The West Haven Blue Devil football team knew it was going to be a challenge when it traveled to Finn Stadium in Shelton to face the undefeated Gaels on Saturday afternoon. On the Gaels first possession, the Westies looked like they were going to stop a Gaels’ drive but, the Gaels were able to covert a 4th and 11 at the West Haven 30 and then got on the board first on a 1-yard run just 2:57 into the game for a 7-0 lead. They Gaels would strike again on a 57-yard touchdown pass with 4:13 left in the quarter to increase the lead to 14-0.
Shelton continued to roll when it capped a drive 2:10 into the second quarter with a 4-yard touchdown run to make it 21-0. The Gaels were determined to put the knife in the back of the Blue Devils when the Shelton kicker proceeded to kick the ball 15 yards, following his kick and pouncing on it for a successful onside kick, setting the Gaels up at the West Haven 45-yardline. Shelton struck quickly on the next play with another, long touchdown pass, 14 seconds later to start pulling away with a 28-0 lead.
The Gaels were not done yet. On their next possession, the Shelton quarterback proceeded to hit a streaking receiver down the middle of the field for a 53-yard touchdown pass with 6:01 left in the half and after stopping the Westies on their next possession, the Gaels called timeout with 1:06 left to give their offense one, more chance. Shelton quickly drove down the field and with 3.9 seconds left, punched one in from two yards out for a 42-0 halftime lead.
Playing for pride in the second half, the Blue Devils were determined to get on the board. Tylen Jennette ripped off a 53-yard run down the left sideline to get the Westies down to the Shelton 4-yardline and then Jaden Grant powered in on the next play to make it 42-6 3:19 into the third quarter. West Haven looked like it was in business again when Demerick Blackford raced down the sideline for 38 yards and then took a late hit out of bounds into a snowbank resulting in a personal foul penalty against the Gaels, setting up the Blue Devils with a first and goal at the Gaels’ 9-yardline. But the Gaels held and when a pass on 4th down from Jordan Berrios to Blackford was deflected away in the endzone as time expired in the third quarter, the score remained 42-6.
There was no quit in the Blue Devils and the boys drove down the field as time was winding down in the game. After getting down inside the Shelton 10, the Westies took a couple of losses putting them back to the 24-yardline. On 4th and goal from the 24, Jaden Grant took the ball, juked and jived, absorbed a couple of hits and dove for the goal line, extending the ball for a touchdown with 3:02 left to make it a 42-12 final.
This week, the Westies wrap up their 2018 campaign with their annual Thanksgiving Day game against the Fairfield Prep Jesuits on Thursday at 10:30.
There will be a tribute and musical presentation of Taps by WHHS Band members to honor three West Haven residents lost in the sinking of the HMT Rohna — Pacifico J. Migliore, Jr., John T. Cox, Jr., and Pasquale J. Logiodice, 75 years ago during World War II.
The tribute will take place during the pregame ceremonies for the WHHS-Fairfield Prep Thanksgiving Day football game on Thursday, and will begin at 10:15.