When the Shelton High football team is on, it’s almost unstoppable. Shelton clicked on all cylinders on offense, defense and special teams on Friday in a convincing, 42 – 8 victory at Hillhouse High. Shelton raised its record to 4 – 3.
Hillhouse dropped to 3 – 4.
“We practiced hard all week and you have give credit to our offensive linemen and our defense,” said Gaels senior quad-captain Paul Piccirillo. “This is what happens when we practice hard – we win.”
Shelton scored on five of its seven first half possessions with one drive ending with a punt and its other non-scoreless drive ending in a turnover in the Academics’ territory.
Piccirillo (11 carries for 85 yards) opened up the scoring with a 5‑yard touchdown run on the team’s first drive. Junior Jon Groth was a perfect 6‑for‑6 on extra points and his kick made it 7 – 0.
Senior Joel Youd (19 carries for 56 yards) scored the Gaels’ second touchdown with a two yard run late in the first quarter to make it 14 – 0.
For the most part, Shelton’s defense was rock solid with junior Cody Kitson (seven tackles) leading the way. However, the Gaels did get burned by a big play when Hillhouse senior Spencer Jones ran 68 yards for the touchdown with 10 minutes left in the first half. This was the defense’s only blemish of the day.
The Academics went for two points and were tackled short of the goal line.
On Shelton’s next drive, Shelton senior quarterback Ray Pendagast (five carries for 86 yards) answered with a 66-yard touchdown run on a keeper to make it 21 – 6 with 7:31 to go.
Pendagast was sacked on the Gaels’ next possession and by Academic sophomore Rennick Bryan and Hillhouse junior Darrin Dixon recovered it on his 30-yard line. The Academics weren’t able to move the ball and Piccirillo (two punt returns for 90 yards) returned the ensuing punt 75 yards for the touchdown to make it 28 – 6.
“Our guys set up a wall on the return and I took advantage of it and got into the end zone,” said Piccirillo.
After Shelton partially blocked a Hillhouse punt, it only needed one play to score with Pendagast (9‑for-19 for 184) throwing a 44-yard touchdown pass to junior Shaquil Holman (one catch for 44 yards) with 30 seconds left in the half to make it 35 – 6.
Junior Mike Georgalis (five catches for 72 yards) was Pendagast’s favorite receiver. Fellow junior Dan Guerrera (one catch for 36 yards), Youd (one catch for 20 yards) and senior Eric Sinko (one catch for 12 yards) also caught passes from Pendagast.
The Gaels marched deep into the Academics’ territory on their first two drives of the second half but were stopped on downs at the 2 and had a 26-yard field goal attempt partially blocked. Shelton was back in business after Kitson recovered a fumble on Hillhouse’s 17. Five plays later, Youd had a 4‑yard touchdown run to make it 42 – 6.
