The start of the 2023 District 10 football season is right around the corner. Visit GoErie.com throughout August for updated videos and photos from team camps. Here is one in a series of previews for all 39 D-10 teams:
Cathedral Prep Ramblers
Coach: Mike Krahe (2nd season, 8-3)
2022 record: 8-3 (2-0 Region 6)
2022 playoff results: Lost to Pine-Richland 21-14 in the PIAA Class 5A quarterfinals.
Assistant coaches: Mark Brooks, Jeremiah Conley, Pat Czytuck, Estus Barnes, Kevin Gardner, Bryan Baumann, Andrew Angert, Jerry Roberts, Riley Dunbar, Jayson Nickson, Jeff Brzezinski, TJ Smith, John MacKenzie
Preseason prep:Everything you need to know for the 2023 District 10 football season
Three yards and a cloud of dust
Cathedral Prep lost some key playmakers to graduation to the point where the strengths of this year's team could be the offensive line and the run game. The Ramblers still have speed on the outside with players like Dan Oblich and RJ Roberts, but Prep could dominate defenses up front. It starts with Jiavani Cooley, a Pitt commit, and Division I prospect LaMonte Fuller. Add in Tim Swanson and tight end Aden Wentz and Prep has one of the top offensive lines in District 10. In the backfield, Prep has Luke Costello at quarterback and Suhtaun Lewis and Dajoure Hollingsworth at running back. Costello has a tough mentality as a quarterback and could take off running at any time to get extra yards, while Lewis was in the middle of a breakout year when he was injured in the McDowell game last year. Hollingsworth picked up the slack the rest of the season. Hollingsworth led Prep with 847 yards and 17 touchdowns on 85 carries, while Lewis had 714 yards and six touchdowns on 90 carries. Costello threw for 1,261 yards and 15 touchdowns after earning the starting spot in the middle of the season. Prep has several underclassmen and seniors that could step up as new playmakers, but don't be surprised if the Ramblers overwhelm teams with their rushing attack first and passing game second.
Working the schedule
One of the biggest keys for Prep each year is its schedule. The Ramblers start the year with some solid games before a three-game stretch where they are truly tested with Clarkson, one of the top teams in Canada, a road game at rival McDowell and a road game at Ohio powerhouse Benedictine. Another big game to pick up this year was Class 2A powerhouse Farrell. It'll be big for the Ramblers to face upset-minded Farrell in Week 10 as Prep could go weeks without a playoff game because of the current playoff system. The Ramblers went one month until their first playoff game last fall and almost upset Pine-Richland on the road. Pine-Richland went on to win the state championship. Prep needs to stay sharp throughout the year and having a game in Week 10 where they have to show up is a big addition this year.
New players to watch
With only five starters back on defense, including Oblich and Roberts in the secondary, Fuller and Wentz on the line and Max Spence at linebacker, Prep will need new and younger players to step up. David Adams and Cory Allen could earn playing time at wide receiver or defensive back along with Johnny Burns, Xavier Goshay, Tyler Irons and Clay Mallory on the offensive or defensive lines. Eric Cox, Tyler Haft, Montay Hollingsworth and Joe Himes could battle for playing time at linebacker and Himes is also a tight end.
Schedule
Aug. 25 vs. Archbishop Hoban (Ohio) 7 p.m.
Sept. 2 at Canisius (N.Y.) 2 p.m.
Sept. 8 vs. St. Paul Catholic (Canada) 7 p.m.
Sept. 15 vs. St. Francis (N.Y.) 7 p.m.
Sept. 22 vs. Clarkson (Canada) 7 p.m.
Sept. 29 at McDowell* 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 at Benedictine (Ohio) 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 vs. Butler* 7 p.m.
Oct. 20 vs. Erie* 7 p.m.
Oct. 27 at Farrell 7 p.m.
*Region 6 game
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