Slow Start Dooms Fairfield Prep In 34-13 Loss To Shelton

Fairfield Prep's quest to reach .500 was effectively over by halftime Friday night at Alumni Field.

The Jesuits were trailing 24-0 at the intermission to visiting Shelton, as the Gaels scored every time they touched the ball.

The result? A disappointing 34-13 loss in Prep's first home game in over a month.

The Jesuits dropped to 3-5, and coach Tom Shea was not pleased with his team's performance.

"It was a very discouraging performance tonight," he said. "We did not play, but it's clear that we have a long way to go. We'll get there, but we have a lot of work to do."

The Gaels (5-3) set the tone for the game on their opening drive. Starting from its own 17, Shelton marched downfield on a series that featured quarterback Frank Camerino carrying the ball six straight times out of the Wildcat formation.

Camerino was only slowed down when he was slammed for a 1-yard loss in the backfield by Shane Dempsey. But two plays later,  Camerino faked the run and found Michael Georgalas for a 7-yard scoring pass.

"We expected them to run a lot out of that formation," Shea said. "We just couldn't stop it."

After a three-and-out by the Jesuits, Shelton drove 69 yards for its second touchdown.

Again it was Camerino and Georgalas connecting for the touchdown, this time on a 9-yard hookup for a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The duo did it again early in the second quarter,  as Camerino dropped back from his own 27-yardline and fired a bomb to Georgalas down the left sideline. The wideout hauled in the ball at the Prep 30 and sprinted in for the score.

On the first play of the Jesuits' next possession, Georgalas picked off an errant pass and the Gaels were in business at the Prep's 33. The Jesuits defense stiffened, however, and the visitors were forced to settle for a 30-yard by Ed Groth.

The fine defensive stand buoyed the Fairfielders' offense. Starting from their own 45, the Jesuits drove deep into Shelton territory.

The drive stalled at the Gaels' 9, but featured two pretty plays: a pass from C.J. Donohue that deflected off the hands of Charles Keady but was snagged by Vinny McAvey for an 11-yard gain,  and a 4th-and 6 conversion at the Shelton 26 on a 7-yard swing pass from Donohue to Kyle Vignone

Still,  Shelton was up 24-0 at halftime.

Another field goal by Groth - the only scoring in the third quarter - made it 27-0, and  a 13-yard touchdown run by Gary Thompson early in the fourth put the visitors ahead by a 34-0 count.

At that point, the Jesuits offense finally came alive, though it was a bit too late.

A highlight reel 31-yard touchdown pass on a perfectly thrown ball from Donohue to an outstreched, diving McAvey with 7:37 to play made the score 34-6.

Then with time running out in the game, sophomore Joe McBride started inside and cut outside for a nifty 34-yard run, accounting for the 34-13 final score.

"Joe McBride is an excellent runner, with great speed, who can cut on a dime,"  Shea said. "But tonight he had to do it all on his own. Our blocking was terrible, but he's going to get the blocking. I don's know if it will be next week or next year.

Next Friday, week, the Jesuits host a strong Notre Dame of West Haven team  at 6 p.m.  at Alumni Field.