Philly Catholic League Playoff Preview & City Rankings
Tagged under: District 12, News, pfn, Playoffs
Anthony Franklin | October 31, 2025
City Rankings
Top 10
1. La Salle
2. St. Joes Prep
3. Malvern Prep
4. Roman Catholic
5. Bonner-Prendie
6. Imhotep
7. Abraham Lincoln
8. Episcopal Academy
9. Cardinal O’Hara
10. Lansdale
HM
1. Archbishop Ryan
2. John Bartram
3. Springside Chestnut Hill
4. Belmont
5. Conwell Egan
6A CL Title Game
St Joes Prep v La Salle: The most anticipated game in the city has huge implications as arguably the two best teams in the state will clash with the winner advancing to the state playoffs while the loser season is over. In the early season game La Salle dominated early jumping out to a 17-0 lead. Prep played better in the second half but La Salle defense made key plays to hold off for a 31-20 win. Prep is hoping what happened last year where they lost the regular season matchup but won the playoff game and went on to win their 3rd straight state title. La Salle is in search of redemption as they went undefeated last year 10-0 until the title game where they fell to Prep blocking them from capturing their second ever state title.
What to expect: La Salle is led by 5 offensive stars including a dominant offensive lineman. Sr QB Gavin Sidwar (Missouri) has thrown for 2137 yards and 27 touchdowns so far this season. Sr WR Joey O’Brien (Notre Dame) has 834 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. Jr RB Ahzir Nelson has 487 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns. Jr WR Owen Johnson has 558 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns. Sr LT Grayson McGough (Notre Dame) leads the offensive line and Sr TE John-Patrick Oates (James Madison) has 4 receiving scores on the season.
Prep is led by Jr. QB Charlie Foulke who has 1868 yards and 28 touchdown passes. Sr RB Khyan Billups (Monmouth) leads the Hawks in rushing with 649 yards and 6 touchdowns. So. WR Jett Harrison has 810 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns. JR WR Alston Frisbey has 530 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. Defensively Sr DL Alex Haskell (Syracuse) has 5 sacks mixed in with his 24 tackles. Jr LB Brandon Lockey leads the team in tackles with 55.
Both teams have quality kickers and this game could ultimately come down to special teams maybe a field goal to win the game.
CL 5A Finals
Father Judge v Roman: In the regular season matchup a few weeks ago Roman coasted to a 56-7 win. The rematch will be played with higher stakes a CL championship and District 12 title game berth against Olney.
Roman: Roman last year fell short in the state title game in overtime and have been on a mission this season to return and complete he mission. Sr QB Semaj Beals (Akron) has 2201 passing yards and 28 touchdown passes while adding 3 touchdowns on the ground. Sr WR Ash Roberts (Temple) has 11 total touchdowns to go with 632 yards receiving. Sr Eyan Stead (Temple) has 8 touchdown receptions while adding 2 interceptions on defense.
Father Judge: The Crusaders have struggled this season with a 3-7 record. QB John Fogarino is a dual threat who has 939 yards and 7 touchdown passes while also rushing for 512 yards and 6 scores on the ground. DB Robert Gormley leads the team in interceptions with 3 while LB Jacob Brennan leads the team in tackles with 47.
What to expect: Roman is talented and maybe more of a complete team than last year as they have a better balanced offense while the defense is great at forcing turnovers. Roman should roll into the D12 title game while Judge will play hard and physical they’re just not quite ready for the champs.
CL 4A Playoffs
Bonner v Wood: The defending state champs begin their quest to repeat with a familiar opponent in Archbishop Wood whom they played early in the season and defeated 35-7.
Bonner: The Friars are led by Sr RB Saalem Frink (Stonehill) who has 684 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. Jr QB Noah Campbell is the signal caller with 1292 yards and 11 touchdown passes. Sr WR Ty Morris leads the team in receptions and yards with 41 and 480 to go with 3 touchdowns. Sr LB CJ Amobi (UMass) leads the team with 39 tackles, 6.5 sacks and 1 interception returned for a touchdown.
Wood: Wood enters this game with a 4-6 record but all of their divisional losses have been by 1 score. Offensively they’re led by Jr QB Jack Drakeley who has thrown for 1829 yards and 22 touchdowns. The top receivers are Sr Kenny Montgomery (53-704-9) and Navy commit Sr Trey Smith (38-767-8). Jr RB D’Andre Webb is the leading rusher with 9 touchdowns.
What to expect: Bonner used their depth in the early season matchup to wear and tire down Wood in the second half. Bonner is on a 3 game losing streak losing to Roman, SJ Prep and LaSalle all in consecutive weeks. Those games should prepare them for a physical Wood team seeking revenge and a chance to earn a PIAA berth.
O’Hara v Archbishop Ryan: A rematch of a week 2 game this season in which O’Hara walked away with a 3 point victory. The rematch is a game in which the loser season is over for a month until thanksgiving while the winner will get to play in the CL 4A title game and keep their state title dreams alive.
O’Hara: The Lions at 6-4 are looking to challenge not only for the CL title but the state title led by a strong offense. Sr RB Amahj Gowans leads the league in rushing with 1488 as he’s rushed for over 100 yards in every game this season except 1. Amahj also has 16 total touchdowns. Sr QB John Welde has 740 yards passing to go with 6 touchdowns in the air. Defensively Sr DL Tristan Laing leads the Lions with 7 sacks to mix in with his 22 tackles.
Ryan: The Raiders are 8-2 with their two losses coming by a total of 5 points. Ryan is the CL Blue Division champions going undefeated in league play. Sr Athlete Dave Spinelli has 528 rushing yards, 756 passing yards, 11 passing touchdowns, and 6 rushing scores. Sr RB Jordan Cotton has 660 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. Defensively Sr LB Austin Lyons has a team leading 77 tackles and 4 interceptions. DL Danny Celins leads the league in sacks with 10.5.
What to expect: Similar to the first game this will be a tightly contested game. Ryan won last week on the foot of their sophomore kicker so don’t be surprised if this game has a similar ending for either of these teams.
3A CL Title Game
Neumann Goretti v Conwell Egan: After a rocky start to the season NG bounced back to finish the regular season at 6-4. In an earlier season matchup NG squeaked out a 12-6 win. The winner of this game will play PL champion John Bartram on 11/15 to advance to the PIAA playoffs.
NG: The Saints with Fr QB Marquise Coleman (650 yards and 3 touchdowns) seems to be hitting its stride. Sr RB Mahki Mitchell leads the team in rushing with 646 yards and 7 touchdowns. His backfield mate So. RB A’mar Woodson has 499 yards and 8 total touchdowns.
Egan: The Eagles went through a stretch this season where injuries forced many starters out for a prolonged period of time. Things are looking up as many key contributors are back just in time for the playoffs. Villanova commit Sr DB Abu Folana is the leading scorer with 5 total touchdowns with 3 rushing, 2 receiving and 1 kick return.
What to expect: Another rematch from the regular season and there is the chance this could even be an overtime game as they are evenly matched. Neumann is a little more balanced offensively however Egan has played a tough schedule and ready for repeating as the 3A champions.
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