Because enrollment changes every year, some schools are moved from one division to another. The 2014 Catholic League football standings consist of four teams in the AAAA (Father Judge, La Salle, Roman Catholic and St. Joseph’s Prep), five in the AAA (Archbishop Carroll, Archbishop Ryan, Archbishop Wood, Bonner-Prendergast and Cardinal O’Hara), and five in the AA (Bishop McDevitt, Conwell-Egan, Lansdale Catholic, Neumann-Goretti and West Catholic).
Here is a look at how each team has performed with two games in the books. Unless noted otherwise, all players are seniors.
AAAA Division
Father Judge
Record: 1-1
Results: Lost to Archbishop Ryan, 21-20; defeated Northeast, 38-18.
Standouts: On 26 carries, junior Yeedee Thaenrat has collected 155 yards and three touchdowns. QB Zack Carroll has completed 15 of 22 passes for 261 yards and three TDs. Against Northeast, junior Prince Smith caught six passes for 195 yards and a TD, and also nabbed two of Father Judge’s five interceptions.
La Salle
Record: 1-1
Results: Defeated North Penn, 29-7; lost to Bergen Catholic (N.J.), 42-34.
Standouts: QB Kyle Shurmer has posted incredible numbers. After completing 23 of 36 passes for 345 yards and four TDs in the opener, Shurmer contributed a similar performance against Bergen Catholic (22-34, 353, 4 TDs). Jimmy Herron has been the primary receiver, with 20 catches for 289 yards and three TDs.
Roman Catholic
Record: 1-1
Results: Defeated Malvern Prep, 38-27; lost to Downingtown East, 40-38, in overtime.
Standouts: Junior QB Phil DiWilliams was solid in victory (15-25, 279, 3 TDs passing and two more rushing), but he was even better in defeat (25-37, 415, 3 TDs). Those 415 yards are the most ever thrown by a Catholic League quarterback. Against Downingtown, Dimitri Kelly gained 100 yards and a touchdown rushing and added 91 yards on five catches.
St. Joseph’s Prep
Record: 1-1
Results: Defeated Mt. Carmel (Ill.), 28-27; lost to Don Bosco (N.J.), 35-7.
Standouts: QB Jack Clements opened the year by completing 11 of 17 passes for 201 yards and three TD’s. Olamide Zaccheaus and John Reid (6 catches for 111 yards) both scored twice in the opener. Sophomore D’Andre Swift gained 86 yards on six carries against a dominant Bosco team.
AAA Division
Archbishop Carroll
Record: 0-2
Results: Lost to both Conwell-Egan (46-21) and Upper Moreland (35-17).
Standouts: Sophomore Jay Smiley gained 70 yards and scored twice against C-E; all-purpose Joey Rodden started at QB against UM and scored both of his team’s touchdowns.
Archbishop Ryan
Record: 1-1
Results: Defeated Father Judge (21-20); lost to Haverford School (31-14).
Standouts: RB Samir Bullock has gained 235 yards and scored three TDs. Sophomore Matt Romano was 6 of 11 for 131 yards and a touchdown against Judge.
Archbishop Wood
Record: 2-0
Results: Defeated both DeMatha (Md.), 34-13, and Martin Luther King (46-7).
Standouts: Junior QB Anthony Russo threw four TD passes against King. Jarrett McClenton gained 170 yards and scored three touchdowns on 21 carries against DeMatha; Alex Arcangeli has combined for 135 yards and three TDs on 13 hauls.
Bonner Prendergast
Record: 2-0
Results: Defeated both Upper Darby (27-14) and Academy Park (7-6).
Standouts: QB Collin DiGalbo has been a one-man show. In the opener, he was 10 of 16 passing for 152 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 75 yards and a TD on 23 carries. Against Park, he rushed for 116 yards and a TD on 21 carries. Aaron McCastle, Tyler Higgins, and junior TJ Sydnor have combined for more than 250 running/receiving yards and three scores.
Cardinal O’Hara
Record: 0-2
Results: Lost to both Prep Charter (26-19) and George Washington (15-6).
Standouts: Paul Strus takes over as interim coach for the late Danny Algeo. Captains Nick Fallows, Andrew Gallagher, Darrell Jackson, Nick Mariotti, and Brandon Laughlin have provided senior leadership. On the field, Laughlin has combined for 33 completions for 265 yards and two scores on 54 tosses. Max Ferguson has gained 131 yards on 38 totes. Jackson has caught 16 passes for 132 yards. Ryan Shaughnessy has added nine receptions for 86 yards and two TDs.
AA Division
Bishop McDevitt
Record: 1-1
Results: Defeated Pope John Paul II (33-14); lost to Cheltenham (24-7).
Standouts: A very young Lancers squad contains only six seniors on its 45-man roster. Thus far, freshman Jaron Macon (3 catches for 125 yards and a score in the opener), sophomore QB Max Bryson (combined 21 for 29 passing for 243 yards and two TDs), and junior Vincent DiLeo (26 carries for 166 yards and two TDs) have led the way.
Conwell-Egan
Record: 2-0
Results: Defeated both Archbishop Carroll (46-21) and Archmere Academy (DE), 42-0.
Standouts: Behind a much-improved and steady offensive line, the Eagles run the ball, and run it again. And run it some more. Despite scoring a combined 88 points, they’ve only attempted seven passes. In 16 carries against Carroll, Joe Ruggiero amassed 265 yards, four touchdowns and a two-point conversion run.
Lansdale Catholic
Record: 0-2
Results: Lost to both Simon Gratz (27-17) and Springfield Montco (29-7).
Standout: Junior Ryan Quigley has combined for 109 yards on 26 carries.
Neumann-Goretti
Record: 0-2
Results: Lost to both Episcopal (28-7) and Penn Charter (18-13).
Standouts: Against Penn Charter, sophomore Aamir Brown rushed for 158 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries while junior Khalil Roane added 82 on 20. From the arm of QB Ray Lenhart (12 of 23 for 136 yards and a TD), Brown also caught 6 passes for 80 yards and a TD tally.
West Catholic
Record: 1-1
Results: Defeated Haverford School (24-19); lost to North Penn (19-16).
Standouts: Combined statistics include QB Antwain McCollum with 19 completions for 306 yards and two TDS passing, and 191 yards and two TDs rushing on 26 carries; Calil Wortham with 131 yards gained on 29 tries; and Ahkil Crumpton with nine catches for 205 yards and two TDs.
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John Knebels can be reached at jknebels@gmail.com.
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