La Salle College tops Central Catholic in Pennsylvania high school football Class 6A championship: Live score recap

The Explorers forced three turnovers in the fourth quarter to earn the win

La Salle's JP Oates, 2, celebrates his touchdown against Easton with teammates, Joey O'Brien, 6, Josh Simmons, 8, and Chima Auguste, 12, during the PIAA football quarterfinals in Bethlehem on Nov. 21, 2025. / Daniella Heminghaus | Bucks County Courier Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The La Salle College Explorers (13-1) defeated the Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings (13-2) 34-20 in the PIAA Class 6A championship on Saturday at Chapman Field. It's the second PIAA title in program history.

Senior defensive back Joey O'Brien grabbed three interceptions-and he returned one for a touchdown-in the fourth quarter to seal the title for the Explorers. He also threw for a touchdown and caught 10 passes for 98 yards in the game.

The Vikings trailed by seven points with four minutes remaining in the game when sophomore quarterback Owen Herrick threw his first interception to O'Brien. The Explorers capitalized a play later when running back Ahzir Nelson ran for a 2-yard touchdown. Nelson finished with 127 yards rushing and one touchdown.

O'Brien intercepted Herrick twice more to kill any chance of a Vikings comeback.

La Salle had a 14-7 lead at halftime thanks to two touchdown catches from Owen Johnson. He added another in the second half to finish with three receiving touchdowns, including one from O'Brien.

The Explorers started with the ball in the second half, and they proceeded to score on a 17 play, 80-yard drive that chewed 12 minutes off the clock and extended their lead to two possessions.

Central Catholic sophomore running back Chrys Black scored all three touchdowns for the Vikings. He finished with 61 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, three catches, 44 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.

Players to Watch

La Salle

• Joey O'Brien, Sr., ATH - 5-star signed to Notre Dame
• Grayson McKeogh, Sr., OT - 4-star signed to Notre Dame
• Gavin Sidwar, Sr., QB - 3-star signed to Mizzou
• JP Oates, Sr., TE - 3-star signed to Virginia Tech

Central Catholic

• James Halter, Jr., OL - 4-star committed to Notre Dame
  Kimmy Kalis, Jr., OT - 4-star uncommitted
• Ashton Blatt, Sr., DE - 3-star signed to North Carolina
• Colsen Gatten, Sr., LB - 3-star signed to Duke

La Salle College tops Central Catholic in Pennsylvania high school football Class 6A championship: Live score recap

Teams are on the field for the national anthem.

First Quarter Updates

Central Catholic receives the opening kickoff and we're underway.

The Vikings punt on their first drive, and the Explorers will start near their 20-yard line - 10:00 1Q

La Salle gets to midfield but punts, and a penalty on the Explorers moves the start of the Vikings drive to their 40-yard line - 7:15 1Q

The defenses continue to hold. The Explorers start a drive inside their own red zone with four minutes remaining in the first quarter.

END OF FIRST QUARTER: Central Catholic 0, La Salle College 0

Second Quarter Updates

TOUCHDOWN LA SALLE! Senior quarterback Gavin Sidwar finds sophomore receiver Owen Johnson for an 11-yard touchdown to finish a 10 play, 88-yard scoring drive - La Salle 7, Central Catholic 0 - 10:32 2Q

Six minutes remain in the first half, and La Salle is facing a 2nd-and-17 at its 47-yard line.

The Explorers punt, and Central Catholic will start a drive at its 45-yard line - 5:45 2Q

TOUCHDOWN CENTRAL CATHOLIC! Chrys Black runs for a 17-yard touchdown. He broke a tackle and stayed upright into the end zone - La Salle 7, Central Catholic 7 - 4:48 2Q

La Salle is driving and into the red zone with 20 seconds remaining before halftime. The Explorers relied on running back Ahzir Nelson to get down the field.

TOUCHDOWN LA SALLE! Sidwar finds Johnson for the second time, this one a 1-yard touchdown. Johnson was open at the goal line - La Salle 14, Central Catholic 7 - 0:07 2Q

HALFTIME: La Salle 14, Central Catholic 7

La Salle will receive to start the second half.

Rush Yards: La Salle 82, Central Catholic 54
Pass Yards: La Salle 119, Central Catholic 40

Third Quarter Updates

La Salle receives the second-half kickoff and will start at its 20-yard line.

La Salle is on a long drive and into the red zone. The Explorers have burned most of the third quarter clock already.

TOUCHDOWN LA SALLE! On fourth and goal, receiver Joey O'Brien completed a touchdown pass to Johnson, his third touchdown reception of the game. O'Brien caught a backwards pass and then found Johnson in the end zone. That was a monster 17 play, 80-yard drive that took 12 minutes off the clock - La Salle 21, Central Catholic 7 - 2:54 3Q

END OF THIRD QUARTER: La Salle 21, Central Catholic 7

Fourth Quarter Updates

Central Catholic starts the quarter with the ball at the La Salle 15-yard line on fourth and-7.

TOUCHDOWN CENTRAL CATHOLIC! The Vikings finish a long drive with a 5-yard touchdown run from Black - La Salle 21, Central Catholic 14 - 10:31 4Q

La Salle converts on fourth and-1 to keep a drive alive. Nelson gets 3 yards to get the Explorers to the Vikings 34-yard line. He's up to 118 yards rushing - 7:00 4Q

The Vikings defense finally gets off the field. Sidwar's pass to O'Brien on 4th-and-3 is incomplete. Junior defensive back Zach Gleason broke up the pass. Central Catholic will start a drive at its own 37-yard line - 4:38 4Q

INTERCEPTION BY LA SALLE! O'Brien intercepts Vikings sophomore quarterback Owen Herrick and returns it to the 2-yard line. Herrick overthrew his receiver - 3:55 4Q

TOUCHDOWN LA SALLE! Nelson runs for a touchdown on the next play. The PAT is blocked - La Salle 27, Central Catholic 14 - 3:50 4Q

INTERCEPTION BY LA SALLE! O'Brien intercepts Herrick again, this one after a deflection, and he returns it 10 yards to the Viking 43-yard line - 3:23 4Q

Central Catholic forces another turnover on downs. The Vikings will start a drive at their own 36-yard line - 3:03 4Q

TOUCHDOWN LA SALLE! For his third interception of the game, O'Brien snags Herrick's pass and he returns it 95 yards for a touchdown - La Salle 34, Central Catholic 14 - 1:17 4Q

TOUCHDOWN CENTRAL CATHOLIC! Herrick finds Black in the middle of the field for a 23-yard touchdown pass - La Salle 34, Central Catholic 20 - 0:07 4Q

FINAL: La Salle College 34, Central Catholic 20

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