The freshman Flyers ended their season with a win, defeating the Xavier Knights by the score of 41-14 on Saturday at Gold Star Stadium to conclude their 2024 campaign with a 5-3 record.

The Flyers came out of the gates hot, starting with great field position after a penalty on the opening kickoff. It only took three plays for Lucas Dillon to find a hole on the far sideline, dancing through defenders to score his first touchdown of the day and put the Flyers up, 7-0.

In response, Xavier's offense marched down the field, with running backs Cole Manfredo and Jonathan Samuel-Olagunju featured in the Knights' attack. Samuel-Olagunju capped the drive with a rushing touchdown, but the Flyers held on the two-point try to keep the lead, 7-6.

The Knights recovered the ensuing kickoff to grasp the game's momentum, but the combination of multiple penalties and a huge deflection by defensive back Shea Owens forced a turnover on downs.

The Flyers never looked back.

On the ensuing drives before halftime, Chaminade scored touchdowns - one by Michael Gowen, another from Luca Breglio - to push the score to 21-6.

Xavier couldn't get anything going on their last drive of the first half. With 30 seconds on the clock, part-time kicker/part-time defender Quinn Fernandez snagged an interception for Chaminade to add to his birthday bliss.

With little time to put together a drive, Flyers quarterback Christian Bekiers dropped back and waited a few seconds before throwing the ball deep down the left sideline. There, Dillon soared into the air, snatched the ball away from two defenders, and scampered up the sideline for 59-yard touchdown to punctuate an outstanding first half for the Flyers. Fernandez made the ensuing extra point to make the score 28-6 at the break.

After intermission, the Flyers kept their rhythm. James Clarke registered multiple stops on defense before Chaminade took possession at Xavier's 42 yard-line. After working their way down to the Xavier 12, Bekiers threw a checkdown into the flat to receiver Owen Murray. Murray was surrounded by defenders, but suddenly, he pitched the ball behind him. Rolling to the near sideline was offensive lineman Enzo Stergion, who received the lateral and ran it in for a touchdown, making the score 34-6. 

For the rest of the game, the story was one of shifting positions, specifically in the backfield. Defensive back Alejandro Santana, lineman Dylan Ahern, linebacker Nicholas DeBonis, defensive back and kicker Quinn Fernandez - as well as Michael Cerone Jr. and Brady Schnatter - were all featured,  with Schnatter scoring a touchdown. There was also a rotation at kicker, with Gavin Macchio making the extra point to cap Chaminade's scoring and push the total to 41-6.

The Flyers defense and special teams made several noteworthy plays. Shea Owens not only registered a late interception, but he also made an all-heart, all-hustle stop on a long kick return by Xavier's Manfredo.  Although the talented running back scored on the following play, the passion and pride the Flyers have displayed all season was encapsulated in the moment.  

When the final whistle blew, a celebration commenced.  After the players joined together to sing the school's fight song, Coach Carroll commented, "It was a great way to end the season - the kids did a great job; I'm very happy with the way they played. I think we have grown a lot from tryouts to now."

Moments after the interview concluded, Chaminade's players approached Carroll with Gatorade jugs full of water, dumping them on both the head coach and Assistant Coach Rochester.

"The team had a constant ability to work hard and constantly get better," said Bekiers, reflecting on his first high-school season.

Dillon, after a game in which he finished with over 130 yards and two touchdowns, stated: "I don't see myself as an engine, I see myself as a piece of the puzzle.  I see great potential in this team over the next few years. Since the start of the season, the chemistry has been amazing."

After scoring his first Flyers touchdown in the season's final game, Stergion too is confident: "The team will keep the momentum going into next season."