Philadelphia High School Football
History of Cardinal O'Hara in Springfield, PA

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 This page details much of the football history of Cardinal O'Hara High
in Springfield, PA. The Lions, with no seniors, played eight games in the
1964 season, then joined the Philadelphia Catholic League for the
1965 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
          12 in 1973 and 1985
Longest Winning Streak
          14, last 12 games in 1985, first two games in 1986
Most Losses Season
          9 in 1965, 2014 and 2015
Longest Losing Streak
          11, last two games of 1964, all nine games in 1965
Most Points Scored
          Season: 386 in 1980 (11-2)
          Game: 62 vs. North Catholic in 2000 (62-0) and Ryan in 2003 (62-6)
Most Points Allowed
          Season: 348 in 2014 (1-9)
          Game: 56 vs. Don Bosco in 2007 (56-7) and 56 vs. Wood in 2014 (56-12) 
Fewest Points Scored Season
          56 in 1965 (0-9)
Fewest Points Allowed Season
          55 in 1979 (11-2)
Most Shutouts Season
          7 in 1985
Most Times Shut Out Season
          4 in 2019
Biggest Winning Margin
          62 vs. North Catholic in 2000 (62-0)
Biggest Losing Deficit
          49 vs. Don Bosco in 2007 (56-7)
Longest Shutout Streak
          6, games four through nine in 1979
Longest Streak Times Shut Out
          4, last three games in 1993, first game in 1994
Longest Streak Without Being Shut Out
          97, last five games in 1997, all 92 games from 1998 through 2005
Longest Streak Without a Shutout
          45, last five games in 2011, all 40 games from 2012 through 2015 (won by shutout in first game of 2016)
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CATHOLIC LEAGUE TITLES

1973, Overall: 7-0, 12-0 . . . also won overall City Title
1979, Overall: 7-0, 11-2 . . . also won overall City Title
1980, Overall: 7-0, 11-2
1985, Overall: 7-0, 12-2
2000, Red: 5-2, 10-2
2004, Red: 5-1, 11-1
2016, Blue, 6-0, 10-0 . . . (decided by regular season results) 
 
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RECAPS OF WINS IN CATHOLIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS

1973
Overall
At Villanova Stadium
O'Hara 11, Ryan 8
  After his successful 28-yard field was nullified by illegal
procedure, Tom Gallagher broke an 8-8 tie with 6:13 remaining by
connecting again from 33 yards. O'Hara coach Chappy Moore had lost in
the two previous finals while coaching Kenrick. Mike Chenet, Gallagher's
holder, scored the Lions' TD on a 4-yard run and Mike Narcise rushed for
48 yards on 18 carries. Sean Collins made three interceptions. John
Zeglinski scored for Ryan.
1979
Overall
At Northeast
O'Hara 10, Judge 7
  John Bauer ran 3 yards for a TD with 3:10 left to provide the
win for O'Hara, which also received Bill Mitchell's 30-yard field goal.
Marty Cull rushed 29 times for 115 yards. Dave Vitalli (nine tackles),
Jim Hewitt (seven) and Chris Minton (late-game interception) led the
defense, which held Judge to 81 yards total offense.
1980
Overall
At Northeast
O'Hara 20, Wood 6
  Marty Cull, playing with a dislocated shoulder, picked up 115
yards and two TDs on 18 carries and Mike Boas kicked field goals of 35
and 38 yards to make a winner of interim coach Bob "Sparky" Faries,
who'd replaced Bob Ewing (health problems) early in the season. Tim
Chambers added three catches for 57 yards. For Wood, star QB Steve
Kettelberger was limited to 55 yards total offense.    
1985
Overall
At Northeast High
O'Hara 12, Ryan 7
  Kevin Parker, switched from running back to quarterback after
O'Hara started the season 0-2, rushed 22 times for 68 yards and the
winning, fourth-quarter TD. Bryan Dempsey (14-63) also ran for a score.
Tom Siedzikowski preserved the win with a last-second interception at
the O'Hara 4. For Ryan, rushers Al Settembrino (10-61) and Rick
Hollawell (16-53, TD) led the way.
2000
Red Division
At Northeast
O'Hara 35, SJ Prep 10
   Capping a sensational career, Kevin Jones posted four TDs and
196 all-purpose yards as the Lions rolled to an upset victory. He ran
for scores of 2 and 39 yards, returned a kickoff 86 yards for another and
made a 34-yard reception of a Mike Lomas Hail Mary pass for yet another.
Lomas (6-for-12, 137 yards) also fired a TD pass to Ryan Barksdale.
Prep entered at 12-0 and thus became the first team with a perfect record
to fall in a CL title game since St. James in 1969. Kyle Ambrogi rushed for
50 yards and fell nine yards short of overtaking Judge's Bill Foley (2,116
in '68) for the No. 1 spot in CL one-season rushing. Mike McGann passed
18-for-37 for a game record 245 yards.
2004
Red Division
At Villanova Stadium
O'Hara 14, SJ Prep 13
   The Lions rallied from a 13-2 halftime deficit to prevent The Prep from
capturing a fourth consecutive title. Quarterback Anthony Walters, installed
as the starter late in the season specificially with beating the Hawks in mind,
began the comeback with a 55-yard scamper that set up his own 2-yard TD.
Pat Macaulay scored the game-winner on a 9-yard run two plays after Mike
Marotta recovered a fumble on the Hawks' 21. That play was controversial.
Tom Elliott caught a pass and lateraled to star rusher John Shaw (24-147,
two TDs, one for 71 yards). The ball hit the turf and Mike Marotta recovered.
As TV replays showed, Elliott's knee was down. Greg Smith ensured the win
by blocking a late field goal attempt. O'Hara's Brian Giacobetti had two
interceptions. Danny Algeo, O'Hara's first-year coach, had won the Red title
exactly five years earlier with Roman.
2016
Blue Division
Decided by regular season results; no league playoffs 

RECAPS OF WINS IN CITY TITLES

1973
Overall
At Veterans Stadium
O'Hara 13, Frankford 6
    Tom Gallagher, playing with a lightweight cast on his left leg,
ran 56 yards for a third-quarter TD to expand O'Hara's 7-6 lead. Dennis
Buchanan rushed 19 times for 152 yards and John Leotta threw a 15-yard
scoring pass to Mark Cordes 6 seconds before halftime; a clock mixup had
resulted in the second quarter lasting 14 seconds longer than it should
have. For Frankford, Anthony Turiano gained 71 yards on 17 carries and
threw a 7-yard scoring pass to Leroy Williams. Rich Geiger gave
Frankford a chance at a tie or win with a late fumble recovery at the
O'Hara 19, but Bill Gargan quickly made a fumble recovery for the Lions.
1979
Overall
At Veterans Stadium
O'Hara 28, Lincoln 7
    Marty Cull rushed for 82 yards and a TD on 20 carries and QB
Greg Pergolese added two scores on short runs. O'Hara's defense
registered 11 sacks for 76 yards in losses, while Bill Wendel returned
an interception 50 yards for a TD and Dave Vitalli made 13 tackles. For
Lincoln, Zachary Armwood (11-83) raced 45 yards for a score one play
after O'Hara coach Bob Ewing removed his defensive starters en masse.