Football Team Blanks NFA, Moves Into Semifinals
Newtown High School's football team, the top seed in the Class LL state bracket, rode its defense to a 35-0 win over No. 8 Norwich Free Academy at Blue & Gold Stadium in the quarterfinals on December 4.
The Nighthawks earned a semifinal-round home game against No. 4 Simsbury on Monday, December 9, starting at 6:30 pm.
NFA punted the ball six times and mustered only one first down in the first half, during which the Nighthawks seized a 21-0 lead. Strong special teams play, including the tackling of Matt Williams, helped Newtown dominate the field position battle.
Quarterback Brandon Lombardo started the scoring on a 29-yard touchdown run with 6:45 left in the first quarter. It was 7-0 heading to the second.
Miles Ricks, in his first game back after an early-October injury, scored on fourth down when he turned the corner and dashed inside the left sideline for a 14-yard score on the first play of the second.
A James Knox Fumble recovery at the NFA 30 with 1:21 left in the half led to Lombard's scramble up the middle for a 17-yard TD with just 11 seconds to go in the half.
Zach Loomis blocked a punt which led to a Jack Street TD pass to Luke Hannan midway through the third quarter. Connor Breslin added a score in the fourth quarter.