SE PA Football Prevu 2009 Phila Catholic League

Titan tussle
Red Division rivals La Salle and St. Joseph's Prep are among the best teams in PA
By Gorden Blain

La Salle is forcing a changing of the guard in the Catholic League Red AAAA Division
If on no other basis, La Salle has wrestled away from St. Joseph’s Prep the Catholic League Red Division favorite’s role this season due to its two stunning victories over the Hawks last season and its two Catholic League Red Division playoff championships in the last three seasons.

First, La Salle upset The Prep 31-17 in September to snap The Prep’s 55-game win streak in Catholic League regular season play. Then La Salle shocked the Hawks 31-28 in a rematch in the Catholic League semifinals in November on its way to the Catholic League championship win over Father Judge. La Salle’s playoff win over The Prep, stopped The Prep’s string of championship final appearances at eight straight seasons.

Unfortunately for La Salle, it was upset by Public League champion George Washington in the PIAA District 12 AAAA championship game in what amounted to the return of the Philadelphia City Championship game.

But there’s more to La Salle’s bold leap onto the pedestal to which The Prep has had exclusive rights. The Explorers are stocked with major college football talent, much like the Prep. And head coach Drew Gordon, with the help of his staff that includes former La Salle QB standout Brett Gordon, have raised the bar on expectations and recent classes have responded.

“Prep’s been good for a while,” says Brett Gordon. “We really try not to focus specifically on just those guys. The league has gotten better. We’re not focused on overtaking (The Prep) rather than we want to be a steady team that people have to contend with year-in and year-out and not just be a flash in the pan. Year-in and year-out we want to be competing for the title.”

More than any other team in the Catholic League, nine 2008 Red AAAA Division all-stars return for La Salle, which has veterans starting at every position. First team Red Division all-stars WR Sam Feleccia (6-3, 225, Sr.), a major college football prospect at both WR-TE and LB, OL Steve Szostak (6-1, 260, Sr.), QB Drew Loughery (6-1, 215, Sr.) and RB Jamal Abdur-Rahman (5-10, 175, Jr.) return to an offense that last season averaged 31.3 points per game to lead the Red Division. Syracuse and Rutgers and FCS recruiters are interested in Feleccia, and Patriot and Colonial Athletic Association teams like Loughery. Abdur-Rahman is already drawing interest from Division 1 teams.

Feleccia and Loughery have formed a dynamic pass-catch playmaking combo. Loughery, who also was the AP first team AAAA all-state QB, passed for 2,628 yards and 25 TDs in 2008. Feleccia caught 51 passes, nearly one-third of Loughery’s completions, for 969 yards and 8 TDs.

The emergence of Abdur-Rahman, who rushed for 1,009 yards, had 449 yards receiving and scored 23 TDs (16 rush, 6 receptions, 1 punt return), gives head coach Drew Gordon the weapons to keep opponents guessing with a balanced attack.

TE Steve Jones (6-4, 210, Sr.), who had 212 yards receiving, and WR Connor Hoffman (6-1, 185, Sr.) were an honorable mention all-stars and first team all-star place kicker Mike Bennett (6-1, 180, Sr.) made eight field goals and 48 PAT kicks for 72 points last season. Hoffman caught 37 passes for 515 yards and 6 TDs.

On defense, first team all-star DE-OLB Steve Sinnott (6-3, 225, Sr.) and honorable mention DB Kevin Forster (6-1, 185, Jr.) return. Gordon expects OG Matt DiGiacomo (5-11, 260, Sr.) and LB Ryan Saraceni (5-11, 195, Sr.) to make an impact.

“Certainly we have a lot of experience,” says Brett Gordon.”We’ve won with a lot of these players before. We have high expectations but a lot of factors play into it. They’ve worked hard to get to where they want to get to. We feel good about the personnel we’re going to be putting out there each week. We have a lot of guys who want to be the best team around. It’s a team that’s hungry.”

And one itching to get another crack at a missed opportunity to win a City championship and play for a PIAA State AAAA championship.

The rest of the Catholic League Red Division…

St. Joseph’s Prep failed to reach the Catholic AAAA Red Division championship game for the first time in eight seasons in 2008, suffering a loss in the semifinals to rival La Salle.

But any report of the Hawks’ demise as a Catholic League AAAA power would be erroneous. Year-in and year-out, The Prep is equipped to weather any extent of lineup changes brought on by graduation and injuries. It’s no different this season. The Prep is reloaded and ready to fend off its division rivals and a challenging non-league schedule that includes McKeesport, St. Peters (NJ) and North Penn.

Head coach Gil Brooks says the Hawks, yet again, have what it takes to win the Catholic League and PIAA District 12 AAAA championship.

“If quarterback works out, we’ll be a very good football team,” says Brooks. “The offensive line is going to be really good. We’ll be able to run the ball. How well will we pass the ball is the question. With our front seven on defense, teams will struggle to run on us. We’ll be much faster. Our secondary was a work in progress last season. We’re better there.”

Brooks has to settle on Soph. Skyler Mornhinweg (6-3, 185) or Jr. Paul McGann (6-0, 170) at QB. He calls them both “quality” QBs. Last season, Mornhinweg started in the secondary, only the second freshman starter under Brooks. Former Michigan and NFL LB Victor Hobson was the other. In July, Mornhinweg, son of Philadelphia Eagles assistant coach Marty Mornhinweg, made a verbal commitment to play for Stanford.

Returning starters include Boston College recruit and returning Red Division AAAA Division all-star OL Seth Betancourt (6-6, 290, Sr.), honorable mention all-star C-DE Ryan Donovan (5-11, 210, Sr.), RB-LB Garrett Compton (5-9, 195, Sr.), DE-FB Mike Labor (6-3, 250, Sr.), LB-FB Steve O’Hara (6-2, 205 Sr.) and DL-TE Bill Mancini (6-0, 250, Sr.), a three-year starter.

Although they suffered injuries that kept them out of the starting lineup last season, Brooks considers WRs Pete Hurley (6-0, 190, Sr.), Bob D’Orazio (6-1, 180, Sr.) and Colin Rogers (5-11, 165, Sr.) returning starters. Compton, who rushed for 830 yards and scored nine TDs last season and has accepted a lacrosse scholarship from Notre Dame, Eagles head coach Andy Reid’s son Spencer Reid (5-10, 190, Jr.) and Eric Neff (Soph.) are in the RB rotation. Luke Hutkin (6-2 280, Sr.) is now an OL after stints at FB and TE.

Mancini, Mike Zikoski (6-1, 235, Sr.) and Sean McGinn (6-4, 240, Sr.) are starting DLs. Dan Pelliciotti (6-1, 235, Jr.) moves from LB to DE, and Pat Kueny (5-10, 185, Jr.) is the other DE. Labor, O’Hara and Compton are returning LBS. Labor, O’Hara, and Mancini were honorable mention Red AAAA Division all-stars last season. Mike Defeo (5-9, 165, Jr.), Kushmir Miller (5-10, 165, Sr.), Mornhinweg and John Arena (6-1, 175, Sr.), who has a 1560 SAT score and 4.0 GPA, start in the secondary. Reid is in the mix at LB and DB.

Brooks is anxious to see Jared Alwan (6-1, 210, Fresh.), who he says “may be the best football player at that age to come to the Prep,” emerge as a playmaker on offense at WR and RB.


Cardinal O'Hara continues to provide major college football a steady diet of recruits.There’s been 10 since 2004, says Lions head coach Danny Algeo, when he took over for George Stratts, who also had his share. The latest recruit Tom Savage, the Lions’ QB last season who passed for 3,902 yards and 30 TDs in four seasons at O’Hara, begins his college career at Rutgers this fall.

But college prospects in the lineup doesn’t guarantee victories and O’Hara coach Danny Algeo knows his challenge is to develop his entire squad.

The Lions big-name national recruit this season is TB-DB Corey Brown (6-1, 185, Sr.), who has collected more than 40 scholarship offers from teams like Florida, Ohio State, Pitt, Notre Dame and Penn State. Slowed by a knee injury that forced him to miss six games last season, Brown still rushed for 662 yards, had 154 yards receiving and scored 13 TDs in just five games. He has 1,943 yards rushing and 392 yards receiving in his first three seasons.

Algeo says Brown plans to take his five official recruiting visits before he decides on the team for which he will play. Algeo says Brown plans to visit Florida and Ohio State and that Pitt “is in his top five.

“Pitt sees him as a LeSean McCoy-type,” says Algeo. “Florida sees him as a Percy Harvin-type. He’s a tremendous receiver.”

Former O’Hara RB Kevin Jones was a national recruit in 2000 who later starred at Virginia Tech before playing in the NFL. Algeo was the coach at Roman Catholic when Jones played for O’Hara.

“Kevin’s a better running back but Corey is a better football player,” says Algeo. “Corey can catch the ball and can play defense. His versatility is what makes him the player he is. He’s healthy. He had an unbelievable year in track.”

But the development of first-year starting QB-DB Ryan Laughlin (6-2, 190, Jr.), who saw little playing time last season as a backup to Savage, is just as important to the Lions, who aim to be a contender for the Red Division championship.

“He got his feet wet,” says Algeo. “We’re very confident in him.”

Brown isn’t the only blue-chipper. Red Division honorable mention all-stars TE-LB Mike Huf (6-3, 235, Sr.) and OL-DL Matt Williams (6-3, 275, OL-DL tackle) have been offered scholarships. Akron wants Huf and Williams has been offered a scholarship by Richmond and New Hampshire.

Also returning is FB Dan O’Hara (6-2,225, Sr.), WR-DB Andrew Onimus (6-2, 185, Sr.), RB-DB Adam Dempsey (5-10, 175, Jr.), LB Drew Formica (6-1, 200, Jr.), C Sean McFadden (6-1, 215, Jr.) and DE Brendan O'Callahan (5-10, 195, Sr.).

The Lions were 7-0 last season heading into the meat of the schedule but injuries forced Algeo to play a lot of inexperienced underclassmen and they lost the final four games to Father Judge, twice, The Prep and La Salle. Those underclassmen are now tested starters.

Despite just seven returning starters, a proven QB-RB combination returns to give Father Judge traction in the competitive Red Division championship race. The Crusaders have a tough act to follow after last season when they surprised division heavyweights, St. Joe’s Prep, La Salle and Cardinal O’Hara by winning the regular season title, their first regular season Division championship since 1982, and then advancing to the Division championship game against La Salle, their first playoff final since 1986. Honorable mention all-stars QB Tony Smith (6-3, 195, Jr.) and RB Curt Wortham (5-6, 175, Sr.). combined for 3,199 yards of offense and 32 TDs. Wortham rushed for 1,562 yards and scored 19 TDs while Smith passed for 1,583 yards and 13 TDs last season. Smith has quickly found his way onto college football recruiters’ radar. “Tony’s improved quite a bit,” says head coach Tommy Coyle. “I expect him to have a great year.” DB-WR Kevin Toner (5-9, 180, Sr.) and TE-DE Kevin Leneghan (6-2, 205, Sr.), a Patriot and Ivy leagues recruit, DE-OT Greg Kovacs (6-5, 215, Sr.), DB Steven Owens (6-1, 190, Jr.) and S Connor Thompson (6-0, 180, Sr.) also return. There’s four new starters on the defensive line, three new LBs and two new DBs so the Crusaders have to make up ground quick—just like they did in 2008-- to keep pace with the frontrunners. Coyle has confidence in the speed and physicality of the secondary to keep opponents in check. He expects first-year starters DB-RB Jones Twenefore (5-10, 180, JR.), C Ryan Bernard (6-0, 220, Jr.) and RB-DB Raul Quinones (5-11, 185, Soph.) to make an impact. “There’s a bunch of first time varsity starters,” Coyle says. “We hope they’re up to the challenge…


Honorable mention all-stars QB-DB Kevin Regan (6-4, 195, Sr.) and his younger brother DB-RB-WR Dennis Regan (5-10, 185, Jr.) and WR Kawaun Chavis (6-1, 190, Jr.), C Kevin Kelly (6-0, 220, Sr.), OT-NG Gary Masino (6-2, 275, Sr.) and OG-DT Matt Schickling (6-4, 235, Sr.) are returning starters for Roman Catholic. Regan passed for 865 yards and 8 TDs last season. His brother Dennis caught 17 passes for 223 yards and 2 TDs. WR-LB Mike Gramlich (6-1, 190, Sr.) has transferred to Roman from Archbishop Carroll. Cahillites head coach Joe McCourt expects the secondary to be a strength. But the Cahillites’ major weakness is the depth on the offensive line, where only three starters return. Honorable mention all-star punter and placekicker Kyle Haber (5-10, 165, Jr.), who kicked three field goals last season, returns. McCourt expects first-year starters FB-LB Christian Seagrave (6-0, 200, Jr.), TE-LB Abdul Basil (6-1, 200, Jr.) and OT-DE Jim Bell (6-4, 230, Jr.) to make an impact. “In my opinion our skill people are as good as anybodys’,” says McCourt. “It’s the same thing every year in the Catholic League. The team that is most healthiest going into the end of October and November is usually the team that will win it.”

Former Archbishop Ryan player Frank McArdle returns to his alma-mater to replace Glen Galeone as head coach of the Red Raiders who were winless last season, Ryan’s first-ever winless season. RB-DB Mark Golic (5-8, 175, Sr.), who had 191 yards rushing last season, WR-DB Pat Kwiatowski (6-1, 180, Sr.), who had 342 yards receiving, OL-Dl Fran Corbit (6-1, 210, Sr.) and OL-DL Dan Oliveri (6-2, 225, Sr.) return. Determine to reenergize Ryan, McArdle expects first-year starters QB Dillon Cave (6-1, 180, Jr.), LB-TE Bruce Clift (6-2, 205, Sr.) and WR Christian Cruz (5-9, 180, Sr.) to emerge as playmakers.

Monsignor Bonner head coach Tom Oropeza finally has a lot of positive signs on which to build. After halting 24-game regular season and 19-game Red Division losing streaks during the 2008 season (the Friars have a 3—36 regular season in-Division record since 2003), Bonner showed signs of a rebound when it won its final three games of the season. “It was emotionally good for the team knowing if they go out and execute they can win games,” says Oropeza. “That wasn’t always the thought with past teams with all of the problems they had. We’re going to get this turned around.” Honorable mention all-stars WR Jack Wichmann (5-10, 175, Sr.) and RB Eric Petransky (5-10, 180, Sr.) return. A three-year starter, Petransky rushed for 809 yards and scored 6 TDs last season. Wichman had 25 receptions for 360 yards and 2 TDs. There are a strong group of returning starters including QB Sean Quarterman (6-1, 205, Jr.), who had 111 yards passing as the newly installed starter in the final four games of the season, LB-FB Donnie Beese (6-1, 205, Sr.), SS-WR Jamie Justi (6-3, 200, Jr.), DB-RB Anthony Jackson (5-11, 175, Jr.), DB Sam Christie (5-10, 175, Sr.), OT James Colivas (6-4, 265, Sr.), C Mike Murphy (6-0, 235, Sr.), TE Josh Campbell (6-2, 245, Sr.), LB Marcus Collins (6-0, 200, Jr.) and NG Andrew Hackett (6-1, 225, Jr.). RB Kyle Schuberth (5-9, 185, Sr.) is a first-year starter who saw significant playing time last season.

Catholic Blue AAA
Wood’s back at it again
Archbishop Wood’s 2008 season is a tough act to follow but the Vikings intend to do just that.

Wood dominated Blue AAA Division play last season, shutting out all five division opponents. It then won the Blue AAA playoff championship (its sixth straight Catholic League division championship game) and the PIAA District 12 AAA championship. The Vikings finished their season in Hershey in the PIAA State AAA final, losing to defending state champion heavyweight Thomas Jefferson.

Top veteran playmakers RB Sean Cunningham, QB Sean McCartney, WR Mike Maxwell and PK James McFadden from the 2008 team have graduated. So head coach Steve Devlin has to find ways to make up the 3,848 yards of offense and 342 points they produced. Devlin says the experience gained during last season’s playoffs and state championship game is a building block in 2009.

“The kids worked hard in off season,” says Devlin. “They know they got to game they wanted to get to and they saw what it took to get there.

“Those seniors last season replaced the 20 seniors we lost the year before. Sure it’s going to be hard to replace them but we have some kids capable of stepping step up and meeting the challenge. If we stay healthy, we’ll be in the thick of things.”

The Vikings tackle that challenge with returning starters honorable mention Catholic Leaue Blue AAA all-star TB-DB Scott Adkins (5-9, 170, Sr.), first team Blue AA all-star C-DT Dan Grimes (6-0, 245, Sr.) and WR-DB Sam McCain (6-0, 175, Jr.). Sr. Jerry Rahill (6-0, 175), a versatile athlete and playmaker and honorable mention all-star DB and WR last season, is in the mix at QB with Soph. Joe Monaghan (6-1, 175). Recruiters from Villanova and Princeton are interested in Rahill. No matter who plays QB, Devlin says that both players are such good athletes that they are sure to start on both sides of the ball.

Frank Taylor (6-4, 275, Soph.), a two-way tackle, and TB-LB Kevin Murt (6-1, 180, Sr.) are playmakers on defense. Devlin expects TE-LB Colin Thompson (6-4, 230, Soph.) to emerge as a playmaker this season.

Adkins and Murt are the workhorses in the backfield.

The rest of the Catholic Blue AAA…
First team Blue AAA all-stars RB Eugene Byrd (5-7, 155, Sr.), who rushed for 1,095 yards and scored 14 TDs last season, and DE-LB Daniel Clark (5-9, 175, Sr.), who also scored 5 TDs on just 14 carries at RB, return for Northeast Catholic. WR Julian Huggins (6-1, 170, Sr.), who had 299 yards receiving, OL Micale Allen (6-1, 255, Sr.) and honorable mention Blue AAA all-stars C Ray Reuscher 6-0, 245, Sr.) , LB David Williams (5-10, 185, Sr.) and DB Stephon Singleton (5-7, 145, Sr.) are also returning starters. Falcons head coach Charlie Szydlik expects QB Anthony Reid (6-0, 170, Jr.), WR David Sherman (6-1, 175, Jr.), RB Shawn Wilson (5-10, 170, Jr.) and OL Kerry Shields (6-2, 245, Jr.) to make an impact as first-year starters. Szydlik believes the Falcons match up with Blue AAA Division favorite Wood. His challenge is to convince his players of the same. “We have a lot of depth at skill positions,” says Szydlik. “We need to develop offensive and defensive linemen. If we do that we have chance to go far. We have a lot of speed and if we can block and stop people up front, we’ll be ok. Physically, we can match up with Wood. Your kids have to believe it and that’s half the battle right there.”

Jim Algeo begins his 50th year as a high school football coach, his 42nd as head coach at Lansdale Catholic. It’s never easy for the energetic coaching legend. The Crusaders’ schedule is as difficult as any. They play Downingtown East, North Penn and Upper Moreland—all AAAA and AAA playoff teams last season—in the first three weeks. And, of course, AAA state runnerup Archbishop Wood is a Blue Division opponent. “We take what the athletic department gives us and do the best we can with it,” says Algeo. Algeo wants a starting QB to emerge among Dan Plummer (6-6, 190, Sr.), Alex Hetzel (5-11, 185, Jr.) and Andrew Mandato (6-0, 175, Jr.). Both Plummer and Hetzel saw playing time last season, combining for 344 passing yards and 2 TDs. Hetzel was also a WR. Algeo is leaning on returning two-way starters OL Brian Wisman (6-0, 265, Sr.), first team Blue AAA all-star C-LB Tom Gaus (5-11, 205, Sr.), TE-DE Pat O'Hara (6-3, 215, Sr.), FB-LB Devon Barrett (6-1, 215, Jr.), RB-DB Mike Bradley (5-7, 170, Jr.), RB-DB Ryan Tiedeman (5-11, 195, Sr.), a three-year starter, and honorable mentions DB-WR Matt Pinzka, Jr. (6-0, 180, Jr.), WR Kevin McGinn (6-0, 170, Sr.) and DL-FB Matt McGouldrick (5-10, 195, Sr.). Algeo expects Fresh. Tyler Smith (6-0, 215) to emerge in the mix at FB with McGouldrick and Barrett. He plans to include Bradley, RB Scott Catalano (5-10, 165, Soph.) and RB John BrunoCostanzo (6-0, 180, Sr.) with Tiedeman, who rushed for 324 yards last season, in the RB rotation. Algeo expects Jim Moser (6-0, 180, Sr.) and LB Nick Seaton (5-11, 175, Jr.)to join returning LBs Gaus and Barrett. Kevin Fitzpatrick (5-9, 220, Sr.), Mike Serratore (6-1, 225, Sr.), OT Quinn Martin (5-11, 215, Jr.) and Dennis Hower (6-1, 210, Jr.) are in the mix on the OL.

Returning for Conwell Egan are two starters on offense and six on defense including two-way playmaker WR-DB Ryan Bond (5-9, 170, Sr.), who last season ran for one TD, had 6 TD receptions and returned an interception for a TD. Bond caught 22 passes for 552 yards. Bond and returning DB Anthony Singlar (5-10, 175, Sr.) were first team Blue AAA all-star DBs last season. Eagles head coach Kevin Kelly has installed Singlar as the starting QB. RB-DB Roman Valponi (5-9, 185, Sr.), LB-OL Austin Oscovitch (5-10, 220, Jr.), DE-TE Jack McGurrin (6-2,225, Jr.) and DB-RB Kerry McAnany (5-10, 165, Sr.) also return along with punter and placekicker Bill Castor (6-1, 195, Sr.), who kicked three field goals, was a first-team Blue AAA all-star last season. C-LB Dave Maziarz (5-8, 180, Sr.) and OL-DL Steve Humma (6-0, 245, Jr.) are first-year starters making an impact. Kelly says he has playmakers in skill positions but needs to develop linemen to challenge the division frontrunners.

Returning starters for St. John Neumann-Goretti are Catholic League Blue AAA Division honorable mention all-stars LB Jesse Kinsey ( 6-1, 180, Sr.), PK-P William Huff (6-2, 180, Sr.) and C-LB Stanley Visack (6-1, 200, Sr.), and QB Anthony Mastrando (5-8, 175, Sr.) and RB Louis Coles (5-8, 180, Sr.). Rich Carfagno, former defensive coordinator at Bartram, replaces Bill Sytsma as head coach of the Saints, who weren’t able to appoint Carfagno until the end of July, making it all that much more difficult for the Saints football team to live up to the off-the-wall expectations in a July Sports Illustrated head-scratcher of a story that ranked St. John Neumann Goretti the top high school athletics program in the state of Pennsylvania for the 2008-2009 school year.

Catholic Blue AA
West Catholic has unfinished business

At West Catholic, there’s no taking pause to reflect on the bounty of accomplishments of the 2008 team.

The AP first team all-state posse of Penn State recruit and QB Curtis Drake and RBs Rob Hollomon and Raymond Maples smashed countless offensive records on their way to the Burrs’ Blue AA Division (now three straight and seven straight championship games) and PIAA District 12 AA championships and the PIAA State AA championship game in Hershey.

Drake, who was the first QB in the Philadelphia to rush for more than 1,000 yards (1,639 yards) and pass for more than 1,000 yards (1,354 yards) in a season, Hollomon, who scored a city-record 42 TDs, and Maples combined for 6,225 yards offense last season. The Burrs scored 775 points, a Philadelphia City record for points scored by a team in one season. And they were many more.

Ultimately and unfortunately the Burrs came up short in a 35-34 double overtime upset loss to Wilmington in the state final.

Still a lot to sit back and admire. But not so for West Catholic. There’s another stable full of horses who get their chance this season. And there’s that stinging, the one-that-got-away loss in Hershey.

“We still think about it,” says West Catholic coach Brian Fluck. “It was a great experience for the kids. The opportunity to experience the whole ride of getting to Hershey. The game was a classic.

“But it’s a new year and we have to try to get back to where we were at. The team is junior-loaded but there’s a lot of talent coming back. If we put everything together…”

Lineman Jake Zuzek (6-2, 290, Sr.), an AP second team all-state offensive lineman and Division 1 prospect with scholarship offers from Pitt and Syracuse, returns to anchor the line of scrimmage and the new wave of playmakers.

Also returning are first team Blue AA Division all-stars OL-DL John Ruppert (5-9, 295, Sr.), LB Dante Dickens (6-0, 190, Sr.), WR Quran Kent (5-6, 135, Jr.), who had 240 yards receiving, and PK Tim Carroll (6-2, 180, Sr.), who kicked 89 PATs last season, and honorable mention all-stars TE Jim Lynch (6-3, 205, Jr.) and LB Bill Tobin (6-0, 170, Sr.). Delaware, Villanova and Richmond are interested in Dickens.

In a stroke of good fortune for Fluck and the Burrs, a proven, dual-threat QB with the set of tools that Drake possessed has transferred to West Catholic from Holy Cross High School in Flushing, New York. Jarred Evans (6-1, 175, Sr.), whose brother attends Penn, passed for 1,200 yards and rushed for 700 yards last season and has drawn recruiting interest from Delaware and other FCS teams, according to Fluck.

“Curtis is a little more explosive and he’s not as developed as Curtis,” says Fluck. “But he can play.”

TB-CB Brandon Hollomon (5-11, 185, Jr.) and DB Lamont Davis (5-11, 185, Jr.) are emerging playmakers.

The rest of the Catholic Blue AA Division…
First-team all-stars DB-QB Drew Siegfried (6-1, 175, Sr.) and RB-DB Matt Conroy (6, 180, Jr.) and honorable mention all-stars RB-LB Wallace Weaver and OL Sean McGuire and LB-TE Joe Polansky (6-2, 220, Jr.) are among 13 returning starters for Bishop McDevitt. Conroy led the Lancers in rushing last season with 394 yards and scored 6 TDs. Delaware, Villanova and Penn are interested in the versatile athlete Siegfried. RB-DB Martin Henry (5-11, 180, Jr.) and OL-DL Ryan Speller (6-2, 280, Jr.) are emerging playmakers. The Lancers kicking game is solid with Siegfried punting and Kevin Gallagher handling placekicking. Both were honorable mention all-stars as kickers. With a strong group of veterans returning, head coach Pat Manzi expects the Lancers to challenge West Catholic for the Blue AA Division championship.

With two proven RBs and four offensive line starters returning, Archbishop Carroll head coach Dan Bielli expects the Patriots rushing attack to be tough to stop. First-team Blue AA all-star FB Bryant Moritz (6-0, 200, Sr.) and honorable mention all-star RB-DB Ryan Shea (5-10, 170, Jr.) are returning starters. Shea rushed for 546 yards and 7 TDs and Moritz had 458 yards rushing and scored 2 TDs last season. OT Seamus Finnegan (6-3, 225, Sr.) leads a group of four returning starters on the OL. Honorable mention Blue AA all-star DB Chris Shuster (6-0, 190, Sr.), Luke Lyons (6-1, 175, Sr.) and playmaker Jalal Timmons (5-11, 165, Soph.) give Bielli options at QB. Shuster and Lyons each played in just one game last year at QB. LB Matt Brigg (5-10, 190, Jr.) and converted DE Chris King (6-2, 260, Sr.), who has drawn recruiting interest from Temple, also return. Bielli expects track star Teron Dobbs (5-8, 170, So.) to emerge as a versatile playmaker this season, capable of lining up at WR or RB. could also bring some dynamic athletic ability to the split end and running back positions this season.

Returning for Cardinal Dougherty are RB-DB Tarik Morris (5-11, 185, Sr.), a first-team Blue AA all-star DB and honorable mention QB last season who rushed for 2009 yards and passed for 235 yards last season, DL-OL Stephen Logan (6-0, 305, Sr.), a honorable mention all-star DL, NG-OG Jolan Hardy (5-11, 210, Jr.), WR-DB Marcus Allen (5-7, 170, Jr.) and TE-DE Jesse Rosinski (6-3, 220, Sr.). Cardinals head coach Jim Grugan moved Morris to RB for QB Trevor Pendleton (5-9, 175, Sr.) to return, after Pendleton lost the starting job last season. Grugan expects WR-DB Ryan Colbert (6-2, 195, Sr.), a standout basketball player giving football a try for the first time, to emerge as a playmaker. Dougherty begins the season on a 17-game losing streak.

This is the final season for Kennedy-Kenrick in the Catholic League before it merges with St. Pius X in Pottstown to form a new high school Pope John Paul II in Upper Providence Township, which will compete in the Pioneer Conference. Honorable mention all-stars LB Tim Young (5-11, 205, Sr.) and DB Cullen Rota (6-0, 185, Sr.) are returning starters for the Wolverines. Head coach Mike Santillo has moved returning WR Noah Mascio (6, 165, Sr.) to QB this season. RB-DB Aaron Regan (5-8, 150, Sr.), OL-DL Steve Holdsworth (6-5, 290, Sr.), and David Custer (5-11, 235, Sr.), who can play on the line of scrimmage or in the backfield, return. Regan led the Wolverines in rushing last season with 467 yards and scored 2 TDs.

Favorites
Red AAAA: La Salle
Blue AAA: Archbishop Wood
Blue AA: West Catholic

Main Contenders
Red AAAA: St. Joseph’s Prep
Blue AAA: Conwell-Egan
Blue AA: Bishop McDevitt

Preseason Players of the Year
Red AAAA: RB Corey Brown (6-1, 185, Sr.) Cardinal O’Hara
Blue AAA: RB Eugene Byrd (5-6, 155, Sr.) Northeast Catholic
Blue AA: C-DT Jake Zuzek (6-2, 290, Sr.) West Catholic