Third-seeded Hall of West Hartford ends the season 8-3 , after losing 42-14 to second-seeded Shelton.

By Ted Glanzer

Hall lost to Shelton 42-14 in the Class LL semifinal on Dec. 6. Photo credit: Kate Wells

The rainy, raw weather at Edward C. Stadium on Saturday proved to be an apt – and unfortunate – backdrop for West Hartford’s Hall High football team, which saw its season come to a close in a 42-14 loss to Shelton High in the state Class LL small school semifinals.

The second-seeded Gaels were in full force. Too much power. Too much speed. Too many big plays. Too much of quarterback Mark Piccirillo and wide receiver Chris Kanios.

Indeed, Piccirillo led Shelton by passing for 331 yards and five touchdowns and running for another.

“They’re so good at running the ball and throwing the ball, their speed is very noted,” said Hall head coach Frank Robinson. “Congratulations to them and good luck in the championship.”

Piccirillo opened the scoring on a 4-yard touchdown, capping an 11-play, 65-yard drive with 4:10 left in the first quarter.

Shelton went up 14-0 less than a minute later when Piccirillo hit Kanios with an 85-yard touchdown pass with 3:40 left in the first quarter.

Just two minutes into the second quarter, Kanios (3 catches, 182 yards, 3 TDs) gashed Hall’s defense again, scoring off a 73-yard screen pass from Piccirillo to make it 21-0. The rout was on.

The Gaels saw its lead swell to 42-0 early in the third quarter on touchdown passes from Piccirillo to Alexander Kirk, Kanios and Kevin Robinson, respectively.

“He’s proven he’s the best quarterback in the state,” Kanios said of Piccirillo. “The [offensive line] gave him to throw all day.”

While Hall’s defense couldn’t find a way to stop Piccirillo and Kanios, the Warriors’ offense struggled to find its rhythm without star receiver Robert Parra, who sat out the game with a shoulder injury.

“We’re always trying to have guys step up and do their part,” Robinson said. “We had these guys work through some adversity. That’s what it’s all about. Today wasn’t our day. Shelton is a really good team.”

The third-seeded Warriors didn’t enter Shelton’s half of the field until its fifth drive, midway through the second quarter. That drive ended with a turnover on downs at the Gaels’ 16-yard line.

Hall lost to Shelton 42-14 in the Class LL semifinal on Dec. 6. Photo credit: Brian Newman

Hall got on the scoreboard with 6:15 left in the third quarter when quarterback Ezequiel Alston (5-for-19, 94 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT) connected with receiver John Wells on a 53-yard touchdown pass to make it 42-7.

Alston later hit receiver Neil Kelley for a 17-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, but by then the game was out of reach.

Mark Kasumba led Hall with 57 yards rushing on 13 carries.

While Hall’s season didn’t end the way perhaps it would have liked, there were still plenty of positives to take away from a season that included an 8-3 record, a victory over crosstown rival Conard and a berth in the state playoffs.

“Great group of players, we’re really proud of them,” Robinson said. “We’re really happy with how the season went and they learned great lessons.”

Shelton, for its part, will face a familiar foe in No. 4 Xavier, who defeated No. 1 Newtown 13-7 on Saturday, in the state Class LL small school final game. Shelton defeated Xavier 28-20 on Nov. 7.

“It’s going to be exciting,” Shelton head coach Jeff Roy said. “It’s going to be a rematch. We play them every year. We’re excited to be there with a league opponent. It’s going to be fun.