Flyers ‘Rise’ Over Kellenberg in 2011 Season Opener

The notes of Bruce Springsteen’s “The Rising” could be heard over Ott Field Saturday afternoon.

Meaningful for the 10th anniversary weekend of 9/11, where 80 Chaminade alumni had lost their lives.

Justifiable for the start of the 2011 varsity football campaign, the beginning of a new season against an old adversary, that of sister school Kellenberg.

Appropriate for how the Flyers ended up winning the game 49-20, dominating the match with their defense and holding their opponents to one touchdown for over 40 minutes of game time.

Last season the Firebirds had done what no other squad wearing their colors of blue and gold had done, downing the Flyers not only in the regular season but in the playoffs as well and proved themselves of a Triple-A level team in the CHSFL.

Senior Gregory Rhodes and junior RB Daniel Fowler led the Flyer defense, which cracked down on Kellenberg after allowing a 1-yard TD in the first, including five drives over the first three quarters which only resulted in successive four-play punts.

Second-year QB Joseph Anile made liberal use of the Flyers’ triple-option offense, hooking up with WR Thomas Zenker, LB Brendan O’Callaghan and Fowler and scoring the first Flyers TD of the season.

Senior RBs Matthew Graham and John Desepoli led the Chaminade running game with 88 and 74 yards, respectively and each scored a TD from 56 yards out.

The Flyer offense also included an 80-yard TD punt return by RB Chris Gallic to put the game out of reach for the visiting Firebirds.

Kellenberg would again reach the endzone on successive drives in the fourth quarter from QB Matt McDaniels, who was credited for all the Firebird’s scoring, with carries of 10 and an 87-yards.

“I’m happy for the kids because they work hard and they deserve the right to win,” Flyers coach Stephen Boyd said after the game. “We play as a team (but) we have a long way to go.”