Philadelphia High School Football
History of Neumann-Goretti High
(Nee Neumann & Southeast Catholic)

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 This page details much of the football history of Ss. Neumann-Goretti
High -- nee Bishop/St. John Neumann and Southeast Catholic (often
called South Catholic) in Philadelphia, PA.
  (Neumann blended with St. Maria Goretti, an all-girls school, for the
2004-05 school year to become N-G and its nickname was changed
from Pirates to Saints.)
  The Pirates, with no seniors, played six games in the 1934 season, then
joined the Philadelphia Catholic League for the1935 season and have
remained there since.
  If corrections are needed, please contact Ted Silary at tedtee307@yahoo.com
and provide verification of new information, if possible. Thanks!
  Some research is still being conducted/cross-checked. 
  (Information prior to 1976 was provided mostly by Dr. Roger B. Saylor,
a famed Pennsylvania football historian. He passed away in 2013.)

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SCHOOL RECORDS

Most Wins Season
          13 in 2021
Longest Unbeaten Streak
          20, last six games in 1953 (all wins), all 11 games in 1954 (10-0-1), first three games in 1955
Most Losses Season
          11 in 1980
Longest Winless Streak
          17, all 10 games in 1989 (0-10), first seven games in 1990 (0-6-1)
Most Points Scored
          Season: 486 in 2021 (13-2 record)
          Game: 69 vs. Southern in 1993 (69-12)
Most Points Allowed
          Season: 346 in 2015 (2-9 record)
          Game: 63 vs. La Salle in 2010 (63-0) 
Fewest Points Scored Season
          12 in 1937 (0-8-1 record)
Fewest Points Allowed Season
          12 in 1948 (10-0-1 record)
Most Shutouts Season
          9 in 1948
Most Times Shut Out Season
          7 in 1937
Biggest Winning Margin
          68 vs. Southern in 2002 (68-0)
Biggest Losing Deficit
          63 vs. La Salle in 2010 (63-0)
Longest Shutout Streak
          5, first five games in 1948
Longest Streak Times Shut Out
          6, first six games in 1937
Longest Streak Without Being Shut Out
          35, last two games in 1947, all 29 games from 1948 through 1950, first four games in 1951 . . . also last four games in 2018, all 31 games from 2019 through 2021 (active)
Longest Streak Without a Shutout
          38, last six games in 1975, all 28 games from 1976 through 1978, first four games in 1979
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CATHOLIC LEAGUE TITLES

1948, Overall: 8-0, 10-0-1 . . . Tied for City Title
1954, Overall: 7-0, 10-0-1 . . . Won City Title
2014, Class AA, 3-1, 9-5 . . . Won AA City Title
2017, *Blue Division, 6-0, 11-1 . . . Won AA City Title
2019, *Blue Division, 7-0, 11-1 
*-decided by regular season results

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RECAPS OF CHAMPIONSHIP WINS/TIES . . .

CATHOLIC LEAGUE
1948
Overall
Decided in Regular Season
  In a night game before 30,000 at Shibe Park, the Pirates
improved to 8-0-0 and captured their first title in 14 years of CL
membership by topping West, 13-0. South had never before posted better
than a .500 league record. The first TD came as Joe Schultz blocked a
punt and Dick DeLuca ran 7 yards on a return. Jim D'Amico's interception
set up Bill Powers's 1-yard TD run. North went 7-1-0 for second.
1954
Overall
Decided in Regular Season
    The title was clinched with a week remaining as the Pirates,
before 25,000 at Municipal Stadium, downed St. James, 19-7. South
extended an unbeaten streak to 14 games; St. James saw its streak end at
17. Bill Boegly scored once apiece on a reception and a run. Jim
Grazione scored on an interception. In its finale, South hammered Roman,
39-0, as Grazione passed 11-for-13 for 209 yards and three TDs and
scored on a 70-yard punt return.
2014
Class AA
At O'Hara
Neumann-Goretti 32, West Catholic 14
  Aside from seizing its first championship since 1954, N-G caused the
Burrs to part company with a 52-game, nine-season league winning streak
in the Blue/AA divisions. Counting two subregional wins, West had won
54 in a row against division opponents. Khalil Roane hustled for 209 yards
and one TD on 31 carries, Ray Lenhart passed 6-for-14 for 164 yards
and one TD, Aamir Brown made four catches for 108 yards, Miles Brewer
turned three rushes into 14 points (two TDs, one conversion) and Michael
DiFrancesco, also a key blocker, had eight tackles. For West, Calil
Wortham ran 16 times for 123 yards and one score.
2021
Catholic Blue
8-0 in regular season.
Catholic AAA
Defeated Lansdale Catholic in final.
  

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CITY TITLES
1948
Overall
At Franklin Field
Frankford 6, South Catholic 6 (tie)
    Frankford's Ernie Liberati rushed 28 times for 126 yards and a
1-yard TD with 2:10 remaining, then Dick Gagliardi blocked Howard
Graham's PAT to preserve the tie. Liberati carried the ball seven times
on Frankford's nine-play, 54-yard drive. South scored with 7:05 left on
Bill Brannau's 12-yard toss to Joe Schultz, who was wide with his PAT.
1954
Overall
At Franklin Field
South Catholic 34, Frankford 0
    Jim Grazione completed 7 of 17 passes for 102 yards and two TDs
to Tony DeSantis (4-71) as South extended its two-season unbeaten streak
under coach Paul "Bart" Bartolomeo to 17 games. Grazione also had an
interception. Bill Boegly added 131 yards and a TD on 15 carries and Jim
Tobin made three catches for 31 yards. For Frankford, John Wright
carried 13 times for 64 yards.
2014
Class AA
At South Phila. Super Site
Neumann-Goretti 12, Prep Charter 6
  This one featured South Philly schools with practice fields three blocks
apart along 25th Street. Khalil Roane rushed 31 times for 171 yards and
two TDs as the Saints, then known as the Southeast Catholic Pirates,
claimed a City Title for the first time since 1954. Jack Taylor preserved
the win with a late interception. For PC, Quadir Strothers ran 18 times
for 113 yards, Vian Dolo posted a TD and 105 yards of rushing/passing
and Ronald Stokes contributed two of his team's four interceptions.
2017
Class AA
At South Phila. Super Site
Neumann-Goretti 54, Strawberry Mansion 6
 The Saints stormed to 30 points in the first 12 minutes and Charles Britt
got things started with TD tosses to Tre'Sean Bouie and Jaron Macon.
Two more stalwarts -- Chris Wells and Leddie Brown -- added rushing
tallies before the subs took over. Mansion gave N-G many short fields by
opting never to punt. Freshman Tysheem Johnson paced the defense with
four interceptions and Kharon Lloyd returned a fumble 71 yards for six
points.  
2021
Class AAA
Defeated KIPP DuBois