Philadelphia High School Football
History of Bishop Kenrick & Kennedy-Kenrick in Norristown, PA
Return to TedSilary.com Home Page
This page details much of the "modern" football history of Bishop Kenrick
and Kennedy-Kenrick High, in Norristown, PA.
It covers the 47 seasons from the time Kenrick joined the Catholic
League for the 1963 season until the school's final season in 2009.
The school closed in June 2010 and was known as Kennedy-Kenrick
beginning with the 1993 season. In that school year it merged with
Archbishop Kennedy, in nearby Conshohocken, and was housed in
Kenrick's building.
The nicknames were Knights for Kenrick and Wolverines for K-K.
The school played independent schedules for four seasons (1989
through 1992).
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.)
| RECORDS VS. OPPONENTS, 1963-2009 | |||
| 1963-1988 / 1993-2009 -- Philadelphia Catholic League | |||
| 1989-92 -- Independent Schedule | |||
| NON-CATHOLIC LEAGUE MEMBERS | |||
| W | L | T | |
| Public League | |||
| Washington | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Totals | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Inter-Ac League | |||
| Germantown Academy | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Totals | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Other Schools in Five-County Philadelphia Area | |||
| Academy New Church | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Academy Park | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Archbishop Kennedy | 10 | 5 | 0 |
| Bristol | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Chestnut Hill Academy | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Education Management Comp. | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Garnet Valley | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Harriton | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Hatboro-Horsham | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Interboro | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jenkintown | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Lansdale Catholic | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Lower Moreland | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Methacton | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Morrisville | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Norristown | 3 | 11 | 0 |
| Phoenixville | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Plymouth-Whitemarsh | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Pottsgrove | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Pottstown St. Pius | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Springfield Montco | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Upper Dublin | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Upper Merion | 3 | 9 | 0 |
| Upper Moreland | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Valley Forge MA | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Wissahickon | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Woodrow Wilson | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Totals | 50 | 54 | 0 |
| Elsewhere in Pennsylvania | |||
| Exeter | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Marian Catholic | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Notre Dame (Green Pond) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Reading Central Catholic | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Totals | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Other States, Etc. | |||
| Caravel (DE) | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Gloucester (NJ) | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Hammonton St. Joseph (NJ) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Pennsville (NJ) | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Phillipsburg Catholic (NJ) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Salesianum (DE) | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Totals | 6 | 8 | 0 |
| CATHOLIC LEAGUE MEMBERS | |||
| (Includes Non-League Games & Playoffs) | |||
| W | L | T | |
| Bonner | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| Carroll | 6 | 18 | 0 |
| Dougherty | 18 | 26 | 0 |
| Egan/Conwell-Egan | 8 | 28 | 0 |
| Judge | 8 | 18 | 1 |
| La Salle | 9 | 18 | 1 |
| McDevitt | 9 | 27 | 2 |
| Neumann/Neum.-Gor. | 6 | 11 | 0 |
| North Catholic | 10 | 18 | 0 |
| O'Hara | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Roman | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| Ryan | 6 | 14 | 1 |
| St. Joseph's Prep | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| St. James | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| St. Thomas More | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| West Catholic | 7 | 11 | 0 |
| Wood | 10 | 25 | 0 |
| Total | 114 | 234 | 6 |
| ALL-TIME PLAYOFF RECORDS, OPPONENTS | |||
| CATHOLIC LEAGUE/CITY TITLES | |||
| W | L | T | |
| Bonner | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Carroll | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Conwell-Egan | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Judge | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| McDevitt | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| O'Hara | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| St. James | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| West Catholic | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Wood | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 9 | 0 |
| ALL-TIME PLAYOFF RECORDS, COACHES | |||
| CATHOLIC LEAGUE | |||
| W | L | T | |
| Chappy Moore | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Jack Hash | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Chris Bockrath | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Dan Bielli | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Mike McTamney | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Mike Santillo | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 9 | 0 |
--
SCHOOL RECORDS
Most Wins Season
10 in 1972 (10-2)
Longest Winning Streak
Nothing of significance
Most Losses Season
11 in 1980 (0-11), 1985 (0-11) and 2001 (1-11)
Longest Winless Streak
32, last seven games in 1978, all 21 games in 1979-80, first four games in 1981 (0-31-1, tie in 16th game)
Most Points Scored
Season: 291 in 1972 (10-2 record)
Game: 50 vs. West Catholic in 1996 (50-14)
Most Points Allowed
Season: 393 in 2001 (1-11 record)
Game: 63 vs. SJ Prep in 1997 (63-6) and West Catholic in 2008 (63-21)
Fewest Points Scored Season
25 in 1963 (2-7) and 1985 (0-11)
Fewest Points Allowed Season
67 in 1971 (9-2)
Most Shutouts Season
6 in 1972 (10-2)
Most Times Shut Out Season
8 in 1985 (0-11) and 1998 (2-8)
Biggest Winning Margin
49 vs. Morrisville in 2000 (49-0)
Biggest Losing Deficit
62 vs. West Catholic in 2009 (62-0)
Longest Shutout Streak
3, games five through seven in 1972
Longest Streak Times Shut Out
7, first seven games in 1985; last seven games in 1998
Longest Streak Without Being Shut Out tentative
23, last five games in 1971, all 12 games in 1972, first six games in 1973
Longest Streak Without a Shutout
60, last five games in 1977, all 40 games from 1978 through 1982, first five games in 1983
--
| TOP SEASON PERFORMANCES, RUSHING/PASSING/RECEIVING | |||||
| 1982-88: Bishop Kenrick / 1993-2009: Kennedy-Kenrick | |||||
| (Starts With 1982; Stats for Earlier Seasons Unavailable) | |||||
| RUSHING (Based on Total Yards) | |||||
| Year | Name | Car. | Yards | YPC | TDs |
| 1995 | Joe Conte | 173 | 1,231 | 7.1 | 11 |
| 1996 | Greg Sadowski | 177 | 974 | 5.5 | 8 |
| 1993 | Don Zajick | 160 | 888 | 5.6 | 12 |
| 2005 | Troy Taylor | 122 | 863 | 7.1 | 9 |
| 1997 | Greg Sadowski | 168 | 760 | 4.5 | 6 |
| 2007 | Greg Santangelo | 128 | 696 | 5.4 | 4 |
| 1994 | Joe Conte | 107 | 632 | 5.9 | 6 |
| PASSING (Based on Total Yards) | |||||
| Year | Name | C-A | Yards | Pct. | TDs |
| 1984 | Rich Wesselt | 91-244 | 1,389 | 37.3 | 5 |
| 1987 | Jack Bruni | 101-239 | 1,306 | 42.3 | 5 |
| 2005 | Gerry DiNolfi | 70-145 | 1,221 | 48.3 | 9 |
| 1996 | Christian DeChurch | 104-207 | 1,095 | 50.2 | 8 |
| 1982 | Steve Vivian | 78-169 | 1,035 | 46.2 | 9 |
| 1997 | Christian DeChurch | 91-166 | 961 | 54.8 | 8 |
| 1983 | Steve Vivian | 61-142 | 919 | 43.0 | 6 |
| RECEIVING (Based on Total Receptions) | |||||
| Year | Name | Rec. | Yards | YPR | TDs |
| 1988 | Neil Abromavage | 46 | 692 | 15.0 | 3 |
| 2005 | Jermaine Pierce | 39 | 750 | 19.2 | 6 |
| 1984 | Chris Cameron | 38 | 679 | 17.9 | 4 |
| 1996 | Andrew Romberger | 35 | 406 | 11.6 | 4 |
| 1999 | Phil Cavalcante | 32 | 471 | 14.7 | 2 |
| 2007 | Ronell Fairel | 30 | 392 | 13.1 | 4 |
| 2009 | Cullen Rota | 30 | 511 | 17.0 | 5 |
--
| TOP GAME PERFORMANCES, 1982-1988, 1993-2009 | |||
| 1982-88: Bishop Kenrick / 1993-2009: Kennedy-Kenrick | |||
| RUSHING YARDS, GAME | |||
| Joe Conte | 252 | 1995 | West Catholic |
| Greg Sadowski | 231 | 1996 | West Catholic |
| Joe Conte | 202 | 1995 | O'Hara |
| Joe Conte | 191 | 1994 | Roman |
| Aaron Regan | 188 | 2008 | Academy New Church |
| Greg Santangelo | 187 | 2006 | St. Pius |
| Joe Conte | 177 | 1995 | Roman |
| RUSHING CARRIES, GAME | |||
| Aaron Regan | 34 | 2008 | Neumann-Goretti |
| Greg Santangelo | 29 | 2006 | Wood |
| Greg Sadowski | 28 | 1997 | West Catholic |
| Greg Santangelo | 27 | 2006 | SJ Prep |
| Tom Bonjo | 26 | 1986 | Egan |
| Tom Bonjo | 25 | 1987 | Judge |
| Jon Szollose | 25 | 1993 | West Catholic |
| Greg Sadowski | 25 | 1996 | West Catholic |
| Greg Santangelo | 25 | 2007 | Springfield Montco |
| PASSING YARDS, GAME | |||
| Jack Bruni | 304 | 1987 | Ryan |
| Nick Sacony | 260 | 1999 | Wood |
| Rich Wesselt | 254 | 1984 | McDevitt |
| Ryan Sejda | 237 | 2007 | McDevitt |
| Jack Bruni | 224 | 1987 | Wood |
| Gerry DiNolfi | 215 | 2005 | Neumann-Goretti |
| Jim Argondezzi | 202 | 1999 | Conwell-Egan |
| PASSING COMPLETIONS, GAME | |||
| Christian DeChurch | 19 | 1996 | La Salle |
| Christian DeChurch | 18 | 1997 | Dougherty |
| Christian DeChurch | 18 | 1997 | Bonner |
| Jack Bruni | 16 | 1987 | McDevitt |
| Jack Bruni | 16 | 1987 | Wood |
| Christian DeChurch | 16 | 1996 | SJ Prep |
| Jack Bruni | 15 | 1987 | Norristown |
| Gerry DiNolfi | 15 | 2005 | Neumann-Goretti |
| PASSING ATTEMPTS, GAME | |||
| Jack Bruni | 39 | 1987 | Wood |
| Jack Bruni | 37 | 1987 | McDevitt |
| Rich Wesselt | 33 | 1984 | McDevitt |
| Noah Mascio | 33 | 2009 | Carroll |
| Rich Wesselt | 32 | 1984 | Ryan |
| Jack Bruni | 31 | 1987 | Norristown |
| John Haley | 31 | 1988 | McDevitt |
| Steve Vivian | 31 | 1983 | North Catholic |
| Ryan Sejda | 31 | 2008 | Bristol |
| RECEIVING YARDS, GAME | |||
| Neil Abromavage | 146 | 1988 | Dougherty |
| Mike Rebar | 136 | 1987 | Ryan |
| Chris Cameron | 130 | 1984 | Egan |
| Dan Rizzo | 126 | 1982 | Judge |
| Jermaine Pierce | 124 | 2005 | Neumann-Goretti |
| Dan Rizzo | 122 | 1982 | Ryan |
| Dan Rizzo | 120 | 1983 | Ryan |
| Ronell Fairel | 120 | 2008 | Carroll |
| RECEPTIONS, GAME | |||
| Andrew Romberger | 10 | 1996 | La Salle |
| Neil Abromavage | 8 | 1988 | Ryan |
| Marc Wagner | 8 | 1999 | Conwell-Egan |
| Cullen Rota | 8 | 2009 | Carroll |
| many with seven | |||
--
| MAJOR ALL-STARS | ||
| 1st/2nd/3rd TEAM ALL-SCHOLASTIC | ||
| (1963-70 Bulletin -- Five-County Area) | ||
| Year | Name | Pos. |
| 1970 | Rob Mattiola | C - 3 |
| (1971-77 Bulletin/1978-2009 Daily News) | ||
| Kenrick | ||
| 1971 | Jim Carroll | K |
| Jack Dunn | LB | |
| 1972 | Steve Gambone | G |
| Ray Ford | DB | |
| 1973 | Steve Gambone | G |
| 1976 | Chris Mork | DB |
| 1978 | Harry Venezia | DL |
| 1988 | Neil Abromavage | Rec. |
| Kennedy-Kenrick | ||
| 1993 | Justin Fazzari | K |
| 1995 | Joe Conte | RB |
| 1996 | Jim Boylan | K |
| Greg Sadowski | DL | |
| 2005 | Jermaine Pierce | Rec. |
--
| COACHES AND RECORDS | |||
| Bishop Kenrick, 1963-1988 / Kennedy-Kenrick, 1993-2009 | |||
| NON-LEAGUE YEARS | |||
| Coach | Years | League | Overall |
| Bob Wagner | 1989 | Independent | 4-6-0 |
| Joe Powel | 1990-92 | Independent | 17-15-0 |
| 21-21-0 | |||
| CATHOLIC LEAGUE ERA | |||
| Coach | Years | League | Overall |
| Dan Hoey | 1963 | 0-6-0 | 2-7-0 |
| John Vernacchio | 1964 | 0-6-0 | 0-9-0 |
| Al Postus | 1965-68 | 4-24-0 | 10-27-0 |
| Charles "Chappy" Moore | 1969-72 | 19-13-0 | 27-16-0 |
| Joe Santoro | 1973-74 | 6-8-0 | 8-11-2 |
| Jack Hash | 1975-80 | 16-30-2 | 22-40-2 |
| Frank Giovonizzi | 1981-85 | 11-28-1 | 12-36-1 |
| Joe McNichol | 1986-87 | 3-13-0 | 4-15-0 |
| Bob Wagner | 1988 | 2-6-0 | 3-8-0 |
| Wagner total | 2-6-0 | 7-14-0 | |
| 61-134-3 | 88-169-5 | ||
| Chris Bockrath | 1993-95 | 16-4-1 | 21-7-1 |
| Dan Bielli | 1996-97 | 7-7-0 | 8-13-0 |
| Mike McTamney | 1998-05 | 11-47-0 | 24-63-0 |
| Mike Santillo | 2006-09 | 5-17-0 | 10-30-0 |
| 39-75-1 | 63-113-1 | ||
| 100-209-4 | 172-303-6 | ||
--
| YEAR-BY-YEAR RECORDS/COACHES | ||
| W L T | ||
| NON-LEAGUE YEARS | ||
| KENRICK | ||
| 1989 | Bob Wagner | 4 6 0 |
| 1990 | 1 8 0 | |
| 1991 | 7 4 0 | |
| 1992 | 9 3 0 | |
| CATHOLIC LEAGUE YEARS | ||
| KENRICK | ||
| 1963 | Dan Hoey | 2 7 0 |
| 1964 | John Vernacchio | 0 9 0 |
| 1965 | Al Postus | 2 7 0 |
| 1966 | 0 9 0 | |
| 1967 | 4 5 0 | |
| 1968 | 4 6 0 | |
| 1969 | Chappy Moore | 3 7 0 |
| 1970 | 5 5 0 | |
| 1971 | 9 2 0 | |
| 1972 | 10 2 0 | |
| 1973 | Joe Santoro | 2 6 2 |
| 1974 | 6 5 0 | |
| 1975 | Jack Hash | 8 3 1 |
| 1976 | 7 3 0 | |
| 1977 | 6 5 0 | |
| 1978 | 1 9 0 | |
| 1979 | 0 9 1 | |
| 1980 | 0 11 0 | |
| 1981 | Frank Giovonizzi | 1 8 0 |
| 1982 | 3 7 0 | |
| 1983 | 5 4 0 | |
| 1984 | 3 6 1 | |
| 1985 | 0 11 0 | |
| 1986 | Joe McNichol | 1 8 0 |
| 1987 | 3 7 0 | |
| 1988 | Bob Wagner | 3 8 0 |
| KENNEDY-KENRICK | ||
| 1993 | Chris Bockrath | 8 1 1 |
| 1994 | 4 5 0 | |
| 1995 | 9 1 0 | |
| 1996 | Dan Bielli | 5 6 0 |
| 1997 | 3 7 0 | |
| 1998 | Mike McTamney | 2 8 0 |
| 1999 | 2 9 0 | |
| 2000 | 1 10 0 | |
| 2001 | 1 11 0 | |
| 2002 | 4 7 0 | |
| 2003 | 6 5 0 | |
| 2004 | 4 6 0 | |
| 2005 | 4 7 0 | |
| 2006 | Mike Santillo | 0 10 0 |
| 2007 | 6 5 0 | |
| 2008 | 3 6 0 | |
| 2009 | 1 9 0 | |
--