Hartford Tops Newtown Seventh Graders In Title Game

Newtown’s seventh grade football team fell 39-22 to Hartford in the American Youth Football state title game in Shelton on November 13.

The Nighthawks went up against a physical and disciplined opponent. For the first time all season, Newtown had to contend with costly turnovers and giving up big plays, battling back in the second half when it scored all of its points.

Hartford winning the coin toss, opted to receive and moved the ball 51 yards for the touchdown despite the defensive efforts of Alex Morganti, Ryan Marusi, Bobby Haskins, and Ben Mason. The extra point run was good putting Hartford up early, 7-0. The Nighthawks responded with Hunter Cobb finding the hole for a 23-yard gain. After another Cobb run and offside penalty on Hartford, the Nighthawks’ threat was thwarted by a fumble recovered by the Hartford Wildcats. Marusi, Adam Bell, and Ed Lovely had key tackles forcing a Wildcat punt. Again, Newtown fumbled the ball, putting the defense back on the field and Hartford scored on an 80-yard run, and made good on the extra-point attempt to go up 14-0.

Depsite Bobby Haskins making five receptions for 49 yards in the first half Newtown couldn’t put together a scoring drive. Hartford closed out it first half scoring with another long-yardage play, taking the ball 84 yards to go up 20-0 at the break. 

The second half began with Ryan Brello igniting the Newtown running game, going 32 yards on three carries on the opening drive. Patrick Conte connected with Haskins on the screen pass for the touchdown and Morganti connected on the extra-point, putting Newtown on the boards.

Hartford answered with a drive of its own for a 26-8 lead. Bell and Thomas Long stopped the extra point attempt. Cobb and Brello again ran the ball and Haskins came up with another big reception on fourth down to bring the Nighthawks into Hartford territory only to have a screen pass intercepted and returned 68 yards for the touchdown. The extra point attempt was no good.

With the clock favoring Hartford, Conte and Cobb both moved the ball for first downs. With big penalties assessed against Hartford the Nighthawks found themselves in the red zone and threatening to score. With luck on their side now, a pass from Conte intended for Cobb bounced off his hands into those of Steven Moccio who ran it in for the touchdown. The on-side kick was recovered by Thomas Long. Conte, seeming to like playing under pressure with time running out, connected with Colin McCafferty on a screen pass and Cobb who took the ball to the five yard line. Conte ran it in for the touchdown and Morganti connected on the extra-point pulling Newtown to within ten.

The Wildcats countered with another long run rounding out the scoring. The Nighthawks put together a great second half of play and never gave up.