PIAA Class 5A Playoffs First Round Game Preview: Roman Catholic Travels to Zephyr Stadium to Face Whitehall

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Dan DiEdwardo | November 12, 2025

Fresh off their 35-24 win over the Pocono Mountain East Cardinals for the District XI 5A championship, the Whitehall Zephyrs will stay home to battle the Roman Catholic Cahillites in the First Round of the PIAA Class 5A Playoffs. The Cahillites are coming off a 48-0 win over the Olney Trojans in the District XII Class 5A championship game. Roman Catholic is on a 4-game win streak and Whitehall is on a 3-game win streak, setting up a heavyweight matchup between two red hot teams.

Whitehall’s success is powered by their Jr. QB, Tanner Dogmanits, who has thrown for 2,172 yards on 202 attempts and has a 23 to 5 TD-INT ratio. Tanner has also contributed on the ground with 530 yards on 93 attempts and 11 TDs. Tanner’s top receiving target is one he knows very fondly. His older brother, Sr. WR, Talon Dogmanits leads the team with 1,014 yards on 50 receptions and 12 TDs. However, the Zephyrs will be without 2 of their top weapons for the rest of the playoffs, as their leading rusher and Jr. RB, Jeziah Gregory, who had 1,049 yards on 156 carries and 20 TDs, as well as Sr. WR, Bryce Medina, who had 523 receiving yards on 39 receptions and 1 TD due to PIAA transfer rules. This leaves Sr. RB, Justin Hussett to carry the load, as he has 561 rushing yards on 72 attempts and 7 TDs on the season. They will also need Sr. WR James Hopkins to step up and replace Medina, as he has 4 receptions for 49 yards and 1 TD on the season before being transitioned to WR2. Another notable weapon is Iskander Blanco, who had an impact on both sides of the ball last game, including a 1 yd TD run and a crucial sack late in the game to help preserve the win for the Zephyrs.

On the other side, the Roman Catholic Cahillites are led by their Sr. QB, Semaj Beals, who has 2,111 yards on 257 attempts and has a 27 to 1 TD-INT ratio. He also has 66 carries for 180 yards and 2 TDs on the ground. The Cahillites have a balanced offensive attack, with 4 WRs north of 350 yards. Those WRs are led by Sr. Ash Roberts, who has 587 yards on 41 receptions and 8 TDs, Ash also had a kickoff return for a TD in their playoff win against Olney last week. Following Roberts is Sr. Eyan Stead, who has 478 yards on 39 receptions for 6 TDs, Jr. Jayden Alford, who has 377 yards on 21 receptions and 2 TDs, as well as Eisa Nealy, who has 358 yards on 27 receptions and 5 TDs. Their rushing attack is led by Sophomore, Tre Montgomery, who has 90 carries for 430 yards and 2 TDs. Behind their explosive offense, Roman Catholic has won 4 games by 26 or more points this year and pose a threat to any defense they face.

Both Whitehall and Roman Catholic possess explosive offenses that can put up 40+ points on any given night, but the Cahillites enter this game at full strength and a deep WR core, as opposed to a Whitehall team that is missing their top RB and WR2. Add in the fact that Semaj Beals is having one of the best statistical QB seasons in PA right now with 27 TDs and only 1 INT, I can’t pick against a team as hot as the Cahillites, even if Whitehall has the home field advantage.

I think Roman Catholic defeats Whitehall by a Score of 45-31.

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