The Chelsea High football team opened its season in high style with a 40-8 triumph over St. Joseph’s of Newton Friday evening under the lights at Chelsea Stadium.
The Red Devils overcame an 8-7 deficit early in the second quarter with a touchdown before the intermission to take a 14-8 advantage into the locker room and then exploded for 26 unanswered points in the second half to cruise to the victory.
Coach Mike Stelato’s squad earned the victory the old-fashioned way by excelling in all three phases of the game on offense, defense, and special teams. Junior running back Yvad Rosados enjoyed a fine night, accounting for two touchdowns on the ground to pace the CHS offensive attack.
Chelsea started the 2013 campaigns on an ausipicious note when junior defensive end Carlos Lobo recovered a fumble on St. Joseph’s first possession of the game at the SJ 20 yard line. Rosados would score his first TD moments later on a nine yard burst. A successful PAT kick by Jeffrey Mejia gave the Red Devils a quick 7-0 advantage.
Chelsea appeared poised to strike again early in the second period thanks to another St. Joseph’s turnover. Lobo once again recovered a fumble that was forced by junior defensive end Adrial Rodriguez when he stripped the ball from the SJ quarterback. That put Chelsea in business at the St. Joe 25 yard line, but this time the Red Devils were unable to cash in on the scoring opportunity.
St. Joseph’s took over and responded with a 70 yard scoring pass on a third-and-10. SJ added the two point conversion to move out to an 8-7 lead. St. Joseph’s then tried a bit of trickery with an onsides kick on the ensuing kickoff, but Chelsea recovered the pigskin at its own 45. The Red Devils engineered the first of their long drives on the day, marching the 55 yards in seven plays with the capper coming on a nifty 17 yard jaunt by junior quarterback Mark Anthony Williams. Another successful PAT by Mejia gave Chelsea a 14-8 advantage at the intermission.
The Red Devils replayed that winning formula on the opening possession of the second half, moving 70 yards in eight plays. Rosados scampered in from 23 yards out and Mejia delivered his third PAT for a 21-8 Red Devil lead.
Chelsea scored twice more in the third quarter to put the game away. Senior defensive end Jose Martinez blocked a punt and the bouncing pigskin was scooped up by junior Lucas DeOliveira, who scooted 35 yards for the score. Chelsea further added to its bulge thanks to a TD run by junior running back Sammy Rivera, who took the ball into the endzone from six yards out.
Junior running back Elyer Lobo applied the icing on the CHS victory cake with a four yard burst for a TD in the final period for the 40-8 final tally.
“It was a nice team win,” said Stellato. The coach had special words of praise for junior running backs Jose Martinez and Rosado, junior guard Jomael Dejesus, and senior offensive tackle Jose Romero. On the defensive side of the ball, Stellato lauded the efforts of Adrial Rodriguez, Carlos Lobo, junior linebacker Christian Calix, and junior defensive back Kalvin Duran.
The Red Devils will seek to make it two in a row when they host Northeast Regional Vocational School in another Friday Night Lights affair tomorrow evening. Kick-off time is 7:00.
CHS boys soccer team
drops 2-1 contest to Everett
The Chelsea High boys soccer team dropped a heartbreaker to ancient archrival Everett, 2-1, last Thursday on the turf at Chelsea Stadium. Not only did the Red Devils control the play throughout the contest, but the deciding goal was scored on a penalty kick that was awarded to Everett by the ref in the final 15 minutes.
“It was a tough loss for us,” said CHS assistant coach Evan Protasowicki. “We had a lot of chances to score, but we didn’t take full advantage of them. We battled right up to the final seconds with a corner kick that was headed by one of our players, but right to their keeper. It was just one of those games that was not meant to be. It was a very frustrating game to watch.”
After Everett grabbed a 1-0 lead in the opening half, Red Devil captain Luis Cruz knotted matters before the intermission with a nifty goal on which Luis settled a difficult ball with his back to the net, made the turn, and unleashed a shot that beat the Everett keeper from the top of the 18 yard box.
That would prove to be the extent of the Red Devil scoring on the day as coach Mick Milutinovic’s charges were unable to finish their multitude of offensive opportunities.
“The game showed the areas that we need to work on,” said Protasowicki. “Hopefully, this will give our team the incentive to work harder and show how much we’ve improved when we face Everett in a rematch later in the season.”
Protasowicki lauded the play of a trio of midfielders, Alan Garcia, a junior; Wilbur Tejada, another junior; and Oscar Murillo, a freshman. “Alan has really improved and is stepping up for us this season. He gives us a physical presence at midfield,” said Protasowicki. “All three are making good decisions and doing a good job at controlling the midfield.”
The Red Devils, who now stand at 1-1, embark on the heart of their Commonwealth Athletic Conference season in the coming week. Chelsea was set to host Greater Lowell yesterday (Wednesday); will travel to Greater Lawrence tomorrow; and will return home to face Shawsheen Tuesday.
Fast start for CHS cross country teams
The Chelsea High boys and girls cross country teams kicked off their 2013 season on the right foot with a pair of impressive victories over their rivals in the sweltering heat last Wednesday on the local course at Admiral’s Hill. The teams ran a modified, 2.1 mile course because of the unseasonably hot weather.
The boys defeated both of their opponents, Presentation of Mary and Lynn Tech, in a tri-meet by shutout scores of 15-49 and 15-48. Red Devil Jeffrey Estrada crossed the line in first place with a time of 13:57. Biruk Mulaw came across in second spot with a clocking of 14:02. He was followed by teammates Samuel Hernandez in 14:03, Jay Pedrero in 14:04, and Brian Horn in 14:49 to complete the top five for Chelsea.
Red Devils Luis Maradiago (7th place) and Jansel Claudio (9th position) also contributed to the scoring for Chelsea.
On the girls’ side, the Lady Red Devils defeated PMA by a score of 25-31. CHS Sophomore Wendy Becera finished second overall, running the loop in 16:30. Sara Beqo was third in 16:45, followed by Katherine Cabral, who was fourth overall in 17:03, and freshman Eva Hernandez, who was fifth overall in 17:05. Yessenia Motta completed the scoring for the Lady Red Devils.
“We had a good pack in the front of the race,” said CHS head coach Don Fay of the girls’ contest.
“The weather was extremely hot, but everybody knew that coming into the meet,” Fay continued. “We were prepared as well as we could be for the heat. We have a young team with only a handful of seniors. Many are still getting used to the training that it takes to be a good distance runner.
“We have a teacher at the high school, Rebecca Hayes, who is helping out with the girls and doing a remarkable job in helping them train,” Fay added.
Both the boys and girls were set to face Whittier yesterday (Wednesday) and will host Greater Lawrence next Wednesday.