Down 17-12 with just seconds to play in the fourth quarter, the Flyers lined up at Bishop Hendricken's 40-yard line on a wing and a prayer.

The ball was snapped, with the clock hitting zeroes as quarterback Sean Carnevale rolled out to his left. With the game on the line, he released a deep pass - one last throw of the dice.

After what felt like an eternity, the ball fell into the hands of a player in white at the corner of the Hawks' end zone. As Chaminade's senior receiver Michael Genovese secured possession, the outstretched arms of the officials silenced the stunned supporters. Running on to the field to celebrate their walk-off, the Crimson and Gold once again showed much of the moxie they displayed last season as they secured yet another heart-stopping victory to even their record at 1-1.

Coming off a 21-10 loss to Kellenberg in the season opener, the Flyers faced a tall task in this matchup against Bishop Hendricken, who entered the contest ranked by MaxPreps as the #2 team in Rhode Island.

In order to stay in the game, Chaminade knew it had to limit turnovers. In Week One, Kellenberg scored two defensive touchdowns on the Flyers' three turnovers, but the Crimson and Gold allowed the Hawks just one takeaway in this Saturday, September 5 showdown.

"We stressed the importance of protecting the football and making good decisions with the football," said head coach Thomas Claro '92 when asked about the gameplan. "If you give up two touchdowns on turnovers, you usually don't win that game."

With senior standout running back Anthony Trapani still absent from the lineup due to injury, the Flyers knew other players had to step up to fill the void in the backfield. 

On a temperate late-summer evening at their home field in Warwick, Bishop Hendricken took an early 7-0 lead on a 29-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. In response, the Crimson and Gold worked their way to the red zone twice in the second quarter, but each time were forced to settle for a field goal from junior kicker Kellan Stapleton, who continued his perfect season.

After a scoreless third quarter, the Hawks connected for their second touchdown on a 10-yard pass, increasing their lead to 14-6. However, the momentum would soon shift.

On the ensuing possession, Chaminade's junior running back, Michael Gowen, made a quick cut and found himself with an open field ahead of him, taking it to the house for a 60-yard score to make the score 14-12.

"That's an answer!" said Claro. "To be able to do that right after they scored - that goes a long way for a team's psyche. As a coach, you want your offense and defense to work together, and that's a perfect example."

After Chaminade failed to convert its two-point attempt, the Hawks engineered a drive that stretched into the Flyers' red zone, but Crimson and Gold defense was able to hold Hendricken to a field goal and keep it a one-score game.

"We played great complementary football this week," praised Claro. "The defense made a big stop and held them to a field goal - where a touchdown would have ended the game - and then the offense took over and scored."

Chaminade regained possession with two minutes left on the clock, down 17-12. Running a no-huddle offense, they were able to push all the way up to Bishop Hendricken's 40-yard line and set up the Carnevale-to-Genovese connection.

"We practice the two-minute drill a lot," said Claro. "To me, it's something you have to practice. We do it, we're familiar with it, and we're comfortable with it. Do enough of that and get out in the real situation, and it works out."

That practice shined through on the game's final play, as Carnevale rolled out of the pocket, cocked his arm, and launched the missile that make the final score 18-17, Flyers.

"We really responded well after an unfortunate loss," said Claro after the game. "We were together for two full days and had practice at Boston College. By gametime, everybody had been together for well over 24 hours, and that's how they came together."

Chaminade's next game will be against Seton Hall Prep on Saturday, September 12, followed by a showdown with Monsignor Farrell one week later. Both contests will kick off at 1:30 p.m. on Ott Field.

"I want to run the football and protect the quarterback better," admitted a forward-thinking Claro. "On defense, we need to be able to stop the run a little better. This week, we have a team [in Seton Hall Prep] that's very physical and likes to run the football."