Qualifying for and winning the Class LL championship is the goal for the Shelton football team. With a strong slew of returning players, Shelton is confident it can accomplish the mission.
“We look pretty good,” Gaels coach Jeff Roy said. “Our goals are the same every year, win the division [SCC Division I West], qualifying for states and win the state championship.”
Working in Shelton’s favor is the expanded playoff system, with eight teams qualifying for the Class LL tournament. Last year, there were six classes with four teams in each class qualifying. This year, there are four classes and eight more teams will make the playoffs.
The Gaels will miss wide receiver, kickoff and punt returner and defensive back Paul Piccirillo, quarterback Ray Pendagast, running back Joel Youd and linebacker Carl Cristino.
Piccirillo had over 1,350 all-purpose yards (including interception return yardage) and was instrumental in Shelton’s six-game winning streak to end the season.
Compounding the Gaels’ problem is that they also won’t have the services of two key players who are now seniors from last year’s team.
They will miss senior quad-captain tailback Ryan DeAngelis, who tore his right ACL while playing pickup basketball this summer. DeAngelis rushed for 722 yards and six touchdowns on 98 carries and caught 12 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns.
“It hasn’t affected us that much,” Roy said. “The kids are ready to step it up and have focused on the task on-hand.”
Senior quad-captain Cody Kitson said, “We’re look at it as an advantage by using it as inspiration, playing for an injured player.”
Shelton will also miss Pat Gillen, who started on the offensive and defensive line last year and was expected to be a major contributor this year. Gillen is the New England champion in the heavyweight division in wrestling and hung up his football spikes to focus on wrestling.
“We don’t want to focus on what we don’t have, we focus on what we have and the coaches and players are happy with what we have,” senior quad-captain Mike Georgalas said.
Kitson said, “We have a guy in his spots and he’s working hard. We’ll get it done.”
Georgalas is one of the Gaels’ top mainstays from last year. He had 39 catches for 688 yards and four touchdowns at wide receiver. As a defensive back, he had two interceptions and one forced fumble. This year, he will be one of senior quad-captain quarterback Jon Groth’s favorite receivers. On defense, he’ll play at outside linebacker and strong safety, depending on Shelton’s alignment.
Picking up the slack at running are senior Greg Mancuso, who missed last season with an injury, and junior Gary Thompson.
Thompson rushed for 17 yards on three carries last year.
With Georgalas at receiver are seniors Dan Guerrera, Shaquill Holman and Steve Leopold. Guerrera had 13 catches for 224 yards and a touchdown. Holman hauled in nine receptions for 208 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Eddie Ostowski is the tight end.
One area of concern for the Gaels is the offensive line with only one senior starter and that’s right tackle Theo Hopnick. Juniors Joe Ortoli (left tackle), Rob Rose (left guard), Austin Rose (center) and Mike Dellelio (right guard) are the other starters on the offensive line.
“We’re looking good,” Kitson said. “It was a little shaky in the offseason with a new offensive line but they are coming along.”
“Our offensive line is good but we’re learning and John is learning and working on it. Everyone is supportive and it’s helping everyone out,” Georgalis said.
On defense, senior Ricky Raffaele starts at nose guard and will be flanked by Hopnick at right tackle and junior Tyler Wakeley at left tackle. Kitson was the leading tackler with 71 stops last year and had a sack to his credit, spearheads the defense at inside linebacker. Bobby Rose and senior Rob Milne play at inside linebacker and Ortoli and Georgalis are at outside linebacker. In the secondary, Guerrera and senior John Farrell are the cornerbacks, Leopold is the free safety and Georgalas starts at strong safety.
Groth is the placekicker and his younger brother, junior Jeff Groth, is the punter. Jeff Groth will also return punts and Guerrera and junior Frank Camerino will return kickoffs.
“The No. 1 goal is to make the playoffs,” Georgalas said. “We’re going to work hard, keep at it and hope it’s within our sights. What you put in is what you get out.”
Kitson said, “Our goal is to win it all. We’ll keep working hard in practice and bring it every Friday night.”
The Gaels know everything has to break their way in order to have their goals come to fruition.
“We have to stay healthy, we can’t afford any more injuries,” Roy said. “We have to work hard and get better every week.”
