Turnovers Doom Bishop McDevitt in State Title Loss to Roman Catholic
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Jared Samuel | December 6, 2025
Last year’s Class 5A title game was a wild one between Roman Catholic and Bishop McDevitt that ended up in overtime, with a missed field goal and a barely made field goal in the extra period being the difference in a 34-31 Bishop McDevitt victory for their 3rd State Championship. And when both teams advanced this season to play each other again with a state title on the line, many wondered if it would be another back and forth affair. Unfortunately, in this year’s version of the “Catholic Showdown”, McDevitt was done in by 4 untimely turnovers as Roman Catholic defeated Bishop McDevitt 28-6 to win their first state title.
Roman Catholic won the toss and elected to defer to the 2nd half. Bishop McDevitt took the opening kickoff, but unfortunately their drive stalled and the Crusaders were forced to punt. Roman Catholic then executed a 6-play 79 yard drive that was capped when Roman QB Semaj Beals ran it in from 7 yards out to make it 7- 0 for Roman Catholic with 7:33 left in the 1st quarter.
McDevitt’s next drive only made it out to their own 48-yard line before they punted it away. Roman Catholic’s next drive only made it out to their own 45 and they punted as well. When McDevitt took over it was their own 25, but 2 plays later McDevitt RB Nazir Jones-Davis fumbled and Roman Catholic recovered the ball at the McDevitt 43-yard line. 3 plays later Beals hit Hanif Sheed for an 8-yard TD reception that made it 14-0 for Roman Catholic with 10:37 left in the 2nd quarter.
McDevitt took over at their own 49 after a nice return by Ishmael Palmer, but it was for naught as on the next play McDevitt QB Sebastian Williams was intercepted by Roman Catholic’s Walter Hudson and returned to the McDevitt 22. The McDevitt defense was ready however, and Roman Catholic’s drive was stopped at the McDevitt 25 when a pass from Beals went incomplete. McDevitt then had a 9-play drive that stalled at the Roman Catholic 46 and the Cahillites took over there. They then executed a quick 5-play drive that ended with a 40-yard pass from Beals to Ashdan Roberts for a TD. With 1:53 left in the 1st half, Roman Catholic had a 21-0 lead.
McDevitt’s next drive started at their own 40 but was stopped when Williams was intercepted by Roman’s Chase Hinton at the Roman Catholic 26. The McDevitt defense then played inspired ball and forced a quick 3-and-out. McDevitt was able to run 3 more plays before settling for a long field goal attempt from Kicker Aidan Grella that was blocked and we went to halftime with Roman Catholic holding a 21-0 lead.
The Cahillites received the 3nd half kickoff, but the Crusader defense again stood up to the task and stopped them. McDevitt’s offense took over at their own 40 and ran an 11-play drive. Unfortunately, this drive was stopped on 4th down at the Roman Catholic 17 and the Cahillites took possession. They executed a lengthy 11-play drive that was capped by a 1-yard TD reception by Eyan Stead that made it 28-0 for Roman Catholic with 1:16 left in the 3rd quarter.
With time now the biggest enemy, McDevitt moved quickly as they started their next drive at their own 45. Disaster struck however as on their 2nd play a fumble by Williams was recovered by Roman Catholic at their own 47. The Cahillites ensuing drive got down to the 1-yard line of Bishop McDevitt when a pass from Beals was intercepted by McDevitt’s RJ Duffy at the 1-yard line. With the game now in the 4th quarter, McDevitt started to gain yards on the ground. 5 plays into the drive, McDevitt RB Jerome Larue Jr was injured and had to be taken off the field and there was a lengthy delay. When play resumed, the drive continued in Roman Catholic territory but was stopped on 4th down at the Roman Catholic 35. The Cahillites ensuing drive was a 4-and-out that ended at their own 30. 3 plays later, McDevitt got on the board courtesy of a Williams to Gage TD pass from 24 yards out. The PAT was blocked and the score was in favor of Roman Catholic 28-6 with 1:12 left in the game.
Sebastian Williams to Gage Ruth, 24-yard TD. 112 left Q4, Roman Catholic leads 28-6 @McD_Football_ @SEBASTIAN_9_w @PaFootballNews @CWTAPTV pic.twitter.com/Bi5VALISpW
— Jared Samuel (@jaredsamuelpfn) December 6, 2025
McDevitt did successfully execute an onside kick but the game ended with McDevitt driving on the Roman Catholic 18 yard line.
After the game, Bishop McDevitt Head Coach Jeff Weachter spoke to his team: “We are the first District 3 team to make the state finals 3 times in a 4 year span. That is something you all should remember, and that you all should be proud of as the seniors move on and the underclassmen start prepping to compete next season.” Bishop McDevitt finished their season at 12-3.
Congrats to the Bishop McDevitt Crusaders on another terrific season!
Game Highlights
Roman Catholic 28 Bishop McDevitt 6
Score by Quarters
Bishop McDevitt – 0 0 0 6 – 6
Roman Catholic – 7 14 7 0 – 28
Scoring Summary
FIrst Quarter
RC – Semaj Beals 7 yd run, (Eli Pollack pat), 7:33
Second Quarter
RC – Hanif Sheed 8 yd pass from Beals, (Pollack pat), 10:37
RC – Ashdan Roberts 40 yd pass from Beals, (Pollack pat), 1:53
Third Quarter
RC – Eyan Stead 1 yd pass from Beals, (Pollack pat), 1:16
Fourth Quarter
BM – Gage Ruth 24 yd pass from Sebastian Williams, (kick failed), 1:12
Individual Stats
Rushing: RC – Tre Montgomery 17-77, Beals 12-19, Sheed 5-13, Roberts 1-7, Stead 1-(-10). Totals: 36-136. BM – Nazir Jones-Davis 19-118, Jerome Larue Jr. 8-22, Maurice Barnes 3-13, Williams 6-(-14). Totals: 36-139.
Receiving: RC – Stead 9-102, Roberts 3-95, Eisa Nealy 4-27, Sheed 2-12, Montgomery 1-(-4). BM – Jontai Quick 5-66, Ruth 4-43, Howard Holton Jr. 2-38, Jones-Davis 1-(-4).
Passing: RC – Beals 18 for 25, 232 yards, 3 TD. BM – Williams 11 for 25, 143 yards, 1 TD.
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