Top-ranked Xavier upends Shelton (Updated)
Written by Mike Suppe, Assistant Sports Editor
Wednesday, 26 October 2011 14:45
The Shelton High football team was shut out at home for the second time this season, when Xavier High of Middletown blanked the Gaels, 27-0, on Friday night at Finn Stadium.
Xavier (6-0), the top-ranked team in the Connecticut Sports Writers’ Alliance poll, rolled to the Southern Connecticut Conference Division I West victory behind a dominating defensive effort, marshaled by cornerback Ryan Jacobucci, and a methodical offense paced by senior tailback Mike Mastroianni.
Mastroianni carried 17 times for 146 yards and scored two touchdowns, while Jacobucci returned an Ed Groth interception eight yards for score. Jacobucci also caught a 56-yard touchdown pass from Falcon quarterback Pat D’Amato to round out the scoring.
“That’s why they’re the number-one team in the state,” Shelton coach Jeff Roy said. “Their defense is unbelievable. They’re big up front. They have speed everywhere.”
The Gaels managed just 110 yards of total offense, as the Falcon defense, led by 235-pound senior linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox, harassed Groth (43 yards rushing) into a 2-for-15 passing performance.
After a nine-play, 72-yard drive stalled, the Falcons turned the ball over on downs at the Shelton seven-yard line.
Groth dropped back to pass on second down, but Jacobucci stepped in front of his pass and returned it eight yards for a score.
Ricky Verre tacked on the first of three extra points, as the Falcons took a 7-0 lead with 1:03 left in the first quarter.
That score held until the half, but not before the Gael defense strung together a big hold of its own.
Xavier took over possession at its own 28 with 8:02 left to play in the second quarter and rumbled all the way down to the Gael 1.
Mastroianni, Matt Craig and D’Angelo Berry took turns carrying the ball, as the Falcons ran off 14 consecutive rushing plays.
On second-and-goal, Xavier fumbled the snap and lost 24 yards on the play. That led to two incomplete passes from D’Amato and another turnover on downs.
Groth took a knee and Shelton went into the half trailing 7-0, despite netting just 27 yards of total offense.
But, Xavier seized control of the game coming out of the locker room.
Jacobucci returned the opening kickoff of the second half deep into Shelton territory at the 24. Four plays later, Mastroianni bounced outside and raced 20 yards for a touchdown with 9:40 left in the stanza.
That pushed the Falcon margin to 14-0 and it proved to be insurmountable for the Gaels.
“The way they play defense, it’s hard to come back,” Roy said.
Jagger Kalagian picked off a D’Amato pass on Xavier’s ensuing drive, as Shelton looked to breach Falcon territory.
The locals picked up a first down at the Xavier 41 after gaining possession, as Camerino, in at quarterback, hit tight end Kyle Drost for a gain of 19. Camerino then scrambled for two yards, Connor O’Brien was stopped for no gain and Groth threw a pair of incomplete passes, as Shelton turned the ball over on downs.
Two plays later, Mastroianni followed a crushing block from Santos-Knox and roared 47 yards a score, extending the Falcon edge to 20-0.
Jacobucci’s 56-yard catch-and-run with 10:11 remaining in the game closed out the game’s scoring, as the Falcons, the defending Class LL state champions, kept their perfect season intact.
“I think they’re a better football team all-around than last year,” Roy said.
Shelton returns to action on Friday night at 7 p.m. when it travels to Woodbridge to face Amity High (2-4).
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