Xavier Bala leads St. Anthony's to comeback win over Chaminade in wild finish
Xavier Bala of St. Anthony's returns a kick-off for a touchdown during a CHSFL non-league football game against St. Peter's on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in South Huntington. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
One of Long Island’s biggest rivalries delivered an instant classic Friday night.
Sophomore Aidyn Alston made a tackle, stopping a two-point conversion run with 38 seconds left as St. Anthony’s held on for a 49-48 win over Chaminade.
“It was definitely tears of joy,” Alston said. “That was God’s timing for me right there.”
“This rivalry is gonna go on forever,” he added. “I had to do it for the seniors, coaches and St. Anthony’s alumni.”
The Friars overcame a 27-14 deficit behind Boston College commit Xavier Bala.
He rushed for 212 yards and three touchdowns and added two catches for 70 receiving yards and a touchdown.
“He took over in the second half and played unbelievable,” St. Anthony’s coach Joe Minucci said. I think it’s fair to say that that’s his most dominant performance in four years here.”
St. Anthony’s quarterback Anthony Diieso threw for 206 yards and three scores. Rory McDermott caught three passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns.
Diieso’s 65-yard touchdown run put the Friars ahead 49-42 with 2:48 remaining. Chaminade's Sean Carnevale found Christian Birch Trani for a 28-yard score with 38 seconds left, setting up Alston’s decisive stop.
“I was ecstatic,” McDermott said. “Just to have a game like that, as close as it was, and to pull it out, it was amazing. That was an awesome experience.”
Sarra Sounds Off, Season 3, Ep 4: Top football teams in action, fantasy update and plays of the week Gregg Sarra sounds off on the Nassau Conference II football matchup between Calhoun at Carey, plus the comeback story of New Hyde Park's Gabriel Peter, an update on the high school fantasy football standings and the plays of the week.
