The Flyers entered their first game of their season with high hopes, looking to continue their four-year streak of dominance over Kellenberg. However, their fellow Marianist school would end up flipping the script, downing the Flyers by a score of 21-10.

In the 2025 season, Chaminade posted seven wins and five losses, ending a successful campaign with a loss to Monsignor Farrell in the semifinals of the CHSFL's AAA Division. For this year's Flyers, the hope is to go even further.

"The goal is to win a championship," said head coach Thomas Claro '92. "It's easier said than done, and only one team can win, but that's the goal."

On Saturday, August 29, the Crimson and Gold arrived at Ott Field hoping to take the first step in pursuit of that objective. Claro explained to his team that they would have to play the game situationally, taking advantage of any mistakes Kellenberg might make. He also stressed the strength of Kellenberg's defensive line and the need to mix run and pass plays in the absence of star running back Anthony Trapani, a senior and last season's team MVP.

Meanwhile, Kellenberg's head coach, Eric Meisse, emphasized the importance of his squad's play on special teams as well as limiting Chaminade's opportunities to make big, momentum-shifting plays.

However, as the afternoon continued, it was the Flyers who ended up being the team that surrendered the big plays.

Saturday's first quarter began with a methodical Chaminade drive that lasted over seven minutes and ended with a field goal by kicker Kellen Stapleton to make the score 3-0 with 4:35 remaining in the frame. Kellenberg's first drive would also burn clock, spilling into the second quarter before sophomore Ryan Milone-Cantillo's first varsity sack forced the Firebirds to punt from Chaminade's 41-yard line.

Only six yards clear of their own end zone, the Crimson and Gold went three-and-out on the ensuing possession, ultimately punting from their own two-yard line. 

The two teams then traded costly mistakes.

First, with the Firebirds' drive inside Chaminade's 30 yard line, Flyers safety Mario Carone forced Kellenberg wide receiver Brandon McCabe to fumble, with Henry Kasouf recovering possession for Chaminade. Immediately after, however, disaster struck for the Flyers, as quarterback Sean Carnevale lost possession while attempting to throw under pressure. Kellenberg's Christian Eleazar scooped up the loose ball and took his fumble recovery all the way to the end zone to give the Firebirds a 7-3 lead.

Chaminade responded with a good kick return, followed by a few plus plays and defensive penalties. With his Crimson and Gold now well into Kellenberg territory and threatening to score, Carnevale was intercepted by the Firebirds' William Auerbach, who would take the pick all the way back for a touchdown to extend Kellenberg's lead to 14-3.

"We spotted them 14 points, and we can't do that," said Claro afterwards. "The turnovers killed us early in this game."

Refusing to go down without a fight, the Flyers closed out the first half with a scoring drive that culminated in a four-yard touchdown run by junior Michael Gowen to cut the halftime deficit to 14-10.

After trading punts to open the third quarter, the Firebirds went back to work. Highlighted by a 28-yard catch from Ryan Kuntz, Kellenberg's drive culminated in quarterback Brayden Farrelly's one-yard touchdown sneak at the start of the fourth quarter to make the score 21-10.

The remaining 11 minutes and 56 seconds of the game included several potential turning points, but none resulted in points on the scoreboard.

Carnevale threw his second interception, but the Firebirds handed possession right back to Chaminade after failing to convert on fourth down. The Crimson and Gold fared no better, however, losing possession in the same manner despite a 31-yard reception by senior wide receiver Michael Genovese.

After a clock-burning Kellenberg drive resulted in another turnover on downs, Chaminade's final possession ended in a 4th-and-16 sack, the offense's fourth consecutive turnover on downs.

Two kneeldowns by Kellenberg would bring the clock to zeroes, and as the afternoon began its daily turn toward evening, 21-10 were the only numbers remaining on the scoreboard.

Many Chaminade sophomores - including Milone-Cantillo, safety Anthony Moore, and running back Jared Jackson - made their varsity debuts on Saturday. Claro later reflected on their performance:

"They played like underclassmen. They had some good and some bad, and I'm glad we have a lot of guys that are impactful to the team," the head coach admitted. "Unfortunately, when you have that many underclassmen in big spots, sometimes you end up on the short end of a game like this. I think it's a wake-up call to work harder and do better, but it's still August."

Claro also emphasized the need to minimize turnovers as the season progresses:

"I don't want to turn the ball over. If we don't turn the ball over, we're in this game. We moved the ball at times, but what we did on offense more poorly than anything was turn the ball over."

Chaminade's next game will be on Saturday, September 5 at Bishop Hendricken in Rhode Island. They will return home the following Sunday for a showdown with Seton Hall Prep on Ott Field at Gold Star Stadium.