In a matchup that came down to the wire, the Archbishop Stepinac Crusaders defeated Chaminade, 20-13, on Ott Field at Chaminade's Gold Star Stadium. 

September 28th represented an opportunity for Chaminade's JV team (2-1) after a loss to Iona Prep the weekend prior. Meanwhile, the Stepinac Crusaders (2-0) hoped to make their bus ride from White Plains worthwhile and demonstrate why they remained undefeated. 

The first drive of the game was an efficient one for the Flyers, spearheaded by an impressive opening kickoff return from Paxton Hazel. A couple of good runs from Cole Lombardo pushed the Flyers into four-down territory at the Stepinac 29-yard line. But, on fourth-and-four, quarterback Hugh Lynn overthrew Kelly Knapp, resulting in a turnover on downs. 

Stepinac's first drive ended in a three-and-out after Knapp made tackles for a loss on back-to-back plays, but the Crusaders caught a huge break after Ryder Maag muffed a punt and Marc Cook scrambled to pounce on it. Stepinac wasted no time capitalizing on the turnover, as running back Isaac Muniz punched the ball in from three yards out to open up the scoring.

Down seven points early, Chaminade's drive started at their own 47-yard line, giving them great field position. On third-and-five, Lynn faked a toss to Hazel and found Nicholas Sweeney wide open along the right sideline. All Sweeney needed was a block from Luke Urich to go into the endzone untouched. Just like that, the Flyers offense had produced a much-needed response to tie the contest at 7.

Chaminade pinned the Crusaders deep on the resulting kickoff after Joseph Sarcona wrapped up Nicholas Harrison at the nine-yard line. Stepinac's offense could not get into a rhythm, forcing them to punt again.

The ensuing Flyers possession began at the Stepinac 43-yard line but once again resulted in an unsuccessful fourth-down conversion attempt, as Lynn could not connect with Sweeney in the back of the end zone.

On the ensuing drive, after a big third-down catch by wide receiver Ethan Espinal and an offsides penalty on Chaminade, the Crusaders struck. Quarterback Jahmai McNeil faked a handoff and then launched a perfect ball into the hands of his receiver Carlos Nunez, who had outrun his defender for a 56-yard touchdown to give Stepinac a 14-7 lead with 6:25 to go in the first half. 

Chaminade's offensive line, combined with Lombardo's ability to break tackles, continued to cause problems for the Crusaders defense. However, miscues for the Flyers occurred on both third and fourth down, as they worked their way to midfield before having to punt.

Meanwhile, it was Stepinac's passing game that troubled the Chaminade secondary. McNeil found Espinal up the seam for a first down, and a personal foul penalty on the tackle added to the damage. After a few more completions, the Crusaders were in the red zone.

Luckily for the Flyers, their defense came alive. A sack from Knapp and a tackle for a loss from Urich prevented Stepinac from adding to their lead, as the Flyers were down seven heading to halftime.

The Flyers carried this momentum into the first drive of the second half, gaining possession deep in their own territory. They continued to win the battle up front, creating gaps for Lombardo and Lynn. Lynn picked up 23 yards on his designed run and drew a flag after being hit while already out of bounds.

Yet another chance came and went for the Flyers, however, as deep balls to Sweeney and Urich fell incomplete, and Chaminade moved to 0-for-3 on fourth down, resulting in a change of possession. 

On the next drive, Stepinac went right to the air when McNeil connected with Ethan Espinal to advance the ball to midfield. Then, a hit by Giuseppe DeVita on the slide from McNeil tacked on 15 more yards. Chaminade's defense again made a stand once Stepinac moved the ball downfield, keeping the Crusaders off the scoreboard.

After taking over at their own seven yard line, back-to-back plays of no gain led to a third-and-long for Chaminade. Lynn rolled to his left with pressure coming as his intended target, Kelly Knapp, was unavailable to receive his pass because defensive back Curtis Mitchell had stepped in front; Mitchell snagged the interception. 

Set up at the Flyers 15-yard line, McNeil completed a pass on the far sideline to Marquise Chapman, who made a spectacular play and dove for the pylon, extending the ball over the goal line and Stepinac's lead to 20-7. The extra-point attempt from Samuel Richardson hit off the right upright and was no good.

Both defenses forced punts as the third quarter rolled into the fourth. With the clock playing a big factor, Chaminade knew it was now or never. On second-and-three from their own 40, Lynn took a shot deep. Speeding past his defender and corralling Lynn's bomb over the defense was Sweeney once again. The touchdown cut the score to 20-13, but the extra-point attempt was blocked by the Crusaders, leaving the Flyers within seven points with seven minutes to go. 

Stepinac did what they had to - chew the clock and move the ball. A huge third-down conversion to Carlos Nunez (in double coverage) seemed likely to put the game on ice. Chaminade had to burn through their timeouts as Stepinac's run game got them all the way to the two-yard line.

However, all of the offense's hard work was put to waste after Muniz fumbled the football and the Flyers recovered at their own one-yard line.

The Flyers had both one minute 99 yards to go in order to tie the game.

Lynn quickly hit Urich for a first down. Then, he tossed it to Urich, who just overthrew a wide-open Sweeney downfield on a potential game-tying play.

A near-interception on the next play made it desperation time for Chaminade, but Lynn found a connection over the middle with Urich, who could not make his way out of bounds.

A false start penalty pushed the Flyers five yards back, but then, the referees called the game because of the clock running out after the offensive penalty.

Though it was a tough Flyers loss, Chaminade's offense significantly improved after last week's loss to Iona Prep.

"We liked what we had going," admitted offensive coordinator Joseph Romero. "We were able to spread the ball around and make plays."

The Crusaders head back home for a matchup with the Friars from South Huntington on Saturday, October 3rd.

Up next for the Flyers is a trip to Uniondale to square off against the Firebirds of Kellenberg next weekend. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m.