2022 Football: post season quick hits by district.
Here’s a snapshot of many of the teams across the state with no particular format, pulling what seemed interesting, district by district. Things like streaks, special players, upsets, coaches, outstanding/disappointing seasons, returning players etc. I’ll post the other districts as I complete them. Enjoy and jump in with corrections and additions.
District-12 and the Inter-Academic.
Philadelphia Catholic League
Red Division
St. Joseph’s Prep 6A 12-1
Say what you will about un-level playing fields, no teams in the state or for that matter the East has sought out the high level of competition SJP has, playing powerhouses and high end comp like St. Thomas Aquinas, IMG and Tampa Jesuit from Florida, Milton and Marietta of Georgia, Gonzaga and St. Johns of D.C., Good Counsel of Maryland, Don Bosco Prep and St. Peters from New Jersey, Evangel Christian Academy of Louisiana, St. Ignatius of Ohio and others over the years. This past season saw them play St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Peters-NJ, Erasmus of Brooklyn and Gonzaga-DC, losing only to St. Thomas’s powerhouse 7A state champ 48-37, a game they led 31-28 late in the 3rd quartet at STA’s field in Fort Lauderdale. That was their 7th consecutive appearance in the state final in the last ten years, defeating Harrisburg 42-7. They also have two Silver Medal runner up trophies. The SJP crowd will fill in the blanks but on paper it looks like they’ll have one of their best teams this year, with big numbers returning on offense including Qb Samaj Jones (62%-2263py, 95-641ry, #2 rusher), receivers David Washington (42-576), Brandon Rehmann (43-466) and Elijah Jones (12-422), plus all their running backs, Khaseen Phillips (757), Taj Dyches (404) and Erik Sanchez (279). The D looks set on the line with Chase Witmayer, Ivan Bailey-Green, Mazxwell Roy and Sean McNulty back. Last year’s super soph Anthony Sacca (6-4, 215) is back with Nick McGlynn and Toni Cerruti at linebacker and five starters (?) or experienced players in the secondary. They’ll miss Cole Niles, Josiah Trotter and Matt DuMond but look able to replace them with experience and talent.
LaSalle College 6A 5-6
The Explorer’s season nose-dived after the misleading opener against North Penn, winning 37-28, then getting trounced by Malvern Prep 35-0 and Harrisburg-Bishop McDevitt 56-7. The Haverford School’s great team (10-0), shut them down thoroughly in a 21-7 win, holding them to 154 total yards. Check out Haverford School’s O-Line on video vs LS. No give up though with a 4-3 finish including rebuilding Calvert Hall-MD (7-6, 37-15 last five) 21-20 in Towson and a hard fought 21-13 loss to St. Joe’s to close it out. The offense failed them, ending the year averaging 16ppg, their worst since 2007’s 5-7 team that averaged 15 a game. For 2023, both quarterbacks return; Gavin Sidwar (63%-651 thru Calvert Hall) and John McSorley (60%-422, 158ry, post Calvert Hall). Receivers James Dolan (280py) and the talented Stevie Davis (619ry) are also back. One of the big losses on defense is Darold Dengohe (J.Mad), their 6-3, 285 tackle. Also gone are their No.1 tackler MLB Mike Fleppo (82) and OLB Sean McFadden (46). The D-Front took a hit with at least six graduating. Like St, Joe’s, LaSalle has played a well-regarded ‘tho more regional non-conference schedule over the years (last five) including North Penn x4, Imhotep x3, Malvern Prep x5, Haverford School x4, Harrisburg-Bishop McDevitt x2 McDonogh x2 and Calvert Hall of Maryland.
Roman Catholic 5A 9-3
The Cahillites just had their first winning season since 2012, playing a competitive schedule against Wilson (West Lawn), Trinity-Camp Hill, Perkiomen Valley, Malvern Prep, LaSalle, St. Joe’s and Imhotep who were a combined 64-22. The l4-6 loss to Imhotep came in the district final. They fielded one of their best defenses in many years, allowing 12ppg with seven opponents held to ten or less points. With at least two DLs and a veteran secondary, that could continue although the loss of DEs Jamiel Lyons and Jason Patterson, and LBs Jordan Montgomery and Brandon Mark, their top four tacklers, will be felt. Offensively they look good with the return of quarterback Semaj Beals (58%-1774) and the outstanding receiver Tyseer Denmark (53/892) and Trey Woodley (15/235).
Father Judge 6A 4-8
The Crusaders got off on the wrong foot with narrow losses to Olney Charter (6-5) 12-9 and Pope John Paul II (10-2) 22-21 to open the season and prevent their going 6-6. They’re a young group (most skill returns) with many linemen returning who could sneak up on people next season.
Archbishop Wood 5A 1-7
Four years ago these guys won the 5A state title at 11-3, beating Cheltenham (14-2) 19-15 in an epic game. Since then they’ve gone 9-16 with no winning seasons. An offense that scored 65 points all season….65 points!….was a problem. The schedule was also brutal playing Malvern Prep 8-2, St. Joseph’s Prep 12-1, The Haverford School 10-0, Roman 9-3 x2 and Philly Northeast 9-3.
Blue Division
Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti 3A 11-3 (Neumann Goretti)
The Saints advanced to the 3A state final where they lost to Belle Vernon (12-2) 9-8, turned away at the goal line in the closing seconds. NG played without RB/CB Shawn Battle (916ry) who was suspended for throwing a punch against Wyomissing the week before. For 2023, they return senior quarterback Mekhi Wharton (6-6 230, 58%-1540) and three freshman backs that got a lot of time in Terrence Page (62-215), Mahki Mitchell (35-233) and Amahj Gowens (55-291). The top three receivers graduate. The freshman got a lot of time as a matter of course and with many starters sitting for the Thanksgiving Day game vs Southern, two days before Northwestern Lehigh, and lead back Shawn Battle (170-916ry, 30-454py) missing Belle Vernon. The 26-20 win against Southern turned out to be quite a game with the Saints winning 26-20 in the oldest (82nd) Public vs Catholic rivalry game in the city. On defense where they allowed 12ppg, they return at least seven starters and six of their top nine tacklers, looking especially strong on the D-front. About Coach; since Albie Crosby took over the program in 2017, the Saints have gone 51-13 and into the postseason discussion on an annual basis. Prior to his arrival, the Saints had four winning season the previous 13 years.
Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast 4A 11-2 (Bonner-Prendie)
Bonner won the 4A district title beating Public League rep Bartram (5-6) 53-8, then Interboro (10-4) 33-21 in the opening round of States before losing to Crestwood (13-2) 21-14. For 2023, they graduate both quarterbacks but return their three leading rushers led by Avery Hankey (1176) and Jaylen Johnson (393ry, 230py). Lead receiver Jalil Hall (33-602) is back with Austin Cannon (13-184). The D looks sound (12ppg last year) with seven starters returning and three of their leading tacklers; Isaiah Session (MLB, #1-90), Mylacchi Williams (DE, #3-50) and Mick Johnson (S, # 5-37). They look particularly strong in the secondary. Over the course of the last four years, Bonner established itself as a 4A regional power, garnering a 33-7 record. This followed a 17-year stretch where they had two winning season
Conwell Egan Catholic 3A 6-5
The Eagles slipped to 6-5 from 8-3 with an offense that struggled at 20ppg. A difficult non-conference schedule didn’t help with losses to Episcopal (9-1) 34-8 and Moore Catholic-Staten Island (9-3) 20-7. Other losses came against Lansdale Catholic 10-0 and Blue powers Bonner 28-0 then Neumann 20-10 in the district final. A scrappy D allowing 14ppg kept them in many games.
Lansdale Catholic 3A 7-3
Lansdale Catholic emerged from a two-year slump that saw them go 0-4 in 2020 and 1-10 in 2021. A bland non-conference slate of Mastbaum (2-6), Boys Latin (4-7) and New Hope-Solebury (2-9) where they won 49-8, 48-18 and 42-6 respectively helped, especially with conference losses to Bonner-Prendie and Neumann-Goretti, 42-14 and 26-7. They’ve had only four winning seasons since moving from the PAC to the PCL in 2008, a move that was questioned by many.
Archbishop Ryan 4A 6-5
Things are looking up at Ryan with two consecutive winning seasons following a 1-10 season in 2019 and 0-5 in 2020. They ended the year on a 4-2 run, losing a tough one to Bonner in the 4A district final 28-21 but beating GW in the Thanksgiving Day game 17-6.
West Catholic 2A 4-8
The Burrs stubborn but overworked defense that allowed a respectable 16ppg got no help from an offense that averaged 14ppg. But the D kept them close in tight losses to Conwell Egan (6-5) 14-7 and 14-0, and a solid Bonner (11-2) team 13-12 before losing in the first round of States to Trinity (10-5) of Camp Hill 24-0.
Archbishop Carroll 3A 0-10
Carroll completed their second straight 0-10 season scoring 40 total points. They suffered five shutouts and were held to single digit scoring in eight of their ten games with one winning season the last 15 years.
Cardinal O’Hara 4A 1-9
Like Archbishop Carroll, Cardinal O’Hara also had a power outage this year, scoring 82 points the entire season, with their only win coming against Archbishop Carroll 14-12. In fact, they’ve had a power outage the last four years going 7-23. Before that they went 25-9 from 2016 through 2018. The only thing stopping them then was good stuff from Imhotep, West Catholic, CEC and Neumann.
Philadelphia Public League (selected teams)
PPL-Independence
Imhotep Charter School 5A 10-3
Next to Southern Columbia with seven, Imhotep has the greatest collection of Silver Medals in the state with runner-up medals in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021 and last year. They won Gold Medals in 2013 and 2015. Last year’s team was ‘right there’, proving themselves with competitive losses to Archbishop Spalding 20-13 and Malvern Prep 17-13 before beating Roman Catholic 14-6, Whitehall 55-7 and Upper Dublin 21-14, then losing to Pine Richland 28-14 in the final.
Northeast High 6A 9-3
Imhotep may be the alpha in the Philly Pub but Northeast lets them and others know they’re around by putting solid teams out there on a regular basis as evidenced by their 69-21 record the last eight years and having only one losing season the last 24 years. Apart from playing Imhotep every year, they’ve also played Inter-Ac and PCL teams, and Jersey teams like St. Peters and St. Joseph’s of Hammonton.
PPL- National
Abraham Lincoln 6A 8-5
The Rail Splitters are a winning program with a 36-15 slate the last five years and an aggressive schedule taking them to Cedar Crest (5-5) in Lebanon, Pittsburgh Central Catholic (7-5) at the Wolvarena and Haverford (6-5). They lost those games (in order) 21-12, 35-22 and 35-14. But it was a great schedule upgrade and fun road trips for the players. Pitt CC was impressed with their speed and they gave the Falcons of Cedar Crest a game.
PPL-American
Mastery North Charter 5A 9-3
The Pumas are on a run going 36-20 the last six years. Along the way they took on the challenge of Abington, Berks Catholic, Salesianum-DE and others. This year saw them defeat Simon Gratz (5-5) 23-12 in the 5A semifinal before getting crushed by Imhotep 52-0.
Belmont Charter 1A 8-4
Nice team that had trouble with winning teams losing to Executive Education Academy (Allentown, 2A, 8-4) who played a far more difficult schedule (Berks Catholic, Jersey Shore, Lakeland) 28-0, Academy New Church (D1, 1A, 7-2) 62-28 and Steel High (1A, 14-1) 46-6, the 1A state champ. They also lost the opener to Martin Luther King (5A, 4-8) 30-14.
PPL-Liberty
Kensington 6A 6-4
The Tigers are playing football (again) and not doing bad with a 28-15 record after going 6-33 the previous four years. Nice seeing the admin and staff getting the players out to see other venues with road games at Collinswood-NJ (5-7) and Strath Haven (12-1).
Inter Academic League (non-PIAA)
If you thought the Philadelphia Catholic League was a force, check out the Inter-Ac to see one of the very top conferences in the state with wins over PCL powers Neumann Goretti (11-3), the 3A finalist, Bonner-Prendie (11-2), who got to the 4A quarterfinal, and PPL power Imhotep (10-3) who advanced to the 5A finals. They also handled Roman, LaSalle and almost everyone en route to a 27-3 record against non-conference teams in 2022.
The Haverford School 10-0
The Haverford School used a record setting defense that allowed 101 total points to shutdown Bonner (11-2) 14-12, Malvern Prep (8-2) 6-0 and Episcopal Academy (9-1) 21-19, winning their first Inter-Ac title since 2015. The offense was powered by a massive and talented O-Line featuring Sean Dogery (6-4, 290, sr, Penn State), Matt Pante (6-5, 285, sr), Thomas Barr (6-3, 285, so), Noah Andrewson (6-6, 320, jr), Adon Gross (6-3, 245, jr) and tight ends James Falk (6-6, 235, sr) and Sean Brodnik (6-4, 230, jr), all returning starters. Any SE PA Top 10 and State Top 20 would have to have this team within their ranks.
Episcopal Academy 9-1
Episcopal used a record setting offense to make their mark last season, averaging 41ppg. They breezed through the first eight games unchallenged before encountering Malvern Prep (8-2) who they defeated 14-11. Then came Haverford School in the finale with both undefeated. The two locked horns with Haverford School prevailing after the Churchmen failed on a two-point conversion with under two minutes left in the game. Next season looks good for Episcopal with the exciting dual threat Qb Narome Rayborn back (1206-68%, 18/3 ratio, 54/454ry) although speedy TJ Cadden graduates with 531 pass yards and 248 rushing.
Malvern Prep 8-2
Here’s the winningest program in the conference with a 73-25 overall record the last ten years. And that’s against (last five years) high end comp like LaSalle x4, Archbishop Wood x3, Imhotep x2, Berks Catholic x3, Roman x2, Archbishop Spalding x2, McDonogh x2, West Catholic, Salesianum, Hun and Peddie, on and on. They had notable wins last season against Imhotep 17-13 and Roman Catholic 10-0. Defense was their forte at 6ppg, a school record of 64 total points allowed. The losses were against Haverford School 6-0 and Episcopal 14-11 where an offense at 24ppg fell short against teams also fielding record setting defenses.
Germantown Academy 7-3
Germantown Academy was a level below the big three of Haverford School, Episcopal and Malvern with losses to HS 20-7, EA 49-7 and MP 29-14. But, it all ended well with a 28-27 win against rival Penn Charter in the 136th consecutive meeting of the archrivals in the longest continuous rivalry in the country.
William Penn Charter 5-5
The Quakers started out 4-0, finishing 1-5. One look at the schedule tells why running into The Lawrenceville School-NJ, Malvern Prep, Episcopal and Haverford School consecutively. Also and for connective/linkage purposes, Lawrenceville School (7-2, co-ed prep) who beat them 31-10 plays pretty good football, losing to Choate Rosemary Hall School-CT (8-1) 37-0 and Phillips Exeter School-NH (7-1) 21-20. Choate is a private school with a 72-11 record over the last ten years, including an undefeated stretch from 2014-2018, going 48-0. Back to Penn; they’ve been on a slide going 1-1, 4-5 and 5-5 the last three years but return eight to the defense that started four sophs and a frosh. Big O-skill losses.
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy 3-7
The Blue Devils had something going early in the season winning the opener against MLK 48-16 then losing competitively to Northeast (9-3) 14-12 and Cheltenham (6-4) 7-6. They bounced back with road wins at The Hill School and Father Judge before collapsing with a 0-5 finish to go winless in the Inter-Ac for the second straight year.
