Chaminade (0-4) vs. Kellenberg Memorial (3-2)
When: Saturday October 7th, 2023 @5pm
Where: Mitchel Athletic Complex (1 Charles Lindbergh Blvd, Uniondale, NY 11553)
Watch: Varsity Media
Players to Watch (Chaminade)
*Tyler Granito (Sr.; QB)—A strong-armed field general who is in his first full season leading the offense, the 6’3. 220-pounder has all the physical tools necessary to be a dominant gunslinger. All he needs to do is improve a little upon his accuracy (currently connecting on 44.5% of throws (53-of-119). If he succeeds in making this adjustment, he is going to see his already respectable numbers (626 yards passing, 4 touchdowns) jump twofold!
*Jack Tully (Sr.; RB)—Committed to Bucknell to play midfielder on the lacrosse team, Tully is one of the purest athletes on the team and it showed last season when he ran for 838 yards and 6 touchdowns on 161 attempts….Thus far in his swan song, the team may be winless, but it is hard to tag those defeats on the 5’11, 170-pound Garden City resident, as he has averaged 7.2 yards per hand-off (246 on 34) and notched his fourth career century-mark game during week #2 against Paramus Catholic….Tully was out of the line-up a week ago, so we are not totally sure of his health status. But if he is a “green light”, then anticipate seeing him get the bulk of the carries!….Note: Confirmed scratch
*Peter Gerbasi (Jr.; RB)—A superstar last season for a Flyer Junior Varsity that advanced to the ‘ship, if Tully is a no-go this weekend, the Chaminade faithful should still very much like their lot at the tailback position thanks to a very capable “understudy” in the person of the 5’10, 175-pound 11th grader…Seeing his workload increase tremendously the past two weekends because of Tully being forced to the sidelines, Gerbasi has absolutely produced, running for games of 56 and 87 yards in losses to St. John the Baptist and St. Anthony’s….More of a grinder than a speedster, for the year, he has a stat line that reads as follows: 188 yards and 1 touchdown on 42 tries (4.5/per)!
*Michael Dietrich (Jr.; WR)—The Most Valuable Player on the Junior Varsity squad a season ago, the Massapequa resident has greatness in his blood as he is the younger brother of 2022 1st Team All-State OL/current Fordham University freshman, Mason [Dietrich]…Topping all Crimson & Gold personnel across the board in every receiving category, the 6’0, 175-pounder is fresh off of a 5-grab, 49-yard, 1TD effort versus St. Anthony’s that raised his fall 2023 totals to 15 receptions for 190 yards and a pair of scores…Also capable of being a lockdown DB, the Chaminade coaching staff has yet to introduce him in this capacity; but we would certainly hope that they are considering it for the homestretch!
*Brendan Park (Jr.; WR)—Yet another impact first-year performer among the WR corps, if not for Dietrich, Park would easily be the top-target option on most high school programs on Long Island…Consistent from the get-go in his rookie year with the big club, the 6’0, 190-pounder from Queens has registered two catches in all four appearances this year for a total of 88 yards and 1 TD…
*John Carroll (Sr.; WR)—Known more for his contributions on the baseball diamond than the gridiron, the U.S. Naval Academy bound southpaw pitcher is a definite sleeper/complement to the array of pass-catchers on the CHS roster….Already surpassing the five catches he banked as a junior in 2022, Carroll brings 7 snatches for 85 yards this year into week #5!
*Matthew Shimaitis (Sr.; WR)—One final WR to consider, like Carroll, the Jamesport resident brings senior leadership/experience to the cohort and is enjoying a career year in his swan song in Mineola….Recording 5 receptions as an 11th grader, Shimaitis already has six hauls in 2023 (for 72 yards). His best game to date occurred in week #3 when despite brutal weather conditions, he was able to make 3 catches for 39 yards versus the SJB Cougars!
*Nicholas Rinaldi/Lucas Catoggio (Offensive Line)—Both incumbent starters on the OL, the 285-pounder, Rinaldi, and the 275-pound 11th grader, Catoggio, occupy the pivot and LG positions and will be the key parties responsible for enabling the Flyers to http://www.youtube.com/user/ceceTV#p/u/10/EFr_CgJr6og 165-get their running attack going, while also giving their senior QB time to survey the field without the burden of being harassed up the middle…With this duo part of the OL in 2022, Chaminade accumulated 2,606 yards and 18 touchdowns!
*Seamus Miller (Sr.; LB)—The most seasoned, polished, and/or fierce member of the Flyer linebackers, as a junior, Miller ranked 4th on the team with 70 tackles, including 3 TFLs, a sack, and an INT….Thru four games of his senior year, he has been every bit as active, registering 33 hits and even blocking a field goal!….Last weekend, he recorded his second double-digit tackle game of the year (3rd of his career), making 11 stops in the loss to the Friars!
*Dean Schmitt (Jr.; LB)—Making his presence known directly out of the gate, the Bellmore resident is already looking the part of a future super stud, as he leads all Chaminade defenders with 42 total stops, is tied atop the leaderboard with 1 sack, and is 2nd with 5 TFLs…He is fresh off of a monster 15-tackle effort in the week #4 loss to STA!
*Luke Cocchiola (Sr.; LB)—Despite being undersized, the 165-pound Wantagh resident has relied on toughness to propel him to a 28-stop, 2 TFL campaign thus far this fall!
*Brian Knapp (Sr.; LB)—Headed to West Point to play lacrosse, the future Black Knight midfielder has embraced the much greater role on the football field as a senior, as he has seen his hit total increase from 5 stops in all of 2022 to already being credited with 15 tackles (3 for a loss) and 1 sack in 2023!!!
*Eamonn Welch (Sr.; DE)—The enforcer and trend-setter on the DL, Welch has lived in opposing backfields this season, recording at least one TFL in every outing to give him a team-best 9 stops for negative yardage to go along with 38 cumulative tackles and 1 sack!!….A definitive All-League player as a senior, he has already blown past the 26 stops he recorded as an 11th grader!
*John Marshall (Sr.; CB)—The top CB on the team who is going to command those 1-on-1 match-ups, the 5’11, 170-pounder hailing from Melville is in the midst of a banner senior campaign, as he has banked 22 stops and 4 pass break-ups through four games after racking up 46 and 7 during the entirety of 2022!!!
*William Handley (Jr.; SS)—Thriving in his first debut season for Chaminade, Handley is the only member of the team who has been credited with an interception this season (week #1 against Iona Prep) and has very steady as a tackler, racking up outings of 6, 7, and 8 stops in weeks 1,2, and 4…
*Timothy Battaglia (Jr.; TE/DE/LS)—The lone two-way player on the Flyer roster, Battaglia noise on offense has come by way of being a stretch-TE, catching three passes for 35 yards….Defensively, he adds depth to the DL as an End, registering 4 stops…For good measure, he also serves as the long-snapper, further demonstrating that he is willing to do anything/everything on behalf of Flyer Nation!
*Timothy Tomlinson (Sr.; PK/P)—Regarded as one of the finest kickers in the entire Empire State, the three-year varsity member has struggled a bit on FG attempts, going just 2-for-5….But he has otherwise been quite reliable, as he is 4-for-5 on PATs, and is invaluable at dictating opposing starting field position thanks to a cannon leg that has allowed him to record a 62.5 average/9 touchbacks on Kickoffs, while also burying 3 punts (all last week) inside the enemy 20!….Tomlinson did convert both of his FGs in week 4 against the Friars. So perhaps he has made the necessary adjustments! If he has his technique cleaned up, he is a major weapon since he has 50+ range based on strength!
Players to Watch (Kellenberg Memorial)
*Kenny Noe (Sr.; QB) —Winning a three-person QB battle in camp, the Monmouth baseball commit (SS/C) has emerged as one of the great “finds” of 2023 as he has thrived in his first season playing varsity football for the ‘Birds….Growing better and more comfortable with each week that comes and goes, the senior out of Oceanside has racked up over 450 yards of total offense during KMHS’s three-game winning streak, as he has connected on 18-of-32 aerial attacks for 212 yards (1 TD pass), while using his legs to gain 244 yards and score on six separation occasions…For the year, Noe has gone 37-of-78 in the air for 502 yards (6 TDs), and called his own number to the tune of 327 yards (6 touchdowns) on 55 keepers!!….
*Jack Barkley (Jr.; RB) —Already demonstrating that he brings a championship mentality to every endeavor, the 138-pound 2023 NSCHSA League Wrestling titlist has embraced the new challenge of being the #1 RB option out of the Kellenberg backfield and has performed admirable thus far in the capacity, gaining 50 or more yards in three of five outings to amass totals of 235 yards and 3 scores on 54 attempts…
*Brendan Galla (Jr.; WR) — Believed to be the most versatile player in the program, anytime the word “Athlete” is used to describe position, it means that the student-athlete is so talented that he gives the coaching staff freedom to be creative in his utilization….At one time in the conversation to be the QB, the 5’11, 160-pound Floral Park resident has seemingly found his niche being on the other end of that exchange as he has hauled in a team-best 15 grabs for 270 yards and 4 touchdowns….Simultaneously, he has also discovered paydirt on two occasions on the ground, rushing for 38 yards on 10 carries as an illustration of his flexibility within the offense!
*Jack Geoghan (Jr.; WR/S)–A focal point on both sides of the ball, whether he is the one catching the pigskin or preventing you from doing so, there have been few, if any, Firebird players this season that has been as valuable as the Seaford resident in the #11 jersey….Trailing only the man above him [Galla] in all major receiving categories, Geoghan has registered 10 grabs for 147 yards and a pair of touchdowns on offense….Defensively, he sits tied atop the leaderboard with 3 PDs to go along with 13 total stops!
*Donovan O’Toole (Jr.; WR/KR) –The third member of a vaunted “rookie” receiving corps that has made noise at the onset of their debut campaigns, the 5’6, 140-pounder may not be big in stature, but he sure as heck knows how to deliver a monster performance, as he has accrued 240 yards as a kick-off returner, while also making 9 catches for 94 yards as a traditional offensive weapon…
*Luke Fifield/Andrew Kaiser/Matthew Iannicelli (Offensive Line) —Tipping the scales at nearly 800 pounds (795) of combined grit and attitude, the trio comprise a decorated offensive line for Kellenberg that was able to generate 3,578 yards 31 TDs in 2022 and have not slowed down much this fall (1,359 yards, 15 touchdowns after 5 outings)….Iannicelli, a reigning NYCHSFL POTW selection, might also see some significant time on “D”, as he has proven that he can be a true ironman!
*Jake Grimm (Sr.; OLB/S)—A new school hybrid LB/S that is equally effective at handling the responsibilities of each role, the 6’2, 160-pounder from Albertson has effectively made the jump from a reserve in 2022 to one of the program’s most trusted players….He presently is tied with Geoghan with 3 pass break-ups to complement a tackle quantity that has reached 15!!
*Vincenzo Cascone (Jr.; LB)—Yet another essential component in the youth movement occurring in Uniondale, the 175-pounder out of Seaford was not on our radar at year’s beginning; but his play has been so steady (5 or more stops in four games; 23 in total) that he has us paying attention now!!
*Isaiah Gittens (Jr.; DT)—Ranked by Prep Red Zone as the #14 DT in the 2025 class, Gittens was one of those rare underclassmen that was promoted to varsity as a 10th grader in 2022 and gave a glimpse (9 tackles) of his impending greatness…Now with the year of experience under his belt, he is ascending into the imposing performer that Coach Meisse and staff recognized a year ago, as he has logged 14 tackles thus far as a junior plugger of holes!
*Noah Foster (Sr.; DE)—An incumbent starter on the DL, the senior from Hempstead does not boast prototypical size (190), but instead relies on athleticism to beat his man clean…Foster has been credited with 11 tackles this year, but his presence is greater than the numbers suggest!
*Christian DaCosta (Jr.; CB)—A transfer from Baldwin, DaCosta is regarded by LI Sports Fanatic as one of the top-10 defensive backs on Long Island and has not been shy in showcasing his wealth of potential at the initial stages in his new surroundings…Securing 11 tackles and a pair of pass break-ups thus far, the 5’8, 155-pound junior has the makings of an All-League and/or shutdown DB in the NYCHSFL!
*Kevin McGrory (Sr.; DB)—Fresh off of a ferocious week #4 exhibition that saw him collect 11 tackles and add a PD in the win over St. John the Baptist, the senior safety calling East Meadow home has launched himself to the top of the Firebird totem pole, as he now has 24 tackles in five appearances…
Synopsis
No Metro Catholic football schedule would feel complete if not for an annual “Marianist Bowl” meeting between sister schools—Chaminade and Kellenberg!!
The [Chaminade] Flyers holding a 3-2 advantage in the Society of Mary rivalry during the past five meetings (including a 29-12 victory in the 2020 AA-1 title game), when the two programs squared off in the 2022 Quarterfinals last November, the game was so hotly contested that it required a TD pass at the buzzer to settle the affair, with Crimson & Gold triumphing over Blue & Gold by a score of 19-17!
Gone/graduated are many of the marquee names from those two squads that treated us to a “game of the year” candidate….But in their place have emerged so many fresh faces that are going to deliver that same exact intensity level….
For the host Firebirds, they step on the field on Saturday with more than one reason to have a chip on their proverbial shoulders…
First and foremost, after beginning the 2023 campaign with a pair of losses, KMHS has strung together wins in each of their past three outings. So every week is going to be an opportunity to claw and verify that they remain a playoff threat despite the slow start!
In addition, because “Chaminade birthed Kellenberg” and there remains habitual patterns of top Fox Latin School players (in all sports) making the move from Uniondale to Mineola, there could be a sense of “Little Sister” syndrome where it is not just enough to win; they want to make a statement by leaving no doubt that despite traditions/perceptions, they are the superior team on the gridiron!!
Scoring no fewer than 21 points in any outing this season and averaging 34.7 during the aforementioned streak, “the Berg” has caught fire with the ball in their hands thanks to the emergence of 1st-year varsity player/senior QB, Kenny Noe, who in a matter of just weeks, has revealed himself to be a very capable dual-threat QB…Noe not only a reliable passer, he enters week #5 as the leading runner on the roster!!
Aiding Noe’s transformation from baseball diamond legend to football field gem has been a junior trifecta made up of— Brendan Galla, Jack Geoghan, and Donovan O’Toole who have combined to record 34 receptions for 511 yards and six touchdowns…Senior WR, Devin Binkley, is another target that needs to be watched, as one of his 4 grabs this year yielded a touchdown!
Never short on gentlemen willing to take hand-offs, five different student-athletes have registered at least 10 carries this season, with the already recognized Noe being complemented by a solid RB1 effort from junior, Jack Barkley, who has punched in three touchdowns…11th grader, Nick Kramer (83 yards/2 TD on 14 tries), and senior, Chris Bataglia (40 yards on 12 hand-offs), have added an additional 123 yards and two scores among themselves on 26 carries….And you can never rule out a sweep or straight run from the “freak athlete” of the group, Galla, who has scored on two of his 10 chances!
Luke Fifield/Andrew Kaiser/Matthew Iannicelli serve as the unsung heroes/warriors of the group, as their engagement in the trenches has been the catalyst to offense finding their pulse and fluidity…If they can assert their muscle early, it could be a long day for the Chaminade front-7!!!
Allowing 96 points in weeks 0 and 1, recent times have witnessed a much improved and/or buttoned up collective showing on “D”, as Kellenberg has given up just 33 points the past three weeks, including holding Christ the King and Joe’s by the Sea to under 10 points in weeks 3 and 4!!
Vincenzo Cascone, Jake Grimm, Isaiah Gittens, Noah Foster among others have been playmakers up front, while a secondary boasting Christian DaCosta, Kevin McGrory, and Geoghan have done a dutiful job patrolling the last line of defense!!
On the other sideline, you have a Kevin Dolan mentored Chaminade brethren that are winless (0-4) on paper but seemed to have taken a giant step forward in week #4 when they fought as hard as they have all season before dropping a 20-13 contest to current top dogs, St. Anthony’s…
Just waiting for that one afternoon/evening where all of the pieces click on offense, the Crimson & Contingent have a plethora of physical talent on this side of the ball but have yet to muster more than 13 points in any one appearance thus far in the fall!!
With their one established commodity, senior RB, Jack Tully, officially ruled out because of injury, more pressure will be on the backs of senior QB, Tyler Granito, and his band of young, but gifted junior receivers— Michael Dietrich, Brendan Park, and Peter Braz (5 grabs for 56 yards, 1 TD) who have been on the back end of 28 combined completions for 334 yards and the school’s only four TD snatches….Experienced 12th graders—John Carroll & Matthew Shimaitis, have further bolstered a deep unit by tacking on 13 additional catches for 157 yards!
Lacking that “three step and gone” acceleration of Tully, 11th grader, Peter Gerbasi, may not be a natural speedster, but what the kid is gritty and willing to grind…He will kill you with 3-5 yard gains all day, wearing down the defense with his persistent consistency…Since being forced to take on primary duties the last week and half, we have been happy with the output we are seeing from the rookie running back!
Impossible to fill the void left by the graduate of a 1st team All-Stater [Mason Dietrich], Nicholas Rinaldi & Lucas Catoggio have done a superb job in bringing stability and aggression to the OL!!
Surrendering a season-low 20 points to a highly prolific arsenal from STA, while the offense might still be working out some kinks, the “D” is trending upward….
Returning starters— Seamus Miller, Eamonn Welch, and John Marshall have more than done their part to ensure that all three levels of the “D” are poised and mean….
Fellow 12th graders— Luke Cocchiola and Brian Knapp, not to mention breakout junior, Dean Schmitt, have united with Miller to form a LB corps that has produced 118 stops, 10 TFLs, and two QB bags…
Welch’s 9 hits for negative yardage have been further fortified by the enthusiasm/work ethic that Timmy Bataglia (4 stops) & Giancarlo Viscardi (12 tackles, 1 sack, 1 hit for minus yardage) have brought with them to the DL!
The Marshall-led “No Fly Zone” has gotten clutch displays out of a trio of 11th graders— William Handley, Nicholas Cuomo (28 tackles), and Daniel Landrem (17 stops, 1 TFL), who are still learning the ropes, but are sharper with each test!
Two fanbases paying money to the same religious organization will go in…One will leave smiling; the other won’t….Tune in to Varsity Media to find out who seizes/bragging rights in the quest for a completely non-existent “Fr. Philip Eichner” trophy; LOL!!