Chelsea High’s football team captured a 21-0 shutout victory over Matignon High on Thanksgiving morning, playing on the windswept turf at Dilboy Field in Somerville.
Coach Mike Stellato’s Red Devils secured a winning season with the triumph, finishing their 2013 campaign at 6-5 and earning a spot in the inaugural MIAA playoffs. The victory marked Chelsea’s second consecutive Turkey Day win against Matignon, a Small Division member of the Catholic Central Conference.
Both the Red Devils’ defense and offense proved dominant throughout the contest, with Chelsea controlling the line of scrimmage on each side of the ball.
The first quarter remained scoreless, though Chelsea’s defense effectively shut down Matignon’s attack while the CHS offense drove from its own 45-yard line to Matignon’s 18 before the drive stalled.
Chelsea’s defensive unit intensified its performance in the second quarter, making a crucial stand at its own five-yard line to keep Matignon scoreless. This defensive showcase shifted momentum decisively to Chelsea. Quarterback Mark Anthony Williams led the offense on a 95-yard scoring drive that consumed the remainder of the half. Williams connected with Yvad Rosado on a three-yard touchdown pass, and Jeffrey Mejia’s extra point gave Chelsea a 7-0 halftime advantage.
Stellato commented on the drive’s success, noting “We got some tough running from Sammy Rivera and outstanding blocking by Kalvin Duran and Yvad Rosado that opened up running lanes for our running game,”.
After forcing a Matignon punt to open the third quarter, Chelsea orchestrated another scoring march, with junior backs Rosado and Rivera carrying the offensive load. Sammy R. scored on a nine-yard run, and Mejia’s PAT extended Chelsea’s lead to 14-0.
The Red Devils’ defense remained stout in the fourth quarter, recording their fourth shutout of the season. Williams added the final touchdown on a 49-yard run after making an excellent read to find open field. Mejia’s third successful extra point kick sealed the 21-0 victory.
Stellato offered his assessment of the performance, stating “It was a great team victory,” while highlighting the contributions of Rosado, Rivera, senior running back Anthony Cuellar, junior center Francisco Mercedes, and sophomore end Nelson Vega.
On the defensive side, the coach acknowledged the standout play of junior defensive end Lucas De Oliveira, junior defensive end Adriel Rodriguez, junior defensive end Josue Theosmy, senior linebacker Josue Sanchez, sophomore defensive tackle Dennys Hernandez, and junior linebacker Jomael Dejesus.
The 6-5 final record represents a significant turnaround from Chelsea’s 2-8 mark in 2012. With only two seniors graduating, Stellato expects the 2014 season to be promising for the program.
“It was a great way to end our season and go into the off-season on a positive note,” said Stellato. “I was very happy for our two seniors to end their careers on a win. We hope to build on this to keep us motivated going into the 2014 season. I would like to thank my coaches and players for all the hard work and dedication they have put into our program.”