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Semaj Beals powers Roman Catholic past La Salle in big Pennsylvania high school football upset

hunterby: Hunter Shelton12 hours agoHunterShelton_
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Penn State quarterback Semaj Beals. (Credit: Sean Fitz | Blue White Illustrated)

Upsets have been widespread as of late in high school football and Pennsylvania got hit with a stunner on Friday night.

Spearheaded by five touchdown passes from senior quarterback Semaj Beals, Roman Catholic outlasted La Salle College, the top-ranked team in the Keystone State, for a monumental 39-36 victory.

Three of Beals’ touchdowns went to senior wide receiver Ash Roberts. The Cahillite entered Friday night with a 2-2 record but have now handed La Salle its first loss of the season. The Roman Catholic defense intercepted La Salle senior QB and four-star Missouri commit Gavin Sidwar three times.

The teams went back and forth in the first half with Roman Catholic taking a 27-21 lead into the break. It then opened the second half with another scoring drive as Beals, an Akron pledge, continued to dice the La Salle defense. The Cahillite picked off Sidwar twice in the fourth quarter, the latter of which saw Haamir Lowry seal the victory for the Philadelphia program.

Beals delivered some big-time throws all night, including multiple touchdown passes on fourth down in the second half. A 48-yard TD to Eyan Stead in the fourth quarter was the final score of the night for the winning side. Stead went on to intercept Sidwar on the ensuing La Salle drive.

Roman Catholic opened the season on a sour note, dropping a 29-28 contest to Providence Day, the No. 2 team in North Carolina. It then took a whooping via DeMatha Catholic, the No. 2 team in Maryland, last Friday. This win could prove to be one of the biggest in some time for the Cahillite.

Five-star Notre Dame commit Joey O’Brien finished the night with multiple touchdowns for La Salle (4-1) in a losing effort. The Explorers entered as the No. 32 team in the nation, while Roman Catholic (3-2) entered at No. 377 and No. 8 in Pennsylvania, according to the Massey Ratings.

Roman Catholic heads to Cardinal O’Hara next week, while La Salle looks to bounce back in another monster game at No. 2 St. Joseph’s Prep on Saturday, Oct. 4.

How to Follow Pennsylvania High School Football

For Pennsylvania high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Keystone State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across Pennsylvania.