It had all the makings of an instant classic. By all means, the showdown between then tenth-ranked Shelton and third-ranked West Haven lived up to expectations.
Unfortunately for the Westies, Shelton stifled the West Haven offense in the second half, holding the Westies to just 83 total yards, as the Gaels knocked the Westies from the ranks of the unbeatens with a 38-28 victory at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven Friday evening.
After going to the half with a 28-21 advantage, thanks in part to three Kyle Godfrey touchdowns, the Westies never got on track in the second half. On the flip side, the Gaels gained 170 yards in the final 24 minutes to finish with 409 in the game, and scored the only 17 points of the second half to take home the victory.
The key series came to start the second half as the Westies led by seven points and opened the half with possession of the ball. On fourth-and-one from its own 43, West Haven decided to go for a first down.
That decision backfired as Shelton stuffed West Haven quarterback Jake Conlan for a two-yard loss, setting the Gaels up in prime real estate. Eleven plays later, Shelton tied the game on a 2-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jake Roberts, stealing the momentum from the Westies.
After the two teams traded possessions, West Haven looked as if it had a scoring drive in motion. Shelton ended any thoughts of that, forcing a fumble by Conlan, and recovering at the Shelton 48.
Ten plays later, and just three plays after Shelton took a field goal off the board when West Haven was called for roughing the kicker, Roberts scored from three yards out with 4:36 left in the game for a 35-28 Shelton lead.
The Westies had two final opportunities to even the contest, but could not do so as Latrell Best had his halfback option pass intercepted one play later, before West Haven muffed a punt with 3:12 remaining, giving the Gaels possession at the West Haven 9-yard line.
When Nick Andrade buried a 21-yard field goal with 57 seconds remaining, Shelton ended any thoughts of an undefeated season for the Westies.
The second half was quite a contrast for the Westies as they overcame a 14-7 deficit in the opening half by scoring 21 of the next 28 points.
After forcing a Shelton fumble two plays into the game, West Haven took a 7-0 lead in the contest on a 23-yard touchdown run by Zach Conlan on West Haven’s first possession of the game.
The Gaels took a 14-7 lead in the opening quarter when Roberts scored from one yard out and Jaryd Witkowski returned a fumble 60 yards for a score with 1:44 left in the opening quarter.
The Westies needed just four plays on their next possession to go 78 yards and get within 14-13 when Godfrey scored from 11 yards out just seven seconds into the second quarter. Shelton took a 21-13 lead 1:18 later, but Godfrey’s 1-yard touchdown run, coupled with a Jake Conlan to Godfrey conversion pass evened the game at 21 with 7 minutes left in the first half.
Godfrey then intercepted a pass by Roberts and returned the interception 67 yards for a touchdown and a 28-21 lead with 5:25 to go in the half.
Godfrey finished with 200 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns on 19 carries. Zach Conlan ran for 44 yards.