No. 2 Imani Christian overcomes mistakes to knock off No. 3 North Catholic

By: Bob Orkwis
Friday, September 26, 2025 | 11:52 PM

When a team commits 18 penalties, throws two interceptions, and has five snaps sail over the quarterback’s head, it usually does not overcome those mistakes.

But to No. 2 Imani Christian’s credit, it shrugged off the slow start and got the finish it wanted, putting up 36 unanswered points to defeat No. 3 North Catholic, 36-16, in a Class 3A nonconference matchup Friday at UPMC Graham Field.

“It took a second half wake-up call,” Imani Christian coach LaRoi Johnson said. “We responded. Every kid just looked at me in the eyes, and we bonded together. We just put a little too much on each other with the bad snaps. We kind of got it together in the second quarter and the second half.”

One of the bad snaps went out of the end zone for a safety and the first points of the game.

The Trojans followed that with a pair of touchdown drives, with Joey Felitsky hitting Preston Simko from 35 and 37 yards, to give North Catholic a 16-0 lead early in the second quarter.

From that point on, Imani Christian, especially its interior lines and defense, took control.

Johnson thought his defense was a big part of the turnaround in the game, a carryover of the unit’s play so far this season.

“I feel like they have been playing well the whole year, and lights-out football for the last few weeks,” he said. “I hold those guys (on defense) to high expectations and always expect them to play well.”

Imani Christian held North Catholic to negative yards rushing on the night.

Of course, it also helps to have a pair of Penn State recruits on either side of the football as well, and Gabe Jenkins and David Davis also played big parts in the comeback.

Jenkins, the junior quarterback, put the Saints on the board with a 1-yard run and a two-point conversion to make it an eight-point deficit at halftime.

Jenkins added a 1-yard score to bring Imani Christian to within two, and then Davis came up big when Jenkins left with leg cramps.

Pinned inside their own 10-yard line, Davis took a direct snap and jaunted 91 yards for the go-ahead score. DJ Craighead ran in the two-point conversion for a 22-16 lead.

“Those two (Jenkins and Davis) are the one-two punch,” Johnson said. “They complement each other so well, and they hold each other accountable.”

Then, the two future Nittany Lions teamed up with a little luck.

Jenkins under threw a pass near the goal line, which bounced off the hands a defender right in the waiting arms of Davis for a 29-yard touchdown, and the Saints lead was 28-16.

Freshman Tyvon Sewell added a 6-yard scoring run, and the two-point conversion made the final score 36-16.

The bad for Imani Christian: 18 penalties for 155 yards, five bad snaps for a negative-61 yards, and Jenkins throwing a pair of interceptions.

The good for the Saints: despite the negative fumble yards, Jenkins ran for more than 100 yards and two touchdowns and added a touchdown pass.

Davis carried nine times for 133 yards and a touchdown and also had an interception in the first quarter.

Felitsky, who entered the game second in the WPIAL in passing yardage and first in passing touchdowns, ended up with 156 yards and a pair of touchdowns but also threw his first two interceptions of the season as the Trojans suffered their first loss.

Johnson thought the comeback was no surprise for the Saints.

“I’ve known about this group for a long time,” he said. “They’re special and they play extremely hard. They lean on each other and it’s a brotherhood, one that plays for each other.”

Both teams head back into conference play next week.

North Catholic (5-1, 2-0) will host Central Valley in a Western Hills Conference game, while Imani Christian (6-0, 2-0) returns to Allegheny 7 Conference play to host East Allegheny.

Tags: Imani Christian, North Catholic