Sports

Friars Football Win Over Chaminade Purely About Payback

St. Anthony's shuts out Flyers in second half for 38-10 victory.

This was never just about a football game, or even a rivalry, much as the media likes to hype it (and does) among the respective fan bases of Chaminade and St. Anthony’s.

This was personal.

Friars head coach Rich Reichart had been letting this wound fester for the past 11 months, ever since Zane Wasp had split the uprights from 33-yards out, since Dan Fowler had blocked that St. Anthony’s field goal that would have given the Friars another title.

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This was his obsession.

Reichart had been scouting the Flyers religiously, standing conspicuously inconspicuous on the eastern bleachers alone silhouetted against the moon in week three when Chaminade played Fordham Prep at Mitchel Field, his white hoodie pulled up in his best imitation of Bill Belichick.

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This was about payback; it was about revenge, best served cold, with the weather on the field off Wolf Hill Road cooperating to the fullest.

“It definetly had something (to do with it),” Reichart would say walking off the field after a 38-10 blowout Friday night, referring to the 2012 championship match.

The Friars would score a touchdown in every single quarter, putting up 17 big points in the second and shutting Chaminade completely out in the second half. The Flyers’ defense, which had been their saving grace the past few weeks, had no answer for the RB duo of Jordan Gowins and Naim Jones, who had 185 and 102 rushing yards, respectively and three touchdowns combined.

“We’ve got two very talented backs, one guy more of a power runner and the other guy great, speedy,” said Reichart, who amazingly still considers his team “a work in progress” as  “we don’t have a lot of stuff in yet.”

Friars QB Greg Galligan was 13/15 for 144 yards and a touchdown.

“I feel really good for our seniors,” said Reichart. “And we’re probably going to see them again.; I think we’ll see them again somewhere in the playoffs.”

But one can’t help but see the similarities to the 2012 season again apparent in 2013. The Friars had a non-league loss in the beginning of the season, got on a roll, beat Chaminade in the regular season, and the two met in the championship game. And we all know how that ended.

“St. Anthony’s-Chaminade, it’s just a lot of fun. I didn’t want to take anything away from them,” Reichart said.

Except their crown.


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