PIAA Class 6A Title Game Preview: Central Catholic

Tagged under: District 7, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs

Billy Splain | December 5, 2025

Central Catholic v La Salle College

Head Coach: Ryan Lehmeier
PIAA District 7 – Class 6A
WPIAL 6A – Section 1

Overview

The Vikings have cruised through their regular season and playoff schedule averaging 42 points on offense while giving up just 10 per contest. Their lone loss? The season opener to La Salle, a 23-6 game that never saw the Vikings threaten to win. They were breaking in new players against a veteran Explorer team that was fine tuning. Coach Ryan Lehmeier used the rest of the season to fine tune his offense behind a massive offensive line led by 6-5, 285. Junior left tackle Jimmy Kalis is 6’7”, 285 lbs., Junior left guard Jon Sassic is 6’6”, 285 lbs., Senior center Matt Bowers is 6’4”, 285 lbs. Senior right guard Cole Bayer is 6’0”, 295 lbs. and Junior right tackle James Halter is 6’5”, 270 lbs. Kalis holds offers from more than fifty major schools. Sassic has at least ten. Bowers is committed to Princeton. Bayer, the schools deadlift record holder has a handful of offers and Halter is committed to Notre Dame.

The Vikings run a fast paced offense but have had some setbacks due to injuries, but everyone is healthy now and hungry to get PCC a title, something they have not done since 2007, a 21-0 win over Parkland.

2025 Schedule

Key Players:

Offense:

Owen Herrick – The sophomore quarterback has done nice things for PCC throwing for 2,313 yards and 19 tds.

Roman Thompson – A junior, Thompson has run for 839 yards but more importantly he’s found the endzone 29 times

Jayden Alexander – Another junior, Alexander has run for 742 yards and 8 scores.

Chrys Black Jr. – As of late, this is their money back. He’s only 5-7, 170 pounds but don’t tell him that. The sophomore electrified the crowd last week with his finesse and power, making moves to get loose and find big chunks of ground.

Receivers:

Aiden Nasiadka, Maceo Watkins Jr. and tight end Colsen Gatten have combined for 1,700 yards and 16 scores

DEFENSE:

Look out for Black and Thompson, they lead the team in tackles.

As good as he is at TE, Gatten is fun to watch on defense.

Keys to winning-Offense: 

The Vikings will need to stay disciplined. Keep that up fast paced, up tempo offense rolling may give La Salle fits. It worked for Roman Catholic. Making holes for Black Jr. will be important to open the run game. But most of all, they need to keep the flags off the field and not hurt themselves.

Keys to winning-Defense: 

This may sound cliche but this defense needs to keep everything in front of them. Don’t let O’brien get behind them or it will be a long night. Getting pressure on the quarterback to disrupt that Explorer flow will also be important.

Roster:

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