Just one month ago, everything seemed to be headed in the right direction for the West Haven football. team as it had started the season with an undefeated record. Then came the Shelton Gaels and their powerful offense.
A victory by the visiting Gaels sent the Westies back to work with the hopes they would somehow get a chance to avenge the loss. That chance has come.
With a loss to Fairfield Prep in Fairfield on Thanksgiving morning, the Westies fell to the seventh seed in Class LL and will travel to play second-seeded Shelton Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. at Finn Stadium for the right to advance to the state semifinals.
For the Westies, the shot at redemption comes a little quicker than they would have liked as a win over the Jesuits just about assured the Westies a home sport for the quarterfinals.
When Kyle Godfrey capped a smooth flowing opening drive with a touchdown, all looked well for the Westies. That was not the case.
The Jesuits capitalized late and posted a 21-14 victory over the Westies at Rafferty Stadium in Fairfield. With the win, Fairfield Prep defeated the Westies for the first time since 2013 and secured the eighth seed in the Class LL playoffs.
With the game even at 14, Fairfield Prep quarterback Will Lucas scored from 11 yards out with five minutes, seven seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Jesuits the victory.
The late score by the Jesuits erased what was a nice start to the game by the Westies as a 1-yard run by Kyle Godfrey gave West Haven an early 7-0 lead.
Prep came right back to even the game before the first quarter ended as Lucas hit Finn Duran for a 16-yard scoring strike.
The game remained even at seven as both defenses tightened up before West Haven quarterback Jake Conlan hit Mike Charlton on a 25-yard scoring strike with 4:54 left in the third quarter to give the Westies a 14-7 lead following Chris Chance’s extra point.
The Jesuits wasted no time getting that score back when Lucas hit Chris Duffy with a 43-yard scoring strike to even the game.
West Haven then fumbled on its next possession and the Jesuits took the lead for good in the final minutes of the game.
Chance led West Haven with 89 yards rushing in the loss.