Roman Catholic stops streaking McDevitt for PIAA Class 5A title
2025 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
All-State quarterback Samaj Beals and his Roman Catholic teammates exacted revenge in the PIAA Class 5A championship Friday night, beating Bishop McDevitt 28-6 at Cumberland Valley’s Chapman Field.
A year ago the Cahillites lost to the Crusaders 34-31 in overtime in the championship game.
| Final | |
| Roman Catholic | 28 |
| Bishop McDevitt | 6 |
Beals, an Akron recruit, completed 18-of-26 passes for 231 yards and three TDs as Roman (12-3) won its eighth straight game and first PIAA championship since taking Class 6A title in 2022, against Archbishop Wood.
Roman was 4-3 at midseason after losing to several national powerhouses. It lost by one point in OT to St. Joe’s Prep, to North Carolina state champ Providence Day 29-28, and to DeMatha Catholic – ranked in the Top 20 nationally – 44-7.
There was none of that Friday as the Cahillites took advantage of three turnovers to build a 21-0 halftime lead.
They extended the lead to 28-0 late in the third quarter on Beals’ 1-yard flip to Temple recruit Eyan Stead.
The District 3 champion Crusaders (12-3) avoided the shutout on Sebastian Williams’ 24-yard TD pass to Gage Ruth with 1:12 remaining.
The Crusaders had scored 31 or more points in winning their last 12 games. They opened the season with losses to Clarkson Football North of Canada and District 3 Class 6A champ Harrisburg.
Roman blitzed its playoff competition, winning its first five postseason games by an average of 39 points before running into McDevitt.
The Crusaders were hurt by four turnovers, two of which set up early scores.
Roman went up 7-0 midway through the first quarter on Beals’ 7-yard run and 14-0 early in the second on his 7-yard flip to Hanif Sheed.
Beals’ 40-yard TD strike to Ashdan Roberts made it 21-0 with 1:53 left in the half. Beals’ final TD toss, to Stead, was his 46th of the season.
Stead had nine receptions for 102 yards. Temple recruit Ash Roberts had two catches for 90 yards. Beals rushed for 55 yards on 11 carries.
McDevitt quarterback Sebastian Williams completed just 12-of-28 passes for 140 yards and two interceptions. He found All-State receiver Jontai Quick five times for 67 yards.
McDevitt All-State Nazir Jones-Davis carried 18 times for 103 yards and finished the season with 1,384 yards and 18 TDs.
McDevitt beat Exeter 42-0 in the district semifinals before stopping Solanco 38-20 in the championship game.
