If you’ve spent any time at Widener University on a Friday night lately, you know the atmosphere is basically electric. We aren't just talking about high school football; we're talking about the Roman Catholic Cahillites turning the Philadelphia Catholic League (PCL) on its head. Honestly, the roman catholic football schedule this past season looked like a gauntlet designed to break a team, yet they came out the other side as the top-ranked 5A program in Pennsylvania.
It’s wild when you look at the trajectory. For years, the PCL Red Division was a two-horse race between St. Joseph’s Prep and La Salle College High School. Roman was always "good," but they weren't necessarily the ones everyone feared. That changed. Now, people are scrambling to find the latest scores because Coach Rick Prete has built a roster that doesn't just compete—it expects to win.
Breaking Down the Roman Catholic Football Schedule
The 2025 season was a rollercoaster. It started with a brutal out-of-state trip to North Carolina, where they lost a heartbreaker to Providence Day, 29-28. Most teams would hang their heads. Roman? They went to Florida the next week and hung 49 points on Cardinal Newman. That’s the kind of resilience that defines this group.
Looking at the mid-season stretch, the game against DeMatha Catholic from Maryland was a reality check. They lost 44-7. It was ugly. But if you’re a Cahillite fan, you know that game served a purpose. It hardened them for the PCL grind.
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The Big Wins and The Heartbreaks
Two games defined the year. First, the 39-36 win over La Salle on September 26th. That wasn't just a victory; it was a statement. It proved the Cahillites could take down the #1 team in the state.
Then came October 10th. The game everyone still talks about. Roman vs. St. Joe’s Prep at Widener. Double overtime. Absolute madness. Semaj Beals threw for five touchdowns, and Ash Roberts was basically unguardable, catching three of them. Roman lost by a single point, 40-39, after a blocked extra point. It was gut-wrenching. But because of the way the point differentials shook out in the "Red" division tiebreakers, Roman actually secured a higher seed in the PCL standings than the Prep.
Key Players Making the Schedule Look Easy
You can’t talk about the roman catholic football schedule without mentioning Semaj Beals. The kid is a wizard. He’s headed to Akron, and he plays like someone who’s already a pro. He finished the season with massive stats, often hitting Eyan Stead and Ash Roberts for deep strikes that just deflate opposing defenses.
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On the other side of the ball, the defense is anchored by guys like Justus Gaskin and Julian Enoch. They held Whitehall to just 7 points in the state playoffs. They shut out Olney. When you have a defense that can flip the field, your schedule suddenly looks a lot more manageable.
2025 Regular Season Results
- Aug 22: @ Providence Day (NC) — L, 28-29
- Aug 29: @ Cardinal Newman (FL) — W, 49-35
- Sep 5: vs. Springside Chestnut Hill — W, 21-12
- Sep 12: vs. DeMatha Catholic (MD) — L, 7-44
- Sep 26: vs. La Salle College — W, 39-36
- Oct 3: @ Cardinal O'Hara — W, 33-7
- Oct 10: vs. St. Joseph's Prep — L, 39-40 (2OT)
- Oct 17: @ Father Judge — W, 56-7
- Oct 24: vs. Bonner-Prendie — W, 26-14
Why This Schedule Prepares Them for States
Coach Prete doesn't schedule cupcakes. He’s gone on record saying that playing teams like DeMatha and St. John's College (DC) is the only way to get ready for the PIAA Class 5A bracket. And he’s right. By the time Roman hit the state playoffs in November, they were battle-tested.
They tore through the bracket. 48-0 against Olney. 49-7 against Whitehall. 55-20 against Hollidaysburg. It culminated in a 28-6 victory over Bishop McDevitt in the PIAA 5A Final in early December. They didn't just win; they dominated.
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Practical Steps for Cahillite Fans
If you're trying to keep up with the team for the upcoming 2026 cycle, there are a few things you should do. First, don't just rely on the school's main site; it often lags. MaxPreps and PA Football News are usually the fastest with live updates.
Also, if you're planning to attend a game at Widener University, get there early. The "Broad Street" crowd shows up in force, and parking can be a nightmare. Tickets for the PCL "Big Three" games (Roman, Prep, La Salle) usually sell out days in advance.
Keep an eye on the recruitment trail too. With Beals moving on, the quarterback competition this spring will be the biggest storyline in Philadelphia high school sports. Whoever wins that job inherits the most explosive offense in the city.
The roman catholic football schedule is more than just a list of dates. It's a roadmap of how this program climbed back to the top of the mountain. They aren't the underdogs anymore. They're the team everyone else is circling on their calendars.
To stay ahead of the curve for the 2026 season, make sure to follow the Philadelphia Catholic League’s official "Red Division" updates starting in July. You’ll want to bookmark the PIAA District 12 scoreboard to track how their power ranking fluctuates throughout the fall, as this determines their path back to the state championship.