Lansdale Catholic Reloads After Historic State Semifinal Run
Lansdale Catholic enters the 2026 season with a different roster, several important questions and the same high expectations that followed one of the best seasons in program history.
The Crusaders finished 12-3 in 2025, won a District 12 championship, captured the District 1/12 subregional title and advanced all the way to the PIAA Class 2A semifinals before falling to perennial power Southern Columbia.
Along the way, Lansdale Catholic defeated Archbishop Carroll, Neumann-Goretti, West Catholic, Archbishop Wood and Conwell-Egan during a demanding Philadelphia Catholic League schedule. The Crusaders then rolled through the postseason, defeating Universal Audenried Charter, Bristol, Lakeland and Williams Valley before their season ended one victory short of the state championship game.
Head coach Dom D’Addona now faces the challenge that comes with sustained success.
Several key contributors have graduated, including Boa Cobbold, Braeden Smith, Darren Jackson and Nick O’Brien. Their departures leave significant openings, particularly along the offensive and defensive lines and at quarterback.
Still, Lansdale Catholic returns enough talent and experience to remain a serious contender in the Philadelphia Catholic League Blue Division.
The Crusaders bring back several accomplished two-way starters, including Asher Thickening, John Cobbold, Luke Doheny, Matt Lieber, Sy Robinson and Terrance Smith. That veteran nucleus gives the coaching staff a strong foundation while younger players compete for larger roles during preseason camp.
The team trained aggressively throughout the offseason, and the early returns have been encouraging. The next step is transforming that preparation into chemistry, depth and consistency against one of the toughest schedules in District 12.
Quarterback Competition Will Shape the Offense
The biggest offensive question entering 2026 is quarterback.
Lansdale Catholic must identify a new leader at the position after graduating an experienced senior class.
Quarterbacks coach Tamir Brice will work closely with the candidates throughout camp as the Crusaders search for the player who can best manage the offense.
The new starter will inherit a team with several proven weapons, but he must quickly develop confidence, timing and command.
Lansdale Catholic does not necessarily need its quarterback to carry the offense from the opening week. The Crusaders need someone capable of protecting the football, making sound decisions and consistently placing the team in favorable situations.
Leadership will be equally important.
The Philadelphia Catholic League demands composure. Defenses are fast, physical and disciplined, and mistakes are often punished immediately. Whoever earns the job must remain poised against pressure and continue improving as the season progresses.
The competition may remain open through camp, but the coaching staff believes the surrounding experience will help ease the transition.
Cobbold and Lieber Bring Experience to the Backfield
The running game should provide stability while the quarterback position develops.
Senior John Cobbold returns as an experienced running back and defensive back. At 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, Cobbold brings a combination of toughness, vision and athleticism.
He will be expected to handle a larger offensive role after the graduation of several key contributors.
Senior Matt Lieber also returns at running back and linebacker.
Lieber’s physical style should complement Cobbold and give the Crusaders another dependable option between the tackles.
The combination of Cobbold and Lieber allows Lansdale Catholic to build the offense around an experienced backfield while younger skill players develop.
Running backs coach Chip Panico will be tasked with creating a rotation that maximizes the strengths of both players.
The Crusaders have traditionally played their best football when controlling the line of scrimmage and wearing down opponents with physical rushing attacks. Establishing that identity again will be especially important with a new quarterback.
Thickening and Robinson Lead the Receivers
The passing game returns two experienced perimeter playmakers.
Senior Asher Thickening returns at wide receiver and defensive back. At 6-foot and 180 pounds, Thickening brings size, athleticism and varsity experience to the receiving corps.
Senior Sy Robinson also returns as a two-way starter at defensive back and wide receiver.
Both players will be expected to provide leadership for a receiving group that must develop chemistry with a new quarterback.
Wide receivers coach Manny Santos will look to use their versatility in multiple formations.
Thickening and Robinson can work on the perimeter, create yards after the catch and help stretch defenses vertically. Their ability to win one-on-one matchups could prevent opponents from crowding the line of scrimmage against the run.
Lansdale Catholic does not need to become a pass-heavy offense, but it must maintain enough balance to keep defenses honest.
If Thickening and Robinson emerge as consistent targets, the transition at quarterback should become much smoother.
Offensive Line Must Rebuild Around Doheny and Smith
The most important developmental area is the offensive line.
Lansdale Catholic must replace several key contributors up front, but the Crusaders return two excellent building blocks in senior Luke Doheny and senior Terrance Smith.
Doheny stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 240 pounds. He brings experience and physicality to both the offensive and defensive lines.
Smith gives the Crusaders outstanding size at 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds.
Together, they provide the foundation for offensive line coach Matt Reich as he works to identify the remaining starters.
The line must develop chemistry quickly.
Running lanes, pass protection and short-yardage success all depend on communication and consistent technique. The Crusaders cannot rely on size alone. They must play with leverage, finish blocks and limit assignment mistakes.
The offensive line does not need to duplicate last season’s performance immediately, but it must improve each week.
If the younger linemen develop around Doheny and Smith, Lansdale Catholic should again establish a physical offensive identity.
Offensive Identity Will Develop Through Camp
The 2026 offense remains a work in progress.
That is not unusual for a team replacing its quarterback and several key linemen.
The Crusaders have enough experience at running back and wide receiver to remain productive, but their success will depend on how quickly the offensive line develops and how efficiently the quarterback competition is resolved.
The coaching staff will likely emphasize fundamentals during camp.
Protect the football.
Win first down.
Avoid penalties.
Finish drives.
Those details will determine whether Lansdale Catholic remains one of the league’s most dangerous teams.
The offense may evolve throughout the season, but the returning skill players give the Crusaders enough talent to remain balanced and competitive while the new pieces gain experience.
Defense Returns a Strong Two-Way Core
Although the defense must replace several starters, it returns experienced players at every level.
The Crusaders will continue to be coordinated by Joe Whitesel, who also works with the linebackers.
The defensive philosophy will remain rooted in physicality, discipline and speed.
Lansdale Catholic held several opponents to single digits last season and recorded shutouts against School of the Future, Neumann-Goretti and Conwell-Egan.
That standard will not change.
The defense must replace important leaders, but the returning veterans understand the expectations and know what championship-level preparation requires.
Doheny and Smith Anchor the Defensive Front
The defensive line will also be built around Doheny and Smith.
Their size and experience give Lansdale Catholic two proven interior defenders capable of controlling the line of scrimmage.
Defensive line coach Brady Walsh will work to develop the players around them.
The biggest challenge is depth.
The Crusaders need younger linemen to emerge so Doheny and Smith can remain fresh throughout games. A demanding Catholic League schedule can wear down a thin defensive front, particularly against teams that emphasize physical rushing attacks.
Lansdale Catholic wants its defensive linemen to occupy blockers, collapse running lanes and create opportunities for the linebackers.
If Doheny and Smith consistently control the interior, the entire defense becomes more effective.
Lieber Provides Leadership at Linebacker
Lieber returns as one of the defense’s most important leaders.
His experience at linebacker should help stabilize a unit replacing several contributors.
At 5-foot-9 and 190 pounds, Lieber plays with the physicality needed to succeed in the middle of the defense.
He will be expected to communicate assignments, diagnose plays and pursue the football sideline to sideline.
The Crusaders will also need younger linebackers to develop around him.
Whitesel’s ability to build depth at the position could become one of the keys to the season.
A productive linebacker corps would allow the defense to play aggressively and create more negative plays.
Experienced Secondary Could Be a Strength
The secondary returns significant experience.
Thickening, Cobbold and Robinson all return as two-way starters with varsity experience in coverage.
Their athleticism gives Lansdale Catholic flexibility in how it defends opposing passing attacks.
The Crusaders can match up with receivers, provide run support and create turnovers.
Defensive backs coach Andrew D’Addona will work with a group that should be one of the most reliable units on the roster.
Cobbold’s physicality, Thickening’s size and Robinson’s athleticism give the secondary multiple tools.
That experience will be especially important early in the season while the defensive front develops.
If the secondary limits explosive plays and creates takeaways, Lansdale Catholic should remain difficult to score against.
Playing in the Catholic League Requires Consistency
The Philadelphia Catholic League Blue Division offers no easy weeks.
Archbishop Carroll, Neumann-Goretti, West Catholic, Archbishop Wood, Archbishop Ryan and Conwell-Egan all present different challenges.
Some teams rely on speed.
Others emphasize physical line play.
Every opponent possesses enough talent to punish mistakes.
Lansdale Catholic learned that lesson during its 2025 run. The Crusaders defeated Archbishop Wood in overtime but also suffered a 3-0 loss to Archbishop Ryan.
Those games demonstrated how small the margin can be.
The 2026 team must develop consistency if it wants to compete for another league and district championship.
Special Teams Will Need New Leaders
Lansdale Catholic must also establish new roles on special teams.
The Crusaders lost several experienced contributors, and the coaching staff will spend camp identifying dependable players in the kicking and return games.
Special teams can become especially important for a team breaking in a new quarterback.
Good field position can shorten the field and reduce pressure on the offense. Consistent coverage can also help protect a developing defensive front.
The Crusaders will need clean snaps, reliable kicks and disciplined coverage.
Younger players can also earn important varsity roles by contributing on special teams.
Players to Watch
Asher Thickening, Sr., WR/DB: Experienced two-way starter who will be counted on as a leading receiver and defensive back.
John Cobbold, Sr., RB/DB: Versatile senior expected to play a major role in the running game and secondary.
Luke Doheny, Sr., OL/DL: Physical two-way lineman who will anchor both fronts.
Matt Lieber, Sr., RB/LB: Tough, dependable veteran expected to provide leadership in the backfield and at linebacker.
Sy Robinson, Sr., WR/DB: Athletic two-way playmaker who gives the Crusaders experience on the perimeter.
Terrance Smith, Sr., OL/DL: Massive 6-foot-6, 290-pound lineman who provides size and experience in the trenches.
My thoughts on Lansdale Catholic
Lansdale Catholic enters the 2026 season in a familiar position for a successful program.
The Crusaders are not rebuilding from the ground up, but they are replacing important pieces from a team that advanced to the PIAA semifinals.
The most pressing questions are at quarterback and along both lines.
The new quarterback must develop quickly, while younger offensive and defensive linemen must emerge around Doheny and Smith. How those position groups progress during camp will largely determine the team’s ceiling.
Fortunately, Lansdale Catholic returns an experienced group of two-way players capable of carrying the team through the early portion of the season.
Cobbold and Lieber provide stability in the backfield. Thickening and Robinson give the offense proven receiving options. Doheny and Smith anchor the line, while the secondary returns enough experience to remain a strength.
The Crusaders also benefit from the confidence gained during last season’s postseason run.
They know what it takes to win close games, travel in the playoffs and perform under pressure.
The Philadelphia Catholic League Blue Division will once again be highly competitive, and Lansdale Catholic will not have much time to develop once league play begins.
Still, the offseason effort and returning leadership have created optimism.
If the Crusaders settle the quarterback competition, build depth in the trenches and continue playing the disciplined football that carried them deep into the state playoffs, they should remain a contender for the Catholic League Blue Division title, another District 12 championship and a return to the PIAA postseason.
Head Coach: Dom D’Addona
Assistant Coaches:
Joe Whitesel-Defensive Coordinator lb’s
Mike Darcy TE
Chip Panico RB
Manny Santos WR
Andrew D’Addona DB
Tamir Brice QB
Brady Walsh DL
Matt Reich OL
Team Name: Lansdale Catholic Crusaders
District: 12
Class: 3A
League: Philadelphia Catholic League – Blue Division
2025 Record: 12-3
8/23 @ School of the Future (3A) 7:00 pm W 36-0
8/30 @ Father Judge (5A) 11:00 am L 27-30 @ Ocean City (NJ)
9/06 Hatboro-Horsham (5A) 1:00 pm W 21-14 @North Penn HS
9/12 Archbishop Carroll* (3A) 7:00 pm W 28-7
9/19 Neumann-Goretti* (3A) 7:00 pm W 21-0
9/27 West Catholic* (2A) 6:00 pm W 20-14
10/03 @ Delaware County Christian School (1A) 7:00 pm W 27-8
10/10 Archbishop Wood* (4A) 7:00 pm W 28-21 OT
10/18 @ Archbishop Ryan* (4A) 3:00 pm L 0-3 at Northeast Supersite
10/24 @ Conwell-Egan Catholic* (3A) 5:00 pm W 34-0
11/01 @ Universal Audenried Charter (2A) 1:00 pm W 56-8 Dist. 12 2A Championship @ Germantown SS
11/08 @ Bristol (2A) 11:00 am W 49-21 Dist. 1/12 Class 2A Subregional Final @ Germantown S.S.
11/15 Lakeland (2A) 1:00 pm W 43-7 PIAA Class 2A 1st Round @ Germantown S.S.
11/21 @ Williams Valley (2A) 7:00 pm W 33-7 at Lehighton Class 2A Quarterfinals
11/28 @ Southern Columbia (2A) 7:00 pm L 7-24 at Lehighton Class 2A Semifinals
2026 Schedule:
Date Opponent Kickoff
8/22 @ Chichester (4A) 10:00 am Scrimmage
8/28 @ Pope John Paul II (4A) 7:00 pm
9/05 Father Judge (6A) 11:00 am
9/11 @ William Penn Charter 4:00 pm
9/19 Archbishop Ryan* (3A) 3:00 pm
9/26 @ Neumann-Goretti* (2A) 12:00 pm
10/03 @ West Catholic* (2A) 1:00 pm
10/09 @ Archbishop Wood* (3A) 7:00 pm
10/16 Archbishop Carroll* (3A) 7:00 pm
10/23 Conwell-Egan Catholic* (4A) 7:00 pm
10/30 @ Blue Mountain (4A) 7:00 pm
Key Starters lost:
Boa Cobbold
Braeden Smith
Darren Jackson
Nick O’Brien
Offensive/Defensive Starters Returning:
Asher Thickening 6’0 180 WR/DB
John Cobbold 5’10 185 RB/DB
Luke Doheny 6’2 240 OL/DL
Matt Lieber 5’9 190,RB/LB
Sy Robinson 6’0 180 DB/WR
Terrance Smith 6’6 290 OL/DL
Key Newcomers:
Damian Grannum QB
Tru Eziekiel RB
Martin Haggarty WR
2026 Outlook: Work in progress, need to fill holes in offensive and defensive line along with settling in on a QB. Team trained hard in the off season and the summer has been doing well. We lay in a competitive league, where the competition is outstanding, hopefully we can things figured out in camp.