Chelsea High’s football team demonstrated strong offensive capabilities and made several defensive plays, yet turnovers and lapses on defense proved decisive in a 42-32 defeat to Shawsheen Tech on Friday night at Chelsea Memorial Stadium. “We did a lot of good things against a very good Shawsheen team that was 3-1 coming into the game,” said CHS head coach Mike Stellato. “But we made some costly mistakes and gave up some big plays on defense.”
The Red Devils started promisingly when Troy Crossley took a handoff on the opening play and raced 52 yards for a touchdown. With the PAT unsuccessful, Chelsea held a 6-0 advantage. That lead evaporated quickly when Shawsheen answered on the ensuing kickoff, driving 60 yards to equalize at 6-6. Chelsea’s first of many turnovers came next—a fumble at their own 25-yard line that a Shawsheen defender recovered and returned for a touchdown, making it 13-6 with the extra point. After forcing a Chelsea punt, Shawsheen extended its lead to 19-6.
The Red Devils, however, showed the resilience they’ve demonstrated throughout the season. Late in the first half, Chelsea engineered an 80-yard drive capped by quarterback Jordan Virella sneaking in on fourth down. “We got a nice surge from our offensive line,” noted Stellato. A 40-yard pass from Virella to Juan Martinez had been the drive’s key play. Martinez’s successful PAT made it 19-13 at halftime.
Despite the momentum-building touchdown, Chelsea’s second-half opening possession resulted in another costly fumble, giving Shawsheen the ball at the CHS 20. The Techmen scored to push their advantage to 26-13. The Red Devils responded immediately, moving 80 yards in seven plays from their own 20, with Virella connecting on a 55-yard touchdown pass to J.J. Rivera. Martinez’s PAT narrowed it to 26-20.
Chelsea’s defense then forced a punt, and the Red Devils took over at their 45. Eight plays later, Virella threw a 20-yard touchdown to Martinez in the endzone. Though the PAT attempt struck the goalpost, Chelsea had tied the game. “We were feeling really good at that point,” noted Stellato. “The defense had stiffened and the offense was clicking, and the momentum was on our side.”
Moments later, defensive lineman Christian Ortega delivered a crushing hit that jarred the ball loose from a Tech ballcarrier. Crossley recovered and raced 25 yards for a touchdown, giving Chelsea a 32-26 lead with 4:28 remaining—their first advantage since the game’s opening drive. With Shawsheen pinned at its own 15, the Red Devils appeared poised for victory.
The final minutes, however, proved disastrous. An 85-yard touchdown run by a Shawsheen ballcarrier tied the game, followed by a mishandled snap that forced Virella to kick the ball out of his own endzone for a safety. A subsequent Shawsheen interception and touchdown run sealed Chelsea’s fate at 42-32. “That definitely was a winnable game for us,”said Stellato. “But give Shawsheen credit. They’re a good team. They never gave up and took advantage of the opportunities they were given.”
Virella completed 14 of 27 passes with two touchdowns. Rivera caught five passes for 85 yards. Defensive linemen Rony Gomez and Derius Corchado earned praise from Stellato for their strong performances. Chelsea hosts undefeated Lynnfield in a non-league contest Friday evening under the lights, with kickoff at 7:00 p.m.