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 3rd 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:
- RB Avery Hankey
- DB Dylan Abram (Imhotep)
- DL Mylachi Williams (Penn State)
- RB Isaiah Session (Lincoln Pa)
- WR/FS Wykil Fowler
- DB/LB Kenny Asong
Key Newcomers: N/A
Key Returnees:
- DB/RB Mick Johnson
- WR/DE Jalil Hall (West Virginia)
- QB Kenjai Gatling
- QB Noel Campbell
- WR Jeremiah Coleman
- DB Josiah Adams
