LANSDALE — The seven wins the Lansdale Catholic football team earned in 2022 were six more than it finished with the previous season. But senior quarterback Cole Meehan knows the Crusaders’ improvement is far from done.
“We’re definitely not turned around yet,” Meehan said. “Our goal is the championship so last year hurt a lot. So I think we’re just using that year, kind of just to strive for better. I mean, 7-3’s not a bad look but we didn’t get playoffs.”
After going winless in 2020 during a four-game schedule then 1-10 in 2021, LC started last year with three straight victories. A pair of back-to-back wins in Philadelphia Catholic League Blue Division play had the Crusaders finish at 7-3, the most wins for the program since going 8-3 in 2015.
“I think they looked around the room and said ‘We’re a talented bunch of kids, we just need to go out there and prove it,’” said Lansdale Catholic coach Dominic D’Addona of last year’s squad. “And they did and they came to work each day and they went out there each game and played their hearts out.
“Same as I see this group doing. This group of seniors is identical to that group of seniors where they’re going to fill roles where we need holes filled.”
A 4-3 mark in division play, however, had the Crusaders behind both Neumann-Goretti and Conwell-Egan for a spot in the PCL Class 3A final. Being on the outside of that contest again is not in Lansdale Catholic’s 2023 plans.
“Our mentality in the locker room is no one’s satisfied,” LC senior linebacker Bobby Lombardo said. “Missing the playoffs last year due to Neumann and Conwell really hurt and no one’s happy with it. Yes, it’s been an improvement, we’ve definitely improved over these three years but it’s not the end goal.
“No one’s satisfied and that’s kind of been our message all from January was ‘hey we got one goal and that’s where we’re trying to get to.’”
Meehan is entering his third season as LC’s starting signal caller with the recent Merrimack College commit earning All-PCL Blue first-team honors as a junior after — per easternpafootball.com — throwing for 1,473 and 15 touchdowns. He threw for more than 100 yards eight times last season, including collecting 278 yards and four TDs in the Week 3 win over New Hope-Solebury.
“He now has a real good grasp of the offense,” said D’Addona of Meehan. “If somebody needs to be adjusted in the formation or needs to be told what to do, he can do it across the board. There were times where he couldn’t do it across the board but now he’s just right on task — he can direct everybody, all 10 guys besides himself out there.”
Meehan will have plenty of options on who to deliver the ball to in an offense that averaged 28.2 points per game last year. Junior Jacahi Streeter made 21 catches for 377 yards, junior Jack Trezeciak hauled in 20 passes for 190 yards while sophomore Yeboa Cobbold caught 17 passes for 296 yards.
Senior Carson Bethea, a transfer from Academy of the New Church, further bolsters the receiving corps. Bethea missed last season after an ACL injury in the Lions’ opening game but as sophomore in 2021 had 42 receptions for 806 yards and seven touchdowns.
“I’m really glad I’m here now though cause I feel like now I’m developing my body a lot more, taking the weight room a lot more serious,” Bethea said. “I gained 10 pounds since last year and I feel faster and stronger than I ever have before.”
Streeter, an All-PCL second team selection at running back, also paced the Crusaders in rushing with 691 yards on 116 carries. The offensive line returns Chris Ulmer and Jason Kalkbrenner.
“I think this offense can be very explosive,” Meehan said. “I think we can break plays. I think if we do everything we can and get time in the pocket, I think we can air the ball deep. I think we’re going to have a good year this year.”
LC’s defense allowed 14.0 points per game last season, posting shutouts against both Conwell-Egan and West Catholic. The linebacking group is a strength as it brings back Ulmer — an all-division second team pick — Lombardo and Ian Gramlick with Darren Jackson moving to the position after starting at cornerback. Cobbold earned All-PCL first team honors at defensive back.
“Our defense is going to be really fast and physical,” Lombardo said. “We want to punch you in the mouth, punch you in the mouth fast and early. That’s our goal, of course. We need a little bit more things to get fluid, rotations and stuff but that’s going to come over time, practice and stuff.
“But our main goal’s going to be flying around, making big plays and we did that last year and I think we’ll continue to that this year.”
Lansdale Catholic opens the season taking on High School of the Future at the Germantown Supersite then heads to Ocean City, New Jersey for a Week 2 contest with SCH Academy.
After facing Kensington, the Crusaders start PCL Blue play with three straight matchups against league’s other Class 3A sides — at Neumann-Goretti Sept. 16 at the South Philly Supersite, hosting Conwell-Egan Sept. 22 and playing Archbishop Carroll Sept. 29 at Conshohocken A Field.
