2025 PIAA 6A football championship breakdown: Central Catholic vs. La Salle College

By: Chris Harlan
Friday, December 5, 2025 | 9:39 AM

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PIAA Class 6A football championship

Central Catholic vs. La Salle College

7 p.m. Saturday, Cumberland Valley, Mechanicsburg

On the air: TV: PCN; Radio: KDKA (100.1 FM, 1020 AM); Video streaming: NFHS Network; Audio streaming: PIAA Radio Network

PIAA titles: Central Catholic 4 (2015, ’07, ’04, 1988), La Salle College 1 (2009)

Central Catholic (13-1)

Player to watch: Chrys Black Jr.

A hamstring injury sidelined Black for most of the regular season, but the sophomore running back has shined here in the playoffs. Last week in the semifinals, Black rushed 38 times for 212 yards and three touchdowns. His growing list of college offers includes West Virginia, Indiana and Florida State.

Statistical leaders

Passing: Owen Herrick 142-241, 2,318 yards, 20 TDs

Rushing: Jayden Alexander 116-769 yards, 9 TDs

Receiving: Aiden Nasiadka 44-643 yards, 7 TDs

How they got here: Central Catholic defeated North Allegheny, 42-7, in the WPIAL finals; District 6 champion State College, 42-21, in the PIAA quarterfinals; and District 3 champion Harrisburg, 32-14, in the semifinals.

Probable starting lineup

Coach: Ryan Lehmeier (third season)

Offense

QB, 12, Owen Herrick, 6-2, 185, so.

RB, 1, Chrys Black, 5-8, 180, so.

(or) RB, 0, Roman Thompson, 6-0, 207, jr.

WR, 9, Maceo Watkins, 6-1, 210, sr.

WR, 14, Aiden Nasiadka, 5-11, 170, sr.

WR, 5, Max Roman, 5-10, 180, jr.

TE, 44, Bobby Macurak, 5-9, 215, sr.

LT, 65, Jimmy Kalis, 6-6, 286, jr.

LG, 75, Jon Sassic, 6-5, 295, jr.

C, 52, Matt Bowers, 6-4, 300, sr.

RG, 53, Jake Murphy, 5-9, 258, sr.

RT, 77, James Halter, 6-5, 270, jr.

Defense

DE, 20, Manny Regus, 6-0, 230, jr.

NT, 55, Cole Bayer, 6-1, 300, sr.

DL, 32, Angelo Pugliano, 6-1, 275, sr.

DE, 8, Ashton Blatt, 6-4, 230, sr.

LB, 40, Colsen Gatten, 6-1, 220, sr.

LB, 0, Roman Thompson, 6-0, 207, jr.

LB, 3, Nick Curinga, 5-11, 180, jr.

S, 7, Seamus Mahon, 5-10, 180, sr.

S, 10, Jordan Ray, 6-1, 180, jr.

CB, 2, Zach Gleason, 6-0, 180, jr.

CB, 17, Yasair Ishmaeli, 5-11, 175, sr.

Special teams

K/P, 41, Antonio Difatta, 5-6, 155, jr.

Notable: Central Catholic has reached the state finals for the second year in a row and the ninth overall. The Vikings lost to St. Joseph’s Prep, 35-6, in last year’s final. … This year’s championship pairing is a rematch from Week Zero. Central Catholic lost to La Salle College, 23-6, on Aug. 22 at the Wolvarena. … Maceo Watkins scored the Vikings’ only touchdown in the loss on a 28-yard pass from Owen Herrick. … Central Catholic averages 42.2 points per game and allows 11. … RB/LB Roman Thompson leads the Vikings in touchdowns with 28. Thompson ranks second in rushing yards with 694 on 98 carries. He has Pitt and Penn State among his college offers. … The roster has many college commits, including LB Colsen Gatten (Duke), DE Ashton Blatt (North Carolina), James Halter (Notre Dame), Matt Bowers (Princeton), Angelo Pugliano (Western Michigan) and Watkins (Navy). … Linemen Jimmy Kalis and Jon Sassic have multiple Power 4 offers. … Only two WPIAL teams have won Class 6A titles (Pine-Richland in 2017 and Mt. Lebanon in 2021). Football expanded to six classes in 2016.

La Salle College (12-1)

Player to watch: Joey O’Brien

Recruiting website Rivals ranks the Notre Dame-bound safety as Pennsylvania’s top prospect in the 2026 class. Also a star wideout, O’Brien caught seven passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s semifinal win. He has topped 100 yards receiving in a game six times this season.

Statistical leaders

Passing: Gavin Sidwar 217-304, 3,186 yards, 38 TDs

Rushing: Ahzir Nelson 135-834 yards, 14 TDs

Receiving: Joey O’Brien 76-1,148 yards, 18 TDs

How they got here: La Salle College defeated Imhotep Charter, 31-16, in the District 12 finals; District 11 champion Easton, 49-7, in the PIAA quarterfinals; and District 1 champion North Penn, 49-14, in the semifinals

Probable starting lineup

Coach: Brett Gordon (second season)

Offense

QB, 7, Gavin Sidwar, 6-3, 195, sr.

RB, 31, Ahzir Nelson, 5-9, 180, jr.

WR, 6, Joey O’Brien, 6-5, 185, sr.

WR, 1, Owen Johnson, 5-11, 175, so.

WR, 12, Chima Auguste, 6-1, 185, jr.

(or) WR, 14, Jimmy Mahoney, 5-11, 150, sr.

TE, 2, J.P. Oates, 6-3, 223, sr.

LT, 78, Grayson McKeogh, 6-8, 280, sr.

LG, 55, Chris Bernesky, 6-3, 285, jr.

C, 75, Jacob Jackson, 6-2, 250, sr.

RG, 66, Andrew Sorge, 6-2, 270, jr.

RT, 76, Danny Lawyer, 6-3, 270, sr.

Defense

DL, 56, Jemel Williams, 6-2, 265, sr.

DL, 52, Kaleb Davidson, 6-2, 270, so.

DL, 44, Ryan Fandozzi, 6-0, 215, sr.

LB, 2, J.P. Oates, 6-3, 223, sr.

LB, 43, Cooper Heilig, 6-2, 207, sr.

LB, 10, Josh Simmons, 5-9, 175, jr.

LB, 12, Chima Auguste, 6-1, 185, jr.

DB, 3, Trey Hopkins, 6-0, 182, jr.

DB, 9, Lucas Johnson, 5-11, 180, sr.

DB, 22, Aidan Christy, 5-10, 175, sr.

DB, 6, Joey O’Brien, 6-5, 185, sr.

Special teams

K/P, 95, Chris Heck, 6-0, 160, sr.

Notable: This is La Salle College’s third trip to the state finals. The Explorers defeated State College, 24-7, in 2009 and lost to North Allegheny, 21-0, in 2010. … This is the first PIAA Class 6A final without St. Joseph’s Prep since the sport expanded to six classifications in 2016. … La Salle College qualified for the state playoffs by defeating St. Joseph’s Prep, 24-14, in the Philadelphia Catholic League finals. The result was a reversal from the regular season when La Salle College lost, 31-20, on Oct. 4. … The Explorers’ roster has a number of major-college recruits. Among them, OL Grayson McKeogh and S/WR Joey O’Brien are both Notre Dame recruits. QB Gavin Sidwar is committed to Missouri. TE/LB J.P. Oates is headed to Virginia Tech. … Highly ranked junior LB Zykee Scott, who has a Penn State offer, is ineligible for the playoffs under PIAA transfer rules. … 247Sports ranks McKeough as the top recruit in Pennsylvania. … WR Owen Johnson ranks second in receiving with 65 catches for 939 yards and 10 touchdowns. … Last week, Sidwar completed 16 of 21 passes for 256 yards and four TDs. … Cooper Heiling has a team-high 93 tackles. … The Explorers average 39.5 points per game and allow 15.3.

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Central Catholic