QB Joey Felitsky gets redemption as North Catholic tops No. 4 Elizabeth Forward in quarterfinals

By: Jeremy Sellew
Friday, November 7, 2025 | 11:02 PM

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Last season, North Catholic quarterback Joey Felitsky threw a crucial interception that allowed Elizabeth Forward to kick a game-winning field goal in their WPIAL quarterfinal game.

As he walked off the field, Trojans coach Chris Rizzo said that “without a doubt” his quarterback was going to get another shot at it.

Little did he know it’d be on the same field 364 days later.

Felitsky completed 13 of 15 passes for 257 yards and five touchdowns Friday to help lead the No. 5 Trojans to a 55-32 win over Elizabeth Forward to get that quarterfinal win that eluded North Catholic last season.

“I’m incredibly proud of that young man for the way he’s prepared and the way he leads this team,” Rizzo said. “When that kid is at the top of his game, this is the result.”

Trailing 21-17 at the half, the No. 4-seeded Warriors held the Trojans on the opening possession of the second half, but Elizabeth Forward went on to turn the ball over three times in three drives. And the Trojans made them pay.

After Reid Rinker recovered a fumble by Warriors quarterback Ryan Messina, Felitsky went right for the gut-punch, hitting Preston Simko on the next play for a 46-yard touchdown after a blown coverage in the Warriors’ secondary.

On the next play, Messina — who entered the game without an interception all season — threw his first after a pass went in and out of the hands of his intended receiver and into the belly of the Trojans’ Will Waskiewicz.

Two plays later, Felitsky threw a strike to Ryker Kennedy from 36 yards out. The PAT made it 35-17.

Kennedy finished the night with three catches for 100 yards. All three receptions were touchdowns.

“We knew they had guys that can catch the ball and run after the catch,” EF coach John DeMarco said. “We didn’t do a good job of tackling. I feel especially bad because I coach the secondary. So that’s on me.”

The ensuing drive for the Warriors (9-2) lasted only three plays as Messina fumbled again, this time recovered by Jackson Schade.

It was Logan Schade cashing in three minutes later with a 10-yard run.

“You could feel it on the sideline,” Rizzo said. “I was just happy to see our guys out there making those plays. That’s a heck of a football team and they’re very well-coached. When you get those opportunities, you have to make them. We did that with those three touchdowns off the turnovers.”

Messina, who completed 23 of 34 passes for 223 yards, hit Colton Stahl with a 28-yard touchdown on a nifty catch and run.

The 2-point conversion made it 35-25, but the Trojans (9-3) never took their foot off the gas.

The ensuing drive ended with Felitsky hitting a streaking Kennedy for a 57-yard scoring strike.

“We got the chance and we put the nail in the coffin with that last touchdown pass,” Rizzo said. “Like I said, that’s a good football team, but I think they’re a young team. We had a lot of guys back that played in that game last season. They’re a different team this year, but it’s nice to come in here and get a win.”

Messina later threw his second interception of the season, which led to Logan Schade ripping off a 93-yard touchdown run late for the final score.

The senior running back finished with 178 yards on only eight carries after the long scoring run.

Despite the wind and rain, Elizabeth Forward and North Catholic had no issues lighting up the scoreboard early in the first half.

It looked as if it was going to be the shootout DeMarco expected.

The Trojans ended up the night scoring on all but one of their drives, and it looked like the Warriors were set to do the same with the exception of their opening drive of the game.

On their third play from scrimmage, Felitsky tossed a swing pass to Logan Schade and he raced 53 yards untouched to give North Catholic an early 7-0 lead.

The Warriors found some rhythm on their second series. They went 65 yards on seven plays and tied it up with Messina using his legs on a 43-yard touchdown run.

Messina carried 25 times for 172 yards and three scores.

The Trojans answered back with a long drive of their own. Felitsky guided an 80-yard drive and connected with Kennedy for a 7-yard strike with 1:27 remaining in the first quarter.

At the end of one, the Warriors found themselves in a 14-7 hole.

The teams exchanged 1-yard touchdowns with Messina adding the tying score and Nate Swisher ending a five-minute Trojans’ drive to make it 21-14.

Just as the clock hit zeroes for the half, EF kicker Luke Holdren booted a 37-yard field goal into the wind and driving rain to make it 21-17.

“The difference in that first half was we couldn’t get off the field on third down in that first half,” DeMarco said. “We have eight underclassmen on that defense, and I think we were a little shell-shocked.

“We came out and got the stop we needed to start the second half, but then we had the run of turnovers and they scored three touchdowns on like five plays. That’s your ball game. But I promise you, we’ll be back. We’re only going to get better.”

One thing DeMarco wishes he had was senior receiver Landon Honick. The game-breaking wide receiver was ruled ineligible for the playoffs by the WPIAL, a decision the PIAA upheld after he transferred from Greensburg Central Catholic. The decision left the Warriors without a receiver who could really take the lid off the Trojans’ defense.

“You know what, the WPIAL and the PIAA did a great injustice to Landon Honick,” DeMarco said, not hiding his thoughts on the matter. “They did a horrible job. They say they’re all about the kids; no, they’re not all about the kids.

“They have to come up with a concrete rule and they need to stick to it. I was a part of all three hearings for the kid. He moved into the district where his mother lives. Each hearing we had, they found something new. We’d disprove it or prove it, then they’d find something else.

“Would he have made that much of a difference, I don’t know. But my heart goes out to that kid. The PIAA and WPIAL need to get situations like this corrected. I tried again today to get it overturned and gave Bob Lombardi a real piece of my mind. It’s ridiculous.”

With the win, the Trojans advance to the Class 3A semifinals to play Avonworth next week.

Tags: Elizabeth Forward, North Catholic