It wasn’t easy, but the Shelton football team got it done Friday night with a 31 – 10 win at Guilford to raise its record to 3 – 2.
Shelton had a 14 – 0 halftime lead after scoring off of two long drives.
Junior Frank Camerino gave the Gaels a 7 – 0 lead in the first quarter with a 2‑yard touchdown run, coupled with sophomore Eddie Groth’s kick.
In the second quarter, Shelton extended its lead to 14 – 0 when senior quad-captain Jon Groth threw a 5‑yard touchdown pass on a play action to Mike Georgalas with Eddie Groth kicking the extra point.
Things got dicey for the Gaels in the third quarter with Guilford (3 – 2) scoring a touchdown and a field goal to cut their lead to four, 14 – 10.
The Indians took advantage of some penalties by the visitors, which allowed them to make it close.
However, Shelton didn’t panic. Jon Groth had two, 40-yard runs on the option and classmate Chris Mancuso broke open a few runs on the option as well.
“After Guilford made it close, we were able to take control of the game,” Gaels coach Jeff Roy said. “Our guys responded after it got close and started to make plays. Jon Groth played well at quarterback.”
The eldest Groth had a few big runs after the lead was cut to four and Mancuso finished the drive with a 4‑yard touchdown run. Eddie Groth’s kick made it 21 – 10.
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till in the third quarter, Shelton junior Bobby Rose intercepted a pass and returned it 20 yards to the Guilford 30. The Gaels capitalized with Eddie Groth kicking a 35-yard field goal to make it 24 – 10 after three quarters.
Jon Groth closed out the scoring in the fourth quarter with a 3‑yard touchdown run, coupled with his younger brother’s kick.
Shelton plays at 5 – 0 Xavier next Friday and enters the game as a decided underdog.
“This is a big win for us [over Guilford] and it gives us confidence,” Roy said. “We’re getting ready for Xavier and we have to play a good game on offense, defense and special teams in order to win. They are the No. 1 team in the state and we have to play our ‘A’ game against them.”
