.
Iron Sharpening Iron: When the Philadelphia Catholic League Red Division opens league play on October 2, one thing is certain: Roman Catholic, St Joseph Prep, and LaSalle will all certainly be battle-tested. In addition to their opener against St John Bosco, the Roman Cahillites also have non-league match-ups with New Jersey Power Don Bosco Prep (September 4th, 7 pm at Widener University), at DeMatha (September 11) before staying local and facing Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (September 18). The Cahillites then open league play by traveling to Bonner. The St Joseph Prep Hawks’ non-league schedule, in addition to Brentwood Academy, includes New Jersey Power Bergen Catholic (September 12) and Inter-Ac Power Malvern Prep (September 19 at Franklin Field). The Hawks open CL Red play by traveling to Cardinal O’Hara. The defending 6A Champion LaSalle Explorers’ non-league slate includes New Jersey Power Paramus Catholic Friday at Ocean City High School, Malvern Prep (September 4th at Ocean City High School 5 pm.) The Explorers will then play a Catholic League cross-over game against the Blue Division’s Archbishop Wood on September 12 at William Tennett before heading down south to battle Maryland’s Calvert Hall (September 19, 2 pm) and Delaware’s Salesianum (7 pm, September 25). The Explorers’ defense of their Red Division title starts at home on October 3rd when they host Father Judge at Wissahickon High School with kickoff scheduled for 1 pm.
Heading Down the Shore: Philadelphia area residents love to flock down to Jersey Shore on Labor Day weekend for one last hoorah for the summer. Once again this season, if you are heading down the shore Labor Day weekend and still want to catch some high school football, Ocean City High School’s Carey Stadium is the place to be. The action gets started at Noon on Friday, September 4, when Archbishop Wood takes on Germantown Academy. At 5 pm Friday, LaSalle and Malvern Prep will get together for a heavyweight battle. On Saturday, September 5 the action gets started at 11 am when Lansdale Catholic meets Father Judge in a matchup that should be dubbed the Crusader Bowl. Bonner and Archbishop Ryan will cap the weekend off at Carey Stadium, kicking off at 3 pm.
Playing the Big Boys: After going 10-2 last season and capturing the Philadelphia Public League Liberty Division title the Belmont Charter Tigers voluntarily moved up to the Independence Division which means the Tigers who are a Single A school will battle the likes up 5A schools Imhotep, West Philadelphia and, 6A schools Northeast, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington. That will certainly help the Tigers, who begin the season ranked 3rd in Class A by PFN and who have the talent needed to make a run in the state playoffs.
Back to the Bicentennial: After spending last season as an Independent Delco Christian has rejoined the Bicentennial League. 2025 marked the return to 11-man football for Knights who spent the previous couple of seasons playing 8-man football. Spencer Ferrari-Wood is the first-year Head Coach for the Knights.
Moving Around: This season is the first season of a new two-year cycle for PIAA, which means some teams have moved classifications. Here’s a list of moves
District 1 Penn Wood: Up to 6A was 5A, Harriton: up to 5A was 4A, Lower Merion down to 5A was 6A, Chichester: down last season was 5A Playoff team to 4A, Interboro: Up to 5A was a 4A playoff team last season Renaissance Academy: Up to 2A was 1A
New Faces/Places, Old Faces/New Places: As is the case with every new season, coaching changes here’s schools with new Coaches:
District 1
Norristown: Derrick Norris, Pennsbury: John Greiner, Bensalem: Mitch Cohen, Upper Merion: Mike Choi, Council Rock North: Vince Bedesem, Delco Christian: Spencer Ferrari-Wood, Harriton: John McAllister, CB South: Bart Szarko and John Cataldo (Co-Head Coaches)
District 12 Kipp Dubios: Devin Washington, Simon Gratz: Albie Crosby, Thomas Edison: Reuben Pine, Neumann-Goretti: Byron Barnes.
Picking Parade Returns: After a successful first season, Anthony Franklin and I are pleased to be bringing back our weekly head-to-head competition in which we will pick winners of certain games. You can check out our picks for this week Here
Where’s PFN: Here’s who to follow for updates from the following games. Here’s who to follow on X:
Archbishop Carroll at Marple Newtown Friday 7 pm @Nickmashmedia
Abington at Kennett Friday 7 pm @Baileybmedia
Methacton at Pottsgrove Friday 7 pm @EmilyWallSutt
Nazareth at Garnet Valley Friday 7 pm @williepafn
Easton at CB West Friday 7 pm @LSVSports
Olney at Central Friday 3 pm @AfranklinPFN
Bartram at Bishop Shanahan Friday 7 pm @markayzeesports
Southern Lehigh at Quakertown Friday 7 pm @gardnerbmedia
Archbishop Ryan at Father Judge Saturday Noon @AfranklinPFN
Salisbury Township at South Philadelphia Saturday Noon @dridallmedia
Camden at Imhotep Saturday 6 pm @dridallmedia
Northeast at Downingtown East Saturday 7 pm @williepafn
PFN Willie’s Signature Dishes (Best Games)
Chester at Strath Haven Friday 7 pm: Early season test for teams who figure to be primed to make a long postseason run in District 1 5A
Coatesville at Plymouth Whitemarsh Friday, 7 pm: Both the Red Raiders and Colonials have high expectations for this season.
Springfield Delco at Perkiomen Valley: Friday, 7 pm. Last season, Springfield nipped Perkiomen Valley in a high-scoring affair, 33-31. Will the Vikings get revenge, or will the Cougars begin their District 1 5A Title defense with a victory?
Camden (NJ) at Imhotep Saturday, 6 pm Germantown Supersite: One of the best teams from New Jersey makes the quick trip across the Delaware River for a showdown with one of Pennsylvania’s Best Teams
That’s all for this week, folks. As always, if you have something that you feel could be in any of this season’s What’s Cooking, feel free to reach out to me via DM on X at @williepafn, or email williepafootballnews@gmail.com
