Kellenberg upsets Chaminade in first high school football game on Long Island this season
Christian Eleazar of Kellenberg runs with the ball toward the end zone during a football game against Chaminade on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Mineola. Credit: Kelvin Loarca
Long Island high school football is officially back, and this year’s season opener came with a strong message: Expect the unexpected.
For the first time in five years, Kellenberg took down Chaminade, 21-10, on the road Saturday afternoon. To Kellenberg coach Eric Meisse, the CHSFL upset feels like a promising start.
“We had trouble in some of these tight games last year, so I feel this sets the tone that we can do better in those kinds of situations,” he said. “We’re a good team, and where we used to come up a little short, I have a feeling we can make those plays this year.”
The Firebirds’ defense headlined the day, scoring Kellenberg’s first two touchdowns.
After Chaminade’s Kellan Stapleton drilled a 32-yard field goal at the end of the first quarter,
Kellenberg’s Christian Eleazar scooped up a fumble and returned it for a 15-yard touchdown with 7:53 remaining in the half. On the next drive, William Auerbach intercepted a pass and returned it for a 70-yard touchdown to give Kellenberg a 14-3 lead at the half.
Auerbach was sidelined with an injury for this matchup last season. After starting his senior year with a pick-6, he said the emotions are running high.
“This is the game that we live for, this is the rivalry,” he said. “It’s just such a great feeling to get this win, it’s unbelievable. We’re playing for our teammates, we’re playing for the fans, everyone wants to get this win. Especially on this field, everyone wants to get this win.”
Eleazar said he felt it was important for the defense to have the offense’s backs.
“It feels great to put those points on the board from the defense because it shows that we really care,” he said. “We give it everything when we’re on the field, so us being there to score and help the team feels amazing.”
Junior quarterback Brayden Farrelly capped the scoring, running for a 1-yard touchdown to start the fourth quarter. He went 15-for-20 for 120 yards on top of the rushing TD.
As a first-year starter, he said this win is particularly special.
“Everyone looks forward to this game every year, and for it to be my first varsity win, that’s the stuff I used to dream about when I was a kid,” he said. “It’s an amazing feeling to get this win on this field, in front of this crowd. We were fired up and we played for each other.”
Tess Ferguson is a reporter on Newsday's high school sports staff. She joined the team after graduating with a journalism degree from Ithaca College in 2025.
