In his second year as JVA head coach, Michael Dolce has guided his Flyers to a 4-2 start with a 3-2 mark in league play. The team has fought hard in a highly competitive AAA division, putting themselves in contention to earn a home playoff game come November.

"The kids are very resilient," praised Dolce. "We've had a couple setbacks injury-wise, but they just continually keep attacking. They don't stop competing."

The team's season started with an unconventional non-league matchup, as the Flyers hosted the A. Philip Randolph Cougars from the PSAL on September 6. Chaminade dominated the second quarter on its way to a 28-0 shutout, as QB Christian Bekiers rushed for two scores and Stavros Koutsivitis added an electric pick-six as the game headed to halftime. 

Week Two was a much different story for the Flyers, however, as they struggled mightily in a 30-8 home defeat at the hands of Monsignor Farrell. The Lions used a balanced offensive attack and had a strong second half to pull away late and earn the victory. 

Fortunately, the Crimson and Gold bounced back quickly, as the defense led the way in a 20-8 road triumph over the St. Francis Prep Terriers on September 20.

"They're relentless in pursuit of the ball," said Dolce of his team's defensive unit. "We have a lot of good on defense. There's no one great player, but everybody's good, and they really work together as a team and as a unit." 

To round out September, the Flyers returned home to host the Cardinal Hayes Cardinals on Saturday the 27th. The Cards tallied the contest's initial score late in the second quarter, but the Flyers immediately responded in improbable fashion:

Chaminade's offense lined up for an untimed down at the Cardinals' 18-yard line after a defensive personal foul penalty extended the first half. Taking the snap, Bekiers was immediately pressured and had to make a desperation heave to the end zone. Fortunately, the ball was deflected right into the arms of Alejandro Santana for a miraculous touchdown. Heading into intermission, it was an 8-6 ballgame in favor of Hayes. 

Down 16-12 heading into the fourth, the Flyers were searching for a go-ahead score. They got just that with five minutes to play, as Bekiers found tight end Luca Breglio in the back left corner of the end zone for what would be the winning TD. In a nailbiter, the Flyers eked out a win by the score of 19-16.

Chaminade looked to keep the good vibes going one week later when they traveled to White Plains to play the Archbishop Stepinac Crusaders. Unlike the previous week, the Chaminade offense struggled. Stepinac, on the other hand, scored all of its points in the first half and held on the rest of the way to ground the Flyers, 20-7.

With their record standing at 3-2, Chaminade hoped to get back on track as they traveled to Uniondale to take on Marianist foe Kellenberg on October 11. This time, the Crimson and Gold were on the right side of a 20-7 final score, as they stymied the Firebirds for much of the afternoon.

The victory was the Flyers' fourth of the year - the squad's highest total in a season since it reached the JVA championship game back in 2022. 

Up next for Chaminade is their two most important opponents - undefeated Iona Prep and rival St. Anthony's. Both of these matchups will have major postseason implications, as the Flyers can clinch a home playoff game with just a single win in either one of these two final contests.

Iona Prep will be especially challenging, as they have outscored their opponents 178-18 so far this year.

"We know what Iona wants to do. The question is, 'Can we hang with them?'" said Dolce, adding, "The St. Anthony's game is a huge one for us; it's a big rival. If we beat St. Anthony's, we should lock up the four seed."

That four seed would give Chaminade a quarterfinal postseason game at Gold Star Stadium and likely a November rematch with the Friars.