Tom Stueber, Hagan Wagner lead Chaminade to CHSFL AA-1 crown
Chaminade head coach, Kevin Dolan, reacts to the cold dousing he receives as the team celebrates its victory during the CHSFL AA-1 football final over Moore Catholic on Saturday, November 20, 2021 in Uniondale. Credit: Dawn McCormick
There are two halves to every football game.
In this one, the first half belonged to quarterback Tom Stueber and the Chaminade offense. And the second half was all about defensive back Hagan Wagner and the Flyers defense.
Stueber had touchdown runs of 12 and 4 yards and he fired a 59-yard scoring strike to Gavin Creo to pace an offense that accumulated 378 yards in Chaminade’s 43-7 win over Moore Catholic of Staten Island in the championship game of the Catholic High School Football League’s Class AA-1 Saturday afternoon at the Mitchel Athletic Field Complex.
While Stueber was mixing a fine blend of run and pass to keep the Moore Catholic defense on its heels, Wagner and company were dominating defensively. Wagner’s third quarter strip sack inside the Moore Catholic 10-yard line set up Stueber’s 4-yard scoring run for a 28-7 lead. And for good measure, Wagner returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown for the final margin. It was Wagner’s second Pick Six of the season.
"We were in hot coverage and the quarterback threw the pass short," Wagner said. "I had a great read on it and jumped the route on the halfback. Then it was just a matter of whether I could finish the run in the end zone."
Chaminade (7-3) put the finishing touch on a championship season, winning the Class AA-1 playoff, in the newly designed playoff format of the CHSFL.
"We felt we got hosed out of the AAA playoffs, so we wanted to come in here and make a big statement," Wagner said. "We beat Farrell during the regular season and they’re playing for the AAA title. I know we could have played with anyone."
Chaminade coach Kevin Dolan was also disappointed in the seeding and his team competing in the AA-1 playoff but used the slight to motivate his players.
"Our motto was very simple," Dolan said. "It’s not what we wanted but we got what we got so let’s go out and win it. Let’s turn this opportunity into a title. I’m very proud of them and their focus. It’s a wonderful group of very smart players, who will one day run this country."
One by one almost every player took a moment to hug Dolan and thank him for being a mentor and supportive of each and every one of them.
"It’s special when you can achieve something like this," Dolan said. "Especially when you realize what these boys have been through. They’ve been challenged by COVID in many ways. We live in a new normal. And Chaminade student-athletes have demanding schedules and sports are a fantastic outlet. They needed a restart and to be re-energized."
Stueber passed 13 yards to Jack Francesca and 14 yards to John Schmatz to set up his 12-yard scoring run with 4:49 left in the first quarter. Tim Tomlinson kicked the first of his five extra points for the 7-0 lead.
The Flyers extended the lead when halfback Christian Alacqua capped a 10-play, 61-yard drive with a 1-yard run with 7:30 left in the half.
Moore Catholic (6-4) drove the Chaminade 2-yard line with 44 seconds left in the half, but the Flyers defense stonewalled the Mavericks run game on four consecutive tries. The final run by quarterback John Michalski was stopped inside the one.
Chaminade added to the lead on a third down and 30 pass play. Stueber found Gavin Creo coming across the field and hit him with a laser for a 59-yard touchdown to make it 21-0 with 5:12 left in the third quarter.
Alacqua added a 42-yard touchdown run and finished with 74 yards on 10 carries. "I got a big block from Bob Louttit," said Alacqua, who will play lacrosse at Cornell. "And the block gave me a lane to the end zone."
Said Louttit, "the safety came up and I crushed him. That’s what we do."
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
