The Shelton football team came to play with a vengeance on Friday.
Host Shelton dominated in all facets of the game, coming up with big plays on offense, defense and special teams in a 38 – 11 victory over Sheehan.
Both teams are now 1 – 1.
“I thought we played great as a team in all phases of the game, defense, offense and special teams,” Gaels coach Jeff Roy said. “We were physical, hit people and dominated on both sides of the ball. The kids practiced hard all week and it showed in our bouncing back from last week’s loss.”
Shelton moved the ball well all night and amassed 325 rushing yards on 50 carries. Senior quad-captain quarterback Jon Groth was 7‑for-13 for 107 yards and two touchdowns.
Groth did an outstanding job in running the offense and he hurt Sheehan by running the ball as well, gaining 94 yards on 14 carries. The Gaels were so efficient on offense that they punted just twice all game.
Good field possession helped Shelton on its first drive, which started on its own 49-yard line. Groth was instrumental with a 15-yard carry and hit senior quad-captain Mike Georgalas for a 14-yard gain and a nine-yard gain. However, the drive stalled and the Gaels had to settle for junior Jeff Groth’s (Jon’s brother) 40-yard field goal with 7:00 remaining in the third quarter.
One challenge Shelton’s defense faced was contending with Titans junior quarterback Billy Gannon, who ran and threw well and scrambled his way out of a few sacks.
In the end, the Gaels didn’t break and their first-unit allowed only three points. Sheehan tried to answer Groth’s field goal by marching to Shelton’s 22, where it faced a third-and-four.
Gaels senior captain Cody Kitson (six tackles) answered by sacking Gannon for a four-yard loss and Gannon followed with an incomplete pass, which Georgalas broke up.
“I read the lineman, found the hole and got him,” Kitson said.
Shelton then marched 74 yards in 14 plays with junior Gary Thompson scoring on a 1‑yard touchdown run with 9:15 left in the half. Jeff Groth’s kick made it 10 – 0.
After an exchange of punts, the Titans drove the Gaels’ 22 and junior Brodie Corless kicked a 40-yard field goal to make it 10 – 3 with 2:48 to go.
It looked like Sheehan had the momentum until the ensuing kickoff when Shelton senior Shaquill Holman caught it on his 1 and then found daylight on his way to a 99-yard kickoff return. Jeff Groth’s kick made it 17 – 3.
“I just caught it, looked for the seam, ran and scored,” Holman said. “That definitely helped us out and gave us back the momentum.”
The Gaels then forced a three-and-out and on their next possession, Jon Groth threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Holman. Holman broke a tackle and was aided by senior wide receiver JP Olival’s block. Jeff Groth’s kick made it 24 – 3, which was the halftime score.
“I actually scored with the help of my friend, JP Olival,” Holman said. “He made a great block and I was able to score.”
Senior tailback Chris Mancuso rushed for 128 yards on 14 carries for Shelton and set up its offense in the second half, where he gained 85 of his yards on seven carries. Mancuso’s runs, starting with a 23-yard gain on the opening play of the half, helped Shelton march 77 yards on 10 plays. Thompson capped the drive on a 3‑yard touchdown run. Jeff Groth’s kick made it 31 – 3.
Mancuso caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Jon Groth for the Gaels’ last score. Jeff Groth kicked the point.
The Titans scored a touchdown and two-point conversion against Shelton’s second-team defense.
