Philadelphia Catholic League Red Division Preview

Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 12, News, pfn

Anthony Franklin | August 17, 2024

CL Red

The 2024 season begins with change in alignment for the Catholic league divisions. The archdiocese voted and approved dropping Archbishop Wood and Archbishop Ryan down from the Red Division to the Blue division while promoting Bonner-Prendie and Cardinal O’Hara up to the Red Division.

Preseason Rankings

1. St. Joes Prep

2. Roman Catholic

3. La Salle

4. Bonner-Prendie

5. Cardinal O’Hara

6. Father Judge

St. Joes Prep Hawks

Classification: 6A

Head Coach: Tim Roken (Career Record: 44-7)

2023 Team Record: 13-1 (PIAA 6A Champions, CL Red & District 12 6A champions, finished ranked in top 10 in country)

2024 Outlook: The Hawks are the 2x defending PIAA 6A champs and have won 5 out of the last 6 state titles. They look to make another state championship run while breaking in a new quarterback for the first time in 3seasons. They also will need to replace 3 now FBS receivers but do have an Ohio State commit RB returning along with 3 big lineman including an Illinois commit. Defensively they return most of their unit and should be a force within the state.

Key Players Lost:

QB Semaj Jones (Cincinnati)
WR Brandon Rehmann (West Virginia)
WR David Washington Jr. (Kentucky)
CB Omillio Agard (Wisconsin)
K/P Skyler Sholder (Delaware)
DE Sean McNulty
OL Lakeem Steele (Merrimack)
LB Nick McGlynn (Air Force)
WR Elijah Jones (Cincinnati)
CB Shamir Johnson (Towson)
OL KJ Towns (Towson)

Key Newcomers:

Sr. QB Tre Henning
So. QB Charlie Foulke

Key Returnees:

Sr. LT Khalil Stewart (Illinois)
Sr. RB Isaiah West (Ohio State)
Sr. DB/LB Anthony Sacca (Notre Dame)
Sr. DL Maxwell Roy (Ohio State)
Sr. WR/DB/RS Rameir Hardy (Temple)
Sr. OL Bleek Turner (Monmouth)
Sr. LB Cam Smith (Penn State)
Jr. Edge/LB Alex Haskell
Sr. DB Ryan McDonald
Sr. OL Shane Toolan
Sr. OL Christian Leonard

ROMAN CATHOLIC CAHILLITE

Classification: 5A

Head Coach: Rick Prete (Career Record: 27-24)

2023 Team Record: 9-3 (CL 5A Champions & District 12 5A Runner-Ups)

Top Teams in League:

Prep
Roman
LaSalle
Father Judge

2024 Outlook: Roman was just a couple minutes away from winning the District 12 title and quite possibly the PIAA 5A championship had they dethroned Tep in the city title game. With most of the offense returning and key defensive pieces returning coupled with Tep moving up to 6A this could be the year Roman breaks through. Coach Prete stated “This year will be a year of ups & downs & will test us. We have an incredibly difficult schedule opening with Neumann Goretti, then St. John’s (DC) as well as games with DeMatha Catholic (MD) & Malvern Prep that we are hoping preparing us for a playoff run. We have a great senior class that we will require leadership from as we navigate the season”.

Key Players Lost:

Ath Jah Jah Boyd (Indiana)
DB Mikey Preston (West Virginia)
DL Samir Thompson-Dean (King’s College)
DL Jahmir Diabiara (Monroe Community College)
OL Devon Jackson (Shippensburg)
Devin Johnson
RB Dazhaun Hopkins (Dusequene)
DB Trey Woodley

Key Newcomers:

SS JoJo Deleece
CB Julian Green
CB Chris Palmer (Monmouth commit)
DB Justus Gaskin
CB Andrew Wood
WR/DB Eisa Nealy
RB Xavier Kingcade
RB Jeremiah Tabb
DE Julian Enoch (Central HS)
OL Sebastian Waddell
WR Malik Williams
WR CJ Miller

Key Returnees:

Sr. DE Jaasai Simmons 6-2 225
Sr DE Lazaryus Toombs 6-2 230
Jr. QB Semaj Beals 6-1 180
Sr. FS Lou Gaddy 5-10 170
Jr. WR Ashdan Roberts 5-10 170
Jr. Ath. Eyan Stead 5-10 1808
Sr. WR Tayden Miles 5-8 160
Sr. DT Mykell Ford 6-1 285
Sr. DT Freddie Dinardo 6-2 225
Sr. LB William Felder 6-2 210
Sr. OL Shawn Zarkrewski 5-10 230
Sr. OL Lou Cerone 6-0 240

CARDINAL O’HARA LIONS

Classification: 4A

Head Coach: Mike Ewing (Career Record: 8-15)

2023 Team Record: 7-5

Top Teams in League: We are in a new league so I’m not sure yet.

2024 Outlook: The Lions shocked many people in 2023 being ultra-competitive and giving the CL Blue teams like Bonner, O’Hara and Egan all, they could handle in league play. They came just short of qualifying for the state playoffs. With a 3^rd year returning QB, an stud OL headed to a Power 5 school next year and with a stout defense they look to transition to the CL Red Division while still being competitive in a move that should allow them to compete for the CL 34 PIAA playoff berth. Coach Ewing states“We look to continue to build on last year’s success.”

Key Players Lost:

RB/DB Keon Powell (California PA)
RB/OLB Zion Knox
TE/DE Ethan Schulcz (Stevenson)

Key Newcomers:

Sr. DE Ishane McEwan 6-4 240
So. RB/DB Aaron Madeh 6-0 175
So. LB/RB Max Brown 6-0 185
So. C Davonte Ferrigon 6-4 240
Jr. Shane Finnegan 6-5 180

Returning Starters:

Sr. LB John Brown 6-0 195
Sr. WR Logan Maloney 5-10 160
Sr. DB Matt Hippert 5-11 170
Sr. WR/DBJay Borelli 5-9 150
Jr. WR/DB Jalen Patterson 6-1 175
Jr. LB/Ath Sidique Kamara 6-1 220
Sr. WR/DB Khalil Epps 5-11 165
Jr. QB John Welde 6-2 195
Jr. WR Fode Wilks 6-0 165
Sr. LB Kobe Okyne 6-0 200
So. RB/LB Sammy Dantonka 6-0 215
So. RB/LB Isaac Day 5-9 200
Sr. OL/DL Dameer Bright 6-0 220
Jr. OL/DL Tristian Laing 6-1 230
Jr. DE Hakim Allah 6-0 225
So. OL Jayden King-Gant 6-3 290
Jr. Mike Davis 6-1 240
Sr. OL Nate Kutufaris 6-6 280 (Duke)

LASALLE COLLEGE EXPLORERS

Classification: 6A

Head Coach: Drew Gordon (Career Record: 0-0)

2023 Team Record: 6-5

2024 Outlook: On paper the 2023 LaSalle College football program underachieved, but the team was fairly young. They are now a year older, experienced and with a Power 5 commit QB under center they look to challenge SJP and Roman for the CL Red Division title as well as challenge SJP for the leagues 6A PIAA playoff berth. Coach Gordon is a first year HC but is a former Explorer QB and has been a long time assistant so there should be little to no adjustment for his players to his style of play.

Key Players Lost:

DB Carson Wakefield
FB/HB Gavin Muller
FB/HB John McSorley
DL Kieran Campbell
OL Lukas Donahue (Merrimack)
OL Andrew Brennan

Key Newcomers: N/A

Returning Starters:

Jr. QB Gavin Sidwar (Rutgers)
Jr. DL Jemel Williams
Sr. WR Jullian McFadden (Syracuse)
Jr. WR/DB Joey O’Brien
Sr. LB Jack Leuthe
Sr. LB/Ath Dylan Clair
Sr. WR Jimmy Dolan
Sr. DB Chris Fileppo (West Virgnia)
Jr. RB Desmond Ortiz

FATHER JUDGE CRUSADERS

Classification: 5A

HEAD COACH: Frank McCardle (Career Record: 73-71)

2023 Team Record: 5-7

2024 Outlook: The Crusaders will go into the 2024 season looking to be competitive while fielding a young team that lost the majority of its offensive output last season.

Key Starters Lost:

WR/SS Nymeir Appling
QB Tyler Yerkov
DE/TE Denzel Dunbar
RB/DB Eric Smith
DT/OL Chris Coulter
OL Shane Kilbride
DL Will Barrera
OL Daniel Dooley
OL Sean Broderick

Key Newcomers: N/A

Key Returnees:

Sr. Jamal Jones 5-11 165
Jr. Rocco Westfield 6-1 160
Jr. Gavin Hutz 5-8 150
Sr. Derrick Kennedy 5-11 175
Sr. Christian Haigh 5-10 165

BONNER-PRENDIE FRIARS

Classification: 4A

HEAD COACH: Jack Muldoon (Career Record: 50-36)

2023 Team Record: 10-3 (CL and District 12 4A Champions & advanced to the state quarterfinals)

2024 Team Outlook: The Friars were a play away from advancing to the state semifinals last season. With 2 experienced QB’s returning as well as a talented defense they will play in the tougher larger CL Red Division. Playing against the other programs who are 6A will help them once it’s time to play for the 4A title.

Key Players Lost: