WASHINGTON, D.C. - After posting three consecutive seasons with a record of .500 or better, the Catholic Cardinals open up the 2024 football season at McDaniel on Friday evening. The Cardinals were picked to finish fifth in the seven-team Landmark Conference in the preseason poll. 

After a tough start, the Cardinals finished the 2023 season on a high note, winning its final three games against Keystone, Wilkes, and Juniata to finish 5-5. Catholic was 3-3 in Landmark Conference play, losing two one-score games to Moravian and Lycoming. 

Mike Gutelius' team will look different on offense in 2024 with Jonathan Rutledge earning a promotion to offensive coordinator. Catholic will also have a new signal caller in 2024 with Madden Lowe and Nico Casares gone from last year's team. 

Zach Williams returns for a fifth season after leading the Cardinal rushing attack in 2023 with 648 yards and four scores. Williams added a fifth overall touchdown to go with 26 receptions and 203 yards in the air. 

Despite the loss of top pass catcher, Preston Jeffrey, Catholic returns six pass catchers that hauled in 22 or more receptions in 2023. Anthony Giordano snagged 40 passes for 379 yards while John Maynes scored five touchdowns and made 39 receptions. Andrew Tabor is the top returner in receptions with 59 catches a year ago. Senior captain Malachi Hansen returns as well after battling injuries during his junior campaign. He finished with 282 yards and two scores after 554 yards receiving in 2022. 

The offensive line returns veterans James Caramanico, Ben Cieselski, and Blake Bostelman who all started multiple games in 2024. 

Defensively, Brandon Beech returns last year's top leading tacklers, Michael Hopkins and Carson Henry. Also returning up front, Conor Jennings is primed for a major sophomore season after 7.5 tackles for loss and four sacks as a freshman. 

On the backend, senior captain Mason Stillwell is back to lead the secondary after logging 55 tackles and adding two takeaways in 2023. Tyler Donnelly came on strong as a sophomore with two picks and two pass break-ups. 

Connor Gill and Andrew Petrino both return in 2024 and will handle the kicking and punting responsibilities. 

Catholic opens with McDaniel, Capital, SUNY Morrisville, and Alfred before entering conference play on October 5 vs. Susquehanna.