Chaminade football locks down Kellenberg thanks to Louis D'Agostino's three sacks
Louis D'Agostino #11, Chaminade linebacker, reacts during a CHSFL game against Kellenberg at Chaminade High School on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. Credit: James Escher
On senior day, Chaminade outside linebacker Louis D’Agostino absolutely wrecked everything — in a good way.
The CHSFL’s top pass rusher collected another three sacks on Saturday afternoon and forced two fumbles that were returned for touchdowns to help lead Chaminade over visiting Kellenberg, 42-21. D’Agostino leads the league with 13 sacks in seven games for Chaminade (6-1).
The linebacker hardly gave Kellenberg (2-5) time to breath. On the opening drive of the game, he registered a sack on third down to force a three-and-out and give his offense a short field to start its day. The Flyers capitalized on the field position, as senior quarterback Timothy Murphy drove them down to the one-yard line before plunging it in to take a 7-0 lead.
On the ensuing Kellenberg possession, D’Agostino made his first official impact on the scoreboard. On second down and 10, he decked Kellenberg quarterback Dan Licari and stripped him of the ball, causing it to bounce into the end zone. With an easy touchdown in sight, junior defensive tackle Thomas Jemison dove on the ball and scored the first touchdown of his high-school career to give Chaminade a 14-0 lead within the first five minutes of the game.
After going up two scores early, the Flyers were able to loosen up, which allowed them to continue to dominate.
“Starting like that, it takes off a lot of stress,” D’Agostino said. “It helps you play more confidently and freely.”
As for Jemison, he's been playing on the defensive line his whole life. Scoring that touchdown meant something entirely different for him.
“I think that’s the first time I’ve ever held the ball in my hands in a game,” he said. “When I saw the ball on the ground, I knew I had to go get it. I dove on the ball, I get up, and I’m like, ‘What just happened? Was that a touchdown?’ It was the best feeling I’ve ever felt.”
After scoring on both offense and defense within the first three possessions of the game, the Flyers’ special teams got involved. Their kickoff return coverage team pinned the Firebirds inside their own 10-yard line before the defense forced another three-and-out. Chaminade's Luca Smith then blocked a Kellenberg punt and , defensive tackle Colin Lawless recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown and a 21-0 lead.
Before the first quarter ended, senior safety Tristan Lombardo picked off a pass, setting Murphy up to throw an 11-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Brendan Park for a 28-0 lead.
Though the game was out of reach early, D’Agostino continued to motor through Kellenberg’s offensive line. While leading 35-14 on the first drive of the fourth quarter, D’Agostino circled around the right side and knocked the ball loose for his third sack, and second strip-sack, of the afternoon. Smith was there for the recovery, and took it back 12 yards for his third defensive touchdown of the season.
D’Agostino took pride in creating a pair of scores for his defensive teammates.
“I feel so happy,” D’Agostino said. “I get the sack and I just see my boys picking up the ball and running in the end zone, I’m like, ‘This is awesome.’”
Overall, Chaminade’s defense surrendered just 188 yards from scrimmage and took the ball away six total times — three interceptions and three fumble recoveries — directly leading to 28 points. Linebacker Dean Schmitt and safety Kyle Hyland both recorded interceptions.
Smith attributed the defensive dominance to an intense mindset and strong chemistry .
“We always say we’re strong like a fist,” Smith said. “We try to do anything we can to get us the ball back. We hate offenses; we hate quarterbacks. We’re the ones taking the ball from them. We stress every single day to take the life out of the offense and make sure that they don’t want to play on this field again with us.”
As for the offense, Murphy threw for 95 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 28 yards and a score. Peter Gerbasi ran 14 times for 67 yards. Junior tight end Brady Murray caught a 51-yard touchdown pass. Park added two catches for 21 yards and a touchdown.
