By Kim J. Harmon

T

he Newtown High School football team has made a habit of beating Masuk over the last 10 years – more often than not, the win helping the Nighthawks (or Indians, as they were known only about six years ago) earn a spot in the South-West Conference or Western Connecticut Conference championship game as well as the CIAC state playoffs.

Over the past 10 years, the ‘Hawks own an 9-2 record over the Panthers (out-scoring their rivals 298-132) and seven of those wins were crucial in helping put the ‘Hawks in the conference and/or state playoffs.

Here is a look back at the last decade of Newtown-Masuk . . .

2000

 

Newtown 38, Masuk 20 – Kyle Tobin rushed for 215 yards on 26 carries and Rich Petretti was 7-of-12 for 197 yards and three touchdowns as the ‘Hawks earned a trip to the CIAC Class L state semi-finals. Adam Hayden rushed for 37 yards, but also threw for a touchdown. The Panthers – the SWC champions – had been undedeated.

 

1999

 

Masuk 41, Newtown 13 – Masuk secured an undefeated season and a No. 1 ranking in the CIAC Class LL playoffs with a 41-13 win on Thanksgiving Day in Monroe. Sean Raby scored on a 25-yard run in the first quarter to give the ‘Hawks a brief, 7-0, lead. Les Russell also scored on a 10-yard run.

1998

 

Newtown 14, Masuk 6 – It was not a great season, but it had a great finish as Newtown took advantage of the elements (rain) to pin a 14-6 loss on Masuk – which had, the week before, captured SWC championship. Sean Raby and Grant Werbeck scored the Newtown touchdowns in the second quarter.

1997

 

Newtown 19, Masuk 0 – After routing Stratford, 53-13, in the SWC championship game the Nighthawks prepared for the CIAC Class L semi-finals with a 19-0 win over Masuk.

 

1996

 

Newtown 28, Masuk 0 – With the South-West Conference having its championship game before Thanksgiving, the Nighthawks had the pleasure of meeting Masuk twice in a row – and beating the Panthers both times. In the SWC championship, the ‘Hawks dominated as Sean Reilly rushed 11 times for 94 yards and a touchdown. Ryan Henry scored twice.

Newtown 32, Masuk 0 – Patrick Reilly rushed eight times for 105 yards and two touchdowns as the ‘Hawks routed the Panthers and qualified for the CIAC Class L semi-finals. Ryan Bunt rushed for 67 yards and Joey Saputo rushed for 47 yards.

1995

 

Masuk 15, Newtown 14 – In a game that decided who would go to the final Western Connecticut Conference championship game, Masuk nipped Newtown by rallying from a 14-3 deficit with 12 points in the third quarter.

1994

 

Newtown 14, Masuk 9 – Newtown earned a trip to the WCC championship game with a tough, 14-9 win over Masuk. Eric Chontos was the workhorse, rushing for 70 yards and a touchdown to lead the offense.

1993

 

Newtown 32, Masuk 22 – Matt Brimmer rushed for 56 yards and Eric Chontos rushed for 75 – each scoring a touchdown – to lead Newtown to another Briggs Division championship and a trip to the WCC championship.

1992

 

Newtown 47, Masuk 6 – Joe Lato rushed for 95 yards and put his season total over 1,000 as Newtown routed Masuk. Lato also scored three touchdowns.

1991

 

Newtown 45, Masuk 14 – Joe Lato rushed for 96 yards and three touchdowns and David Brookes was 6-of-9 for 118 yards and two touchdowns (giving him 20 for the season) as Newtown wrapped up berths in WCC championship game and the CIAC Class L playoffs.

As for Thanksgiving Day (or the day before) . . .

 

Since 1991, when Thanksgiving was held open for the Western Connecticut Conference championship game, the ‘Hawks have a 6-2 record on that special day. The only loss was to Brookfield in 1994, a 32-0 decision to the ferocious Bobcats who were an utter juggernaut in the WCC.

Back in 1991, Newtown made its initial appearance on Thanksgiving Day and handed coach Bob Zito his first conference championship with a 32-2 win over Immaculate. Josh Lubin came up with 161 rushing and receiving and David Brookes was 9-of-16 for 203 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the way.

In 1992, Newtown returned to the field on Thanksgiving Day and edged New Fairfield, 13-8, thanks to 68 yards rushing and one touchdown from Joe Lato (now an assistant coach). Adam Rowe also scored a touchdown when he fell on a fumble in the end zone.

After the loss to Brookfield in 1994 and after missing out in 1995, the ‘Hawks returned to the Thanksgiving Day field in 1996. But this time, it was the first traditional, non-championship meeting with the Masuk Panthers.

But it was also the second meeting between the two teams that year. With Thanksgiving now a day for traditional matchups, the preceding weekend was held over for the conference championship. Then, Newtown blanked Masuk, 28-0, and came back on Thanksgiving Day with a 32-0 win to clinch a spot in the CIAC Class L playoffs. In the last game, Pat Reilly rushed for 105 yards.

In 1997, after routing Stratford, 53-13, in the SWC championship game, Newtown came back with a 19-0 win over Masuk on Thanksgiving. In 1998, it was a 14-6 win for Newtown and in 1999, Masuk came back with a 41-13 win.

In 2000, Newtown had a rousing 38-20 win over a previously-undefeated Masuk team.