Forget the flu shots. Someone needs to pass out the Playoff Fever shots.

Newtown American Youth Football will be sending its eighth-grade, seventh-grade and fourth-grade teams to their respective Candlewood Valley League championship games this weekend with some berths in the state tournament on the line.

The eighth- and fourth-grade teams are also protecting undefeated seasons.

EIGHTH GRADE

Newtown 16, Norwalk 14

 

Will Arndt hit Sean Devaney on a 40-yard scoring pass and Kyle Vignone bulled his way in from 10-yards out for another touchdown, but Bryan Kilmurray’s block of an extra-point attempt with 31 seconds left was the deciding factor as the eighth-grade team defeated the Norwalk Titans, 16-14, to remain undefeated at 9-0 and advanced to the Candlewood Valley League championship.

The locals appeared to get the early jump when Vignone raced 60 yards for an apparent touchdown, but an illegal shift flag negated the play and the game quickly turned into a defensive battle. Cody Fischer recorded a sack and Ryan Korth intercepted a pass to key the Newtown D early on.

Later, another flag negated a 29-yard pass play from Will Arndt to Vignone, but a nifty punt by Rory Noonan and a big tackle by Matt Datin sparked more strong defense. After Norwalk was forced to punt from its own end zone, the locals took over at the Norwalk 40 and Newtown quickly hit pay dirt when Arndt hooked up with Devaney on a 40-yard scoring pass.

With Noonan’s kick, the locals took an 8-0 lead.

Noonan and Eric McCabe combined on a sack for a big defensive stop early in the second half, but the Titans still managed to move the ball down the field and scored on an off tackle burst that knotted the score at 8-8.

The intensity began to mount for the locals and Newtown started with good field position after the kick off at their own 40 yard line. Hard running again by Vignone slowly began to drive the ball downfield, picking up numerous first downs. Newtown brought a scare to the home crowd when it fumbled on first and goal at the 10, but Rob Frangione emerged from the pile with the ball in his hands and on the next play, Vignone took the ball and raced into the end zone to give Newtown back the lead.

In a heroic effort, Noonan, the extra point kicker who suffered a leg injury on an earlier play, hobbled onto the field for conversion and Norwalk, aware of the injury, stacked the line expecting the fake. But a determined Noonan blasted the extra point kick and Newtown led 16-8.

With five minutes left, Norwalk mounted a furious drive to get back in the game. Another trick play involving a pass to the QB moved the ball into Newtown territory. Fischer quieted the Norwalk crowd with a big tackle for a loss on the ensuing play with Max Nacewicz and Kilmurray adding some finishing touches.

On the next play Tyler Reed, Devaney and Kilmurray again sacked the QB, making it fourth and 20 for Norwalk with the clock winding down. But Norwalk, with the game on the line, went to the air again and were rewarded by a diving catch at the Newtown 20 for a first down.

Devaney, Reed and Kilmurray recorded a pair of sacks to set Norwalk back, but on another fourth and 20, with 31 seconds left to play, the Titans tossed a Hail Mary pass that was snared for the touchdown. Knowing a conversion kick would force overtime, Kilmurray dove in front of the kicker and blocked the kick with his arm and chest as the locals maintained a two-point lead.

Derek Krewson recovered the onside kick and the Nighthawks had their toughest win of the season in the bag.

Dan Aurelia was named the Offensive Lineman of the Week after stepping in at center and having an outstanding game, executing all snaps flawlessly and keeping a big Norwalk defensive line out of the backfield. Sean Devaney also provided some great blocking and played strong on Defense, in addition to registering his first touchdown of the year.

Newtown will meet Ridgefield for the CVL championship on Saturday at 3 pm.

SEVENTH GRADE

Newtown 13, Mahopac 7

Brendan McNamara scored on touchdown runs of 21 and 28 yards as the seventh-grade team advanced to the Orange Bowl championship with a 13-7 win over Mahopac. Evan Noonan added an extra-point conversion

Ian Kirner, Kevin Dennis, Cory Fisher, Kevin Morrissey, James Horsko and Kyler Harmeling were outstanding on the offensive line while Robert Daigle, Noonan, Michael Lord, Jacob Enriquez, Sean Ross and McNamara played very well on defense.

The locals will play Aspetuck for the CVL championship this weekend.

SIXTH GRADE

Newtown 27, Aspetuck Black 6

The sixth-grade team its offense in high gear and its defense, after allowing an early touchdown, clamped down on the Aspetuck running game and stopped it cold over the last three quarters enroute to a 27-6 win.

Danny Hebert scored on a 40-yard run and hooked up with Graham Derrickson on a 29-yard scoring pass. Jack Kearney also rushed for a four-yard TD.

Hebert had a fine day throwing the ball, on three different occasions completing clutch third-and-long or fourth-and-long throws – to Kearney for 15, to Phillip Reynolds for 16 and to Derrickson for 22.

Pat Capozziello ran in two extra points.

On defense, after some early adjustments, the Nighthawks stopped the running game behind the linebacking trio of Dean Baye, Chris Stanton and Kearney. When the Wildcats tried to get a passing game going, the defensive pressure of ends Kyle Degenhardt and Brian Kruger, who both recorded sacks, would not allow the Aspetuck QB time to setup and throw.

In a turning point of the game, after scoring the go ahead touchdown, Hebert tackled the return man on the kickoff, causing a fumble which was recovered by Phil Reynolds.

FOURTH GRADE

Newtown 32, Bethel 6

The Nighthawk fourth graders advanced to the championship round of the Candlewood Valley League play-offs by completely dominating the Bethel Bobcats, 32-6.

After an incredible win over Norwalk last week to finish the regular season, the undefeated Hawks did not skip a beat as they rumbled into the playoffs. New stars, new game, different team, but the same result.

Jarret DeVellis and Colton Smith combined for over 200 rushing yards and five touchdowns to lead the Nighthawk offense scoring blitz. DeVellis danced his way to a career-high 121 yards on 12 carries, with a touchdown, while Smith endlessly lit up the scoreboard with four touchdowns, including one on a 60-yard kickoff return.

Big Bubba Condon punished Bobcat defenders at the fullback position and added another 20 rushing yards and a key first down on a critical fourth and one situation. Finally, Shane Quimby and DeVellis closed out the scoring barrage with a couple PATS to seal the deal for the Hawks.

The Hawk defense has been an incredible force all season long and once again crushed any aspirations the Bobcats had to mount any sort of attack. Condon led all Nighthawk defenders with six tackles while Smith, at OLB, was a close second with five tackles and a forced fumble. Max Rucinski, Jake Lambert and Nick Rubino continued to rock any and all offenses with four tackles each.

Rookie Harry Duffy demonstrated some impressive strength and power at the defensive tackle position chipping in two solo tackles while Matt Perun put the nail in the coffin with a huge quarterback sack.

The Hawks will meet the Norwalk Ravens in the CVL championship this weekend.

The locals concluded an undefeated regular season with a 33-6 win over the same Ravens. The Newtown offense amassed 410 yards of total offense with Smith and Nick Lotrecchiano combining for 363 of those yards on a combined 27 carries out of the backfield.

Smith had his best game of the year, scoring two TDs and punishing Norwalk defenders for over 200 yards individually, while Lotrecchiano added 163 yards and two TDs with the aid of a 75-yard. Troy Frangione managed the Nighthawk offense at quarterback while DeVellis and Quimby both took turns rotating the backfield with DeVellis rushing for 46 yards and a TD and Quimby adding three PAT’s.

Rucinski finished with eight solo tackles and several assists while Smith, Lotrecchiano and DeVellis added five tackles apiece. Rubino added five tackles, a fumble recovery and forced another fumble.

79ER BLUE

Newtown 27, Hudson Valley 0

The 79er Blues avenged an earlier loss and defeated Hudson Valley White, 27-0, to close out the season at 5-4.

Devin Luzietti scored two touchdowns to power the offense while Ethan Carpenter hooked up with tight end Jeremy Salaris on a touchdown pass and Jared Pearson closed out the game with a touchdown of his own.

Big Blue marched down field on its opening drive behind the strong blocking by Gordon Walsh, Gregory Harrison and Andrew Svanda. With Hudson Valley keyed to the run, Carpenter faked a hand off and found his big tight end, Salaris, in the flats for the first touchdown of the game.

Brian Raab nabbed the extra-point conversion pass and Newtown was ahead 7-0.

Bryan Kiley, Charlie Fletcher, Forest Speed and Scott Gregson anchored the D through the remainder of the half and in the second half, the offense turned up the intensity level and took command of the game.

Led by the awesome blocking of Nicholas Rohrbacher, Shawn McCarthy and Anthony Falbo, running backs Adam Robertson, Luzietti, Geoffrey Santore and Carpenter were able to move the ball at will. Luzietti was able to finish the drive by scoring early in the half, but he wasn’t finished as he had a combined two touchdowns on the day.

As the offense was working on all cylinders, the defensive line continued its hard hitting as Salaris (two fumble recoveries), Austin LeBlanc and Pearson led the way. Speed, Raab, Mitchell Savoca and Luzietti kept the Hudson Valley runners inside all day and didn’t allow them outside to gain much yardage on the day.

When Hudson Valley went to the air, Luzietti and Raab always seemed to be there to intercept or knock the ball down and away from the receivers. Luzietti finished the day with two interceptions and Raab finished with one key interception.

Later, following the blocking up front by Thomas Adessi, Cooper Buonocore, Nicholas Lametto, Steven Senf and strong man Colin McCafferty, the offense was able to score one more time late in the game. This time it was Pearson’s turn to show his stuff as he took a hand off and busted through the line for a long touchdown run.