Reporter/Times Herald Football: La Salle faces St. Joseph’s Prep again in PCL-6A final
This season's first game between La Salle and St. Joseph's Prep was a four-overtime instant classic.
Saturday afternoon, the rivals meet again once again in the Philadelphia Catholic League Class 6A final at Wissahickon for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
Winner keeps its dreams of a PIAA championship alive and advances to face either Imhotep Charter or Lincoln in the District 12 title game.
La Salle heads into Saturday with a perfect 10-0 (5-0 PCL Red Division) record in large part due to coming away with a 35-34 victory over Prep Oct. 5 at Upper Dublin after deciding to go for the two-point conversion in the fourth overtime. Wide receiver Joey O'Brien scrambled then completed a pass to Desmond Ortiz for the Explorers' first win over the Hawks since 2021.
St. Joe's Prep (6-2, 4-1), however, has won the last seven postseason contests with the Explorers, last year topping La Salle 35-7 in the PCL-6A final en route to claiming its second straight PIAA championship.
La Salle's last playoff win over Prep came in 2015 when they edged the Hawks 29-28 in the PCL Class 4A title game.
This year's first game between the Explorers and the Hawks was scoreless at halftime before La Salle twice took seven-point leads after the break but Prep pulled even 14-14 with 4:41 left in the fourth after Charlie Foulke connected with Alijah Turner for a 24-yard touchdown.
An interception by Brandon Lockley gave Prep back the ball with 2:58 left. The Hawks drove down to the La Salle 8-yard line with eight seconds left but on 3rd-and-Goal, La Salle's Grayson McKeogh picked off a deflected pass and the game went to overtime.
Both scored touchdowns in the first extra session, then traded field goals in both the second and third. In the first possession of the fourth OT, Foulke connected with Jamir Rowe for a 10-yard scoring strike to make it 34-27 Prep. La Salle answered with a Gavin Sidwar to O'Brien 10-yard TD then opted to go for the win – the Explorers' gadget play did not go to plan but O'Brien bought himself enough time to throw a pass Ortiz caught in the end zone.
Sidwar was 27-of-45 passing for 266 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. O'Brien had nine catches for 83 yards.
For the season per easternpafootball.com, Sidwar has thrown for 2,487 yards and 29 touchdowns with O'Brien having 62 receptions for 903 yards.
District 1-6A Playoffs
North Penn topped one Central League in the District 1-6A first round last Saturday, the fourth-seeded Knights have to go through another to reach the semifinals when they host No. 5 Haverford 7 p.m. Friday at Crawford Stadium.
The Fords (10-1) routed No. 12 Quakertown 56-0 last Friday as Liam Taylor for 200 yards and four touchdowns in just the first half. Haverford has not lost since falling to Garnet Valley in Week 2.
North Penn's Matt Pownall ran for 203 yards last Saturday as the Knights (9-2) took a 21-0 halftime lead over No. 13 Ridley and held on to beat the Green Raiders 24-14.
Winner moves on to take on top-seeded Central Bucks South or No. 8 Plymouth Whitemarsh, who play 7 p.m. Friday at South. The Titans had no trouble with No. 16 Spring-Ford, winning 49-7. PW beat No. 9 Souderton 33-14 last Saturday.
Third-seeded Central Bucks West (9-2) shut out No. 14 Pennsbury 17-0 in the first round and now looks to deny No. 11 Downingtown East a second-straight upset in their quarterfinal matchup 7 p.m. Friday at War Memorial Field. East (6-4) erased a 10-0 halftime to knock off No. 6 Perkiomen Valley 17-10. Winner takes on No. 2 Downingtown West or No. 7 Owen J. Roberts.
District 1-5A Playoffs
Upper Dublin hits the road for the quarterfinals after the Cardinals (8-3) flew past No. 11 Unionville 31-21 last Friday, UD visiting No. 3 Phoenixville (9-1) 7 p.m. Friday.
The Phantoms beat Upper Perkiomen for the second time in 2024, besting the No. 14 Indians 31-7 last Friday. The only blemish on Phoenixville's record this year came against PAC champ Pope John Paul II Sept. 21.
District 1-6A Quarterfinals
(8) Plymouth Whitemarsh at (1) Central Bucks South
Time/Place:
Records: Plymouth Whitemarsh is 9-2 (5-0 Suburban One League American Conference). Central Bucks South is 11-0 (7-0 SOL National).
Last Week: CB South, the defending district 6A champ, rolled past No. 16 Spring-Ford 49-7. Plymouth Whitemarsh advanced with a 33-14 win over visiting No. 9 Souderton last Saturday. The SOL American champ Colonials have won seven straight since a 20-18 loss to Manheim Township in Week 4.
Last Meeting: The teams meet in the 2022 season opener, CB South beat host PW 21-6.
Players to Everett Baker leads Plymouth Whitemarsh in rushing with 1,163 yards and 23 touchdowns on 142 carries. Baker had 78 yards and three TDs on 16 carries in the first-round win. CB South QB Owen Pinkerton has 1,000 yards rushing and passing this season, running for 1016 yards and 12 touchdowns on 147 carries while throwing for 1,178 yards and 14 TDs. Last week, Pinkerton had 56 yards and two TDs on seven carries and went 5-of-10 passing for 61 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Prediction: Central Bucks South 28, Plymouth Whitemarsh 19.
(5) Haverford at (4) North Penn
Time/Place:
Records: Haverford is 10-1 (7-1 Central League). North Penn is 9-2 (5-2 SOL National).
Last Week: Haverford crushed No. 12 Quakertown 56-0 in the opening round last Friday, the Fords entering the quarters on a nine-game win streak, the lone loss this season coming at home to Garnet Valley 35-0 in Week 2. North Penn built a 21-0 lead on No. 13 Ridley last Saturday then held off the Green Raiders to advance with a 24-14 victory.
Last Meeting: North Penn and Haverford played in the District 1-6A first round in both 2016 and 2017, the Knights winning both – topping the Fords 56-7 in 2016 on the way to claiming the district title then besting Haverford 41-26 in 2017.
Players to Both teams got big games from their running backs in the first round. Haverford's Luke Taylor needed just a half to compile 200 yards and four touchdowns on 17 carries. North Penn's Matt Pownall finished with 203 yards on 27 carries against Ridley while QB Matt Bucksar went 10-of-19 passing for 117 yards and two touchdowns.
Prediction: North Penn 27, Haverford 23.
(11) Downingtown East at (3) Central Bucks West
Time/Place:
Records: Downingtown East is 6-4 (1-1 Ches-Mont League North Division). Central Bucks West is 9-2 (6-1 SOL National).
Last Week: Both teams reached the 6A quarterfinals for the fourth straight season. Downingtown East rallied from a 10-0 halftime deficit to upset No. 6 Perkiomen Valley last Friday, quarterback Mason Ippolito's 41-yard touchdown pass to Nick Keenan with 2:44 left in the fourth quarter giving the Cougars a 17-10 victory. CB West shut out fellow SOL National side No. 14 Pennsbury 17-0 last Friday for the Bucks second win over the Falcons in 2024. West won 27-6 at Pennsbury in Week 7.
Players to CB West's Ryan Clemens ran for 104 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries in the first round while also connecting on a 23-yard field goal in the third quarter. East QB Ippolito threw for 151 yards on 9-of-15 passing with a TD and an interception in the win over Perk Valley. Michael Brown had five catches for 71 yards while Keenan had three catches for 72 yards and a touchdown.
Prediction: Central Bucks West 24, Downingtown East 21.
District 1-5A Quarterfinals
(6) Upper Dublin at (3) Phoenixville
Time/Place:
Records: Upper Dublin is 8-3 (6-1 SOL Continental). Phoenixville is 9-1 (4-1 Pioneer Athletic Conference Frontier Division).
Last Week: Upper Dublin bounced back from a Week 10 loss to Souderton by earning a postseason victory for the fifth straight season, the sixth-seeded Cardinals defeating No. 11 Unionville 31-21 in the first round last Friday. Phoenixville rolled past PAC Frontier rival Upper Perkiomen for the second time this season, the No. 3 Phoenixville beating the No. 14 Indians 31-7 last Friday. It was the Phantoms' sixth straight win since its only loss so far in 2024, falling 24-13 to Pope John Paul II in Week 5.
Last Meeting: The Cardinals and Phantoms played in the 2018 District 1-5A first round, Upper Dublin earning a 41-12 victory as it went on to claim the district title that season.
Players to Upper Dublin running back Jordan Fields ran for 175 and three touchdowns on 25 carries in the first-round win over Unionville. Fields reached the end zone on a 47-yard run in the second quarter then scored from 38 yards out in the fourth. Phoenixville running back Deacon Williams had 107 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries in the district opener. The Phantoms' Trey Lear returned the opening kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown then later added TDs on a five-yard catch then a 57-yard run.
Prediction: Phoenixville 24, Upper Dublin 21.
District 1-4A Final
(2) Springfield (Montco) at (1) Pope John Paul II
Time/Place:
Records: Springfield is 9-2 (4-1 SOL American). Pope John Paul II is 10-1 (5-0 PAC Frontier Division).
Last Week: Springfield reached its first district final since 2015 as the Spartans topped No. 3 seed Bishop Shanahan 42-21 last Friday PJP II rolled past No. 4 Lower Moreland 46-0 last Friday to reach the 4A final for the third straight season – falling to Interboro in 2022 while beating Bishop Shanahan in 2023.
Last Meeting: The teams opened this season against each other on Aug. 23, host PJP II earning a 34-27 win over the Spartans. Springfield's lone loss since then was at Plymouth Whitemarsh 42-0 on Oct. 10. Pope John Paul's only loss of 2024 came in Week 3 against visiting West Chester Rustin 20-13, the Golden Panthers entering Friday having won their last eight, including a 28-19 victory over Perkiomen Valley in the PAC title game on Oct. 26.
Players to Springfield's CJ Johnson put together a stellar rushing performance in the semifinal victory, finishing with 259 yards and four touchdowns on 27 carries. He also caught three passes for 25 yards. PJP II's Braden Reed posted huge receiving numbers in the semis, the Villanova commit hauling in eight passes for 244 yards and four TDs.
Prediction: Pope John Paul II 35, Springfield 26.
District 1/12 Class 2A Regional Final
(12-1) Lansdale Catholic at (1-1) Bristol
Time/Place:
Records: Lansdale Catholic is 7-4 (4-2 Philadelphia Catholic League Blue Division). Bristol is 8-1 (3-0 Bicentennial Athletic League)
Last Week: Lansdale Catholic rolled past KIPP-DuBois 42-14 in the District 12 final last Saturday. Bristol shut out New Hope-Solebury 36-0 in the District 1 final last Friday for the Warriors' five straight wins.
Players to Lansdale Catholic QB Yeboa Cobbold Jr. has thrown for 686 yards and seven touchdowns and is also second on the team in rushing with 511 yards on 92 carries per easternpafootball.com. James Webb paces LC in both receptions (21) and receiving yards (296).
Prediction: Lansdale Catholic 23, Bristol 14.
PCL Class 6A Final
La Salle vs. St. Joseph's Prep
Time/Place:
Records: La Salle is 10-0 (5-0 PCL Red). St. Joseph's Prep is 6-2 (4-1 PCL Red).
Last Week: Both teams had byes. La Salle and Prep ended the regular season with wins – the Explorers defeated Roman Catholic 35-16 on Oct. 25 while the Hawks beat Bonner & Prendergast 49-14 on Oct. 25 for a third straight victory.
Last Meeting: Another classic was added to the teams' rivalry as La Salle and Prep went four overtimes in their Week 7 matchup at Upper Dublin before the Explorers came away with a 35-34 victory when Joey O'Brien found Desmond Ortiz in the end zone to convert a two-point conversion. The win was the Explorers' first over Prep since 2021, snapping a five-game losing streak to the Hawks.
Players to La Salle quarterback Gavin Sidwar has thrown for 2,487 yards and 29 touchdowns this season per easternpafootball.com, connecting with O'Brien 62 times for 903 yards while finding John-Patrick Oates for 43 receptions and 504 yards. Prep QB Charlie Foulke has thrown for 1,573 yards and 19 TDs per easternpafootball.com with Jett Harrison (29 catches, 572 yards) and Alijah Turner (28 catches, 321 yards) the Hawks' top two receivers.
Prediction: St. Joseph's Prep 29, La Salle 28.
Non-Playoff
Penn Charter at Germantown Academy
Time/Place:
Records: Penn Charter is 6-3 (1-3 Inter-Ac League). Germantown Academy is 4-5 (0-4 Inter-Ac).
Last Week: Penn Charter dropped its second straight, losing to Haverford School 30-3 last Saturday. Germantown Academy fell to Malvern Prep 44-7 last Saturday for its fourth straight loss.
Last Meeting: GA and Penn Charter have played every season since 1887, the Quakers leading the series 88-38-11 after their 35-14 victory in 2023. Germantown Academy's last victory came in 2022 when the Patriots edged PC 28-27.
