Cahillites Fall to McDevitt in Overtime Thriller for State Championship
Philadelphia, PA – December 7, 2024 – In a nail-biting showdown, the Roman Catholic Cahillites made history by battling back from a 21-3 deficit to temporarily seize a 31-28 lead against the Bishop McDevitt Crusaders, only to fall in overtime 34-31. This nail-biter marked the first appearance of Roman Catholic in the state football championship final and the tenth overtime game in the PIAA state football history.
Cahillites’ head coach Rick Prete praised his team, stating, “I’m proud of our kids. We fought back and had opportunities.” The comeback was sparked by pivotal plays, including a fumble recovery in the end zone and a remarkable 52-yard touchdown pass on a fake punt. Quarterback Semaj Beals and running back JoJo Delecce led the offense, with Beals throwing for 135 yards while also rushing for 50. Delecce contributed significantly with 104 rushing yards.
In a rollercoaster fourth quarter, Roman took the lead thanks to Louis Gaddy’s interception return. However, McDevitt’s Aidan Grella managed to tie the game with a field goal late in the quarter. The attempted 43-yard field goal by Grella fell just short as time expired, pushing the game into overtime. Ultimately, Grella secured the victory with a 21-yard field goal following a missed opportunity from Roman.
Prete, reflecting on the fierce competition, pointed out the skill of McDevitt, adding, “Hats off to them… They battled, and they earned it.” Despite their loss, quarterback Beals noted, “A loss is never a loss; it’s always a lesson learned,” hinting at a promising future for the Cahillites program.
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