WASHINGTON, D.C.  — The Catholic football team begins the 2025 season at Cardinal Stadium on Friday night with kickoff scheduled for 7 pm. The Cardinals will take on McDaniel in a rematch of the season-opener from the past four seasons. 

DIII SERIES HISTORY: Series tied at 10

Despite winning six of the last 10 matchups between the two schools, the Cardinals dropped the latest contest last season in week one in a defensive slugfest that saw the Green Terror come away with a 7-3 victory. It was the first matchup between the programs that was decided by one score since 2016.

Before last season, Catholic had won three straight against McDaniel, but the Green Terror stymied the Cardinals offense, only allowing 188 yards on the day while keeping Catholic out of the endzone. Seven points was the fewest allowed in a game by the Catholic defense last season as they also held the Green Terror to 242 yards and just 3.7 yards per play. 

Carson Henry was a force at linebacker in the game, leading the way with 11 tackles including 1.5 TFL's. Michael Hopkins was also a force with seven tackles and an interception. Conor Jennings finished with four tackles, including a sack and Samuel Dumas added six tackles as well.

.500 or BETTER

After finishing with a 5-5 record in 2024, the Cardinals continued their run of finishing the season at .500 or better for the fourth consecutive season. After a 2-4 start to the season, Catholic closed out the campaign winning 3 of its last 4 contests to keep the streak alive, the longest such streak since Tom Clark did so for seven consecutive seasons, finishing in 2001.

Catholic went 6-4 in 2021, 6-5 in 2022, 5-5 in 2023 and 5-5 in 2024. The Cardinals spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons in the NEWMAC before the Landmark launched its inaugural football season in 2023. The Cardinals reached the New England Bowl in 2022. Mike Gutelius has five seasons of .500 or better ball under his watch.

WHAT'S NEW IN '25

The Catholic offense will have a new play caller entering the 2025 season as former offensive line coach George Coles was promoted to offensive coordinator in the offseason. 

The Cardinals added a litany of coaches to the staff this offseason as well including: James Caramanico (Offensive Line), Jimmy Speros (Tight Ends), Paul Granados (Running Backs), Justin Karriem (Defensive Backs), Tyler Tobias (Cornerbacks) and Sammie Jenkins (Defensive Ends). 

On the offensive side of the ball, Catholic will look to replace both of its quarterbacks from a season ago in Joey Gulbin and John Whelan. Catholic's top two receivers from a season ago, Anthony Giordano and Malachi Hansen also graduated. On the other side of the ball, the Cardinals aim to replace the production of Mason Stillwell (DB) and Henry (LB).

THE NEWCOMERS

Coach Gutelius welcomes in a deep freshman class for the 2025 season that includes 46 freshmen. The Cardinals have several freshmen on the two-deep for week one including: Tae West (WR), Dan McDonald (OT), Vaughn Garcia-Hidalgo (OG), Seamus Pinkerton (OL), Tyler Frost (OG), Luke Piagentini (OG), Nick Formoso (OT), Myles Britt (NT), Mikel Oliver (DE), Zamarion Williams (LB), Evan Chromy (LB), Brent Fardette III (K) and Joseph Stack (LS).

KEY RETURNERS

Despite losing veteran running back Zach Williams to graduation, the Cardinals return a key piece in the backfield in Daequan Harvin who was the team's leading rusher last season with 649 yards (5.6 Y/C) and four touchdowns. He broke the school's single-game rushing record against Keystone last season with 242 yards and a pair of touchdowns. 

Andrew Tabor returns as the pass catcher with the most yards last season out of the group coming back. Tabor caught 31 passes for a career-high 392 yards and five touchdowns last season. He enters the season just 10 catches shy of 100 for his career. Cade Chrebet also returns after having 17 grabs for 154 yards and a touchdown in 2024. 

Hopkins was the top tackler for Catholic last season with 70, including six TFL's and he returns for his senior season. On the defensive line, the Cardinals bring back Sean Holt and Lawson Haylock who had eight and 5.5 TFL's respectively last season. Tyler Donnelly and Sean Finan also return as key contributors from last season as they both finished with the third most tackles on the team with 61. 

SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM

 After the 2023 season, Catholic placed four student-athletes on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team. To be eligible for nomination, a student-athlete must; be at least a sophomore academically and athletically, maintain at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average, play in at least 90 percent of the team's games OR start at least 66 percent of the team's games. 

Last season, Stillwell, Hopkins, Tabor and Ben Ciesielski all earned the honor while Hopkins had the opportunity to earn the award for the third time in his career this season. 

ALL-LANDMARK RETUNERS

Of the seven All-Conference selections for the Cardinals last season, two returned including Ciesielski who made it on the second team on the offensive line.

Holt was an honorable mention defensive end last season and will once again be a force on the defensive line this season.