89ers

NEWTOWN 19, POMPERAUG 6: After capping a fine regular season with a 6-2 record, the 89ers looked to put a little icing on the cake with a post-season friendly contest with Pomperaug. And the icing tasted good, too, as the 89ers rolled to a 19-6 win.

Ryan Fernandes got the 89ers off to a tremendous start with a 70-yard kick off return to put the locals up 6-0 with just a few seconds gone in the first period. Fernandes ran the ball in for the extra point and the 7-0 Newtown lead.

After the defense shut down the Warriors, the offense got moving again. Working the ball up the field with the held of Justin McGrath and great blocking from the offensive line, Kris Kling rambled in from seven yards out to put the 89ers ahead 13-0.

The second quarter went by scoreless, so the 89ers went into the break ahead 13-0.

In the second half, the 89ers made a great defensive stand to start things off. McGrath, Cody Marus, Zach Conger, Chuck Brooks, Fernandes, Brett Mauro and Matt Taylor all came up pick. Brooks then led the 89ers on their final scoring drive of the season.

Behind the line of Travis Dachenhausen, Matthew Mascolo, Stephen Oberstadt, the backs were able to pick up some great yardage. Center Jimmy Duch also finished up a fine year. Brooks scored on a 24-yard carry that put Newtown ahead 19-0.

Pomperaug rushed the ensuing kick back for a touchdown for the only score.

On the final Warrior drive, Mark Scheuneman made an interception that allowed the 89ers to run out the clock on a 7-2 season.

Junior Pee Wees

NEWTOWN 6, DANBURY 0: The Trojans of Danbury went through the regular season unbeaten at 8-0 and even beat Newtown, 8-6 . . . but this was a whole different ball game. This was the playoffs.

And in the playoffs, the Junior Pee Wees have done what no other Newtown Pop Warner team has done in 33 years – reach the division finals – with a 6-0 defeat of Danbury on Saturday.

After Joey DeVellis made a fine play on the opening kickoff, good defensive plays by Brian Stickles and Mike Laux helped force Danbury to give up the ball on an early drive, but the offense was able to fare no better and also had to give up the ball.

Thomas Hutchison came up big on defense on Danbury’s next drive as he had a hand in some four tackles. An interception by Tucker Kass halted that drive, giving the ball back to Newtown, but the half ended with no further incident.

In the second half, the Junior Pee Wees mounted the only scoring drive they would need. Keeping the ball on the ground, Kass and DeVellis pounded out the yards, with DeVellis pushing the ball in for the only touchdown of the game.

After the kick, the defense came up big again. Hutchison, Kass, Jake Benson, Brian Poetl and Lucas Vendel all contributed to Danbury having to turn the ball over on downs. On offense, Travis Speer did well in the back field.

Late in the game, as Danbury got desperate, Cody Shpunt, Hutchison and Benson all made excellent tackles. Another interception by Kass sealed the fate of Danbury.

Pee Wees

NEWTOWN 12, BETHEL 6: With touchdowns by Max Reed and Carey Olsen, the Pee Wees were able to close out the 1999 season with a come-from-behind victory over Bethel.

Bethel opened the scored with a 30-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter, but the Newtown defense held them the rest of the way. The offense got started on its first drive, following the skills of Stephen Keane and Carey Olsen.

In a spectacular play, a pass by Kevin Wasicki was deflected but caught by Jeff Levasseur, who had gotten hit hard a moment before trying to get into position to catch the ball – which he did, while on his back. The catch was good for a first down and was good enough to end the first period. On the first play of the second quarter, Max Reed snuck the ball in for the tying score.

On Bethel’s next possession, Jake Putnicki, Gary Andrews, James Wiedemann, Billy Beatty and TJ Mueller all made hits to stop the Bobcats’ drive. Matt Berquist also came up with a quarterback sack in the second quarter.

In the third, Olsen scored the go-ahead score on a 53-yard scamper.

It was then left to Grant Speer and Putnicki to made some solid defensive plays to halt Bethel. Jordan Miles also made a couple of important tackles in the fourth quarter. RJ Marus had a stunning 11-yard run in the half, but the Newtown offense was unable to score again.