Through two quarters on Friday night, the Cheshire High School football team executed their game plan at Shelton. The Rams had limited their rival to one touchdown and carried a 14-6 lead into intermission.
However when the teams returned for the second half, momentum shifted in a big way. Shelton forced four turnovers after halftime and put up 28 unanswered points to win 34-14 over the Rams. In winning the turnover battle, 4-1, the Gaels joined Cheshire with a 5-3 record.
CHS came out aggressive in the game. On the opening kick-off, sophomore Taylor Rochford recovered an onsides kick to put the ball at the Shelton 49-yard line.
On the next play, senior quarterback/co-captain Michael Simeone found junior Matt Jeffery for a 47-yard gain to the 2-yard line. Two plays later, Simeone scored on a 2-yard keeper to put the Rams up 7-0 with 10:04 remaining in the first quarter.
The Gaels found the end zone on a 19-yard touchdown run by junior David Dojlidko with 5:05 left in the opening quarter, but since the extra-point attempt was blocked, CHS kept the lead at 7-6.
Cheshire created the game’s first turnover when junior defensive back Lucas Chymbor made an interception with 1:46 remaining in the first. The Rams drove down to extend their lead to 14-6 on a 10-yard touchdown run by junior running back Jeffery Gonzalez with 9:45 left in the second quarter.
To reach the end zone, Gonzalez powered through three Shelton players on the goal line.
Cheshire held an eight-point lead at halftime, but the Gaels turned the game around with three interceptions in the third quarter. First, senior Ricky Feola made a pick and sprinted 74 yards for a touchdown at the 7:01 mark. Dojlidko scored on a two-point conversion blast to tie the game at 14-14.
Next, the Gaels picked up an interception from senior Benjamin Hoponick with 5:29 remaining in the third. Just 47 seconds later, Dojlidko scampered for a 37-yard touchdown. The PAT failed, so the Gaels led 20-14.
On the ensuing possession, Shelton senior John de Camps made the third interception and ran 48 yards for a touchdown with 3:44 left in the third. With a two-point conversion run by Dojlidko, the Gaels led 28-14.
Cheshire tried to stage a rally, but Shelton twice forced them to turn the ball over on downs.
The Gaels capped the scoring with 3:22 left. On a fourth and one, senior Ayden Sepkaski broke free for a 29-yard touchdown. The PAT failed after the scoring run.
Scoring summary:
First Quarter
*2-yard touchdown run by Simeone (10:04) 7-0, CHS
Point after touchdown by senior Micah Galloza was good
*19-yard touchdown run by Dojlidko (5:05) 7-6, CHS
PAT was blocked
Second Quarter
*10-yard touchdown run by Gonzalez (9:45) 14-6, CHS
PAT by Galloza was good
Third Quarter
*74-yard interception return for touchdown by Feola (7:01) 14-14, tie
Two-point run by Dojlidko was successful
*37-yard touchdown run by Dojlidko (4:42) 20-14, SHS
PAT failed
*48-yard interception return for touchdown by de Camps (3:44) 28-14, SHS
Two-point run by Dojlidko was successful
Fourth Quarter
*29-yard touchdown run by Sepkaski (3:22) 34-14, SHS
PAT failed
This story will be updated with comments.
Next Saturday, the Rams travel to Middletown to play Xavier (3-5) at 1:30 p.m.