BRIDGEPORT – A marvelous post-season came to an end in the New England Regional playoffs for three Newtown Pop Warner champions.

The Junior Pee Wees, Junior Midgets and Midgets all suffered losses last week in the first round of the regional playoffs – less than a week after each captured a Candlewood Valley League Division II championship.

For the Junior Pee Wees, the end came in a 16-6 loss to the Trumbull Rangers on the astro-turf field at Central High School in Bridgeport.

The Rangers opened on offense from their own 38-yard line . . . which would be their worst field position of the entire game. The Nighthawk defense held tight, thought, and after three plays Trumbull was forced to punt.

The defense was lead by Jake Devellis, Matt Mascolo, and Dan Curtis. The defense had to hang tough again a few moments later as the Rangers drove all the way to the Newtown 11 – where the Nighthawks took over on downs.

Field position would prove to be a major factor throughout the game.

Again the Newtown offense sputtered. After getting a first down, the Nighthawks had to punt and a fumble gave Trumbull the ball on the Newtown 11. The Newtown defense would not give up a score, and forced a fumble, recovering on the one-foot line.

The Nighthawks pushed the ball out to the five on the first play of the series, but on the next play, a fumble gave the ball back to the Rangers on the Newtown four. The Nighthawks made a couple of big stops on the next two plays, but the Rangers would not be denied this time. They scored on the third play of the series, and kicked an extra-point to put the Rangers ahead, 8-0.

The ensuing kick-off went over Scheunemann and Brian Reszoly’s heads and rolled to the five before Scheunemann was able to get to it. Scheunemann was able to return the ball to the 12 before being tackled.

But the ‘Hawks coughed up the ball again on the 16. The ‘Hawks would finish with five fumbles on the night.

Another strong defensive stand by the Nighthawks resulted in Newtown getting the ball on their own seven. Deep in their own territory, the ‘Hawks tried to pass their way out and a pass from Devellis to a wide-open Scheunemann was nearly completed.

It could have led to a 93-yard touchdown.

On the next play, Devellis was tackled in the end zone for a safety and Trumbull led, 10-0.

The Nighthawks opened the second half with the ball, starting on their 44-yard line after the kick return. The Trumbull defense held tight, and Newtown had to punt. A short snap on the punt was bobbled and the Rangers recovered the ball on the Newtown 20. Again the Nighthawks had poor field position.

Neither team was able to mount an offensive drive in the third quarter. The Trumbull Rangers had the ball deep in Newtown territory but was unable to score. Early in the fourth quarter, Trumbull took the ball on the Nighthawk 27-yard line and was able to push it into the end zone for their final score of the night to take a 16-0 lead.

With time running out the Nighthawks got the ball on their own five. The team was able to pick up one first down on the ground. Then, with seconds left in the game, Devellis threw a pass to Scheunemann down the right side line. The pass went for about 25 yards, and Scheunemann turned on the booster to out run everybody on the defense for Newtown’s only score of the game.

A strong defensive effort was led by Mike Hadgraft, Ben Collins, Mike Poeltl, Cody Marus, Jake Woolf, Kyle McNamara, Stephen Oberstadt, Matt Taylor, Kevin Canavan, Brian Reszoly, Matt Mascolo, Mark Scheunemann, Dan Curtis, and Jake Devellis.

Other members included Jacob Browning, Dan Cody, Anthony Corleto, Justin Craparo, Chris Dennis, David Hutchison, Charlie Lobosco, James Maher, Robert Morlath, Paul Murphy, Rob Norling, Rob O’Donnell, AJ Ritchie, Timo Roehrs, Sean Ryan, Spencer Schnell, and Jaime Vavrek.

The coaches were Joe Devellis, Jeff Hadgraft, Brian Halpin, Mike Oberstadt, and Mark Collins.

Fumble Dooms

Junior Midgets

Despite an admirable performance by the Candlewood Valley League Division II champions, the Newtown Junior Midgets dropped a tough, 6-0, loss to Seymour in the first round of the 2001 New England Regional Tournament.

The heart-breaking loss came on a fumble recovery in the end zone.

Brian Poeltl got Newtown started on the right foot with an electrifying, 11-yard run behind the blocking of Jon Monaco, Scott Perry, Nick Maurer, Drew Adamek, Matt Kuruc, Joe Bowen and Steve Orrico. Joe Curran ran for tough yardage and Tommy Gaboriault caught a nice spiral from Joe Devellis for a four-yard gain, but the ‘Hawks were forced to punt.

On defense, nose guard Teddy Gissen and stopped the first Seymour advance with a strong, behind-the-line tackle. Tackles by Brian Stickles, Devellis, Cody Shpunt and Tucker Kass also held back the Seymour offense.

Seymour fumbled on an outside pitch and Jake Putnicki scooped it up.

The next offensive series for Newtown started with linemen Tom Jackman, Alex Middleleer and Tim Shepard opening a hole for Poeltl. But an untimely fumble brought the Nighthawks’ defense back on the field.

Seymour went to the air, but tackles by Putnicki, Kass, Gissen, Orrico and Devellis prevented Seymour from moving. On fourth-and-nine, cornerback Devellis knocked away a pass that would have led to a first down.

Back on offense, Stickles powered through the line for a three-yard gain. But a broken play followed by a huge Seymour blitz forced Newtown to punt. Gissen, Kass, and Gaboriault all turned in solid defensive stops with Gissen and Curran combining on a crushing quarterback sack.

Despite the efforts of Poeltl, Newtown once again failed to achieve a first down. Devellis boomed a 45-yard punt and Nick Maurer made a big stick on the returner to set Seymour back. Steve Vichiola, Jackman and Kass registered tackles and Gaboriault came up with a big interception on the Newtown 13.

The Nighthawks marched 80 yards down the field (Poeltl gaining 40 yards, Curran 11 and Devellis 23), but they ran out of time in the first half and the two teams went into the break deadlocked at 0-0.

The ‘Hawks opened the second half with an onsides kick and Maurer recovered. The offense got off to a nice start behind the efforts of Vichiola (nine yards on two carries), Poeltl (first down), and Kass (seven yards), but the ‘Hawks fell short again.

But the defense continued to hold Seymour back. Tackles by Shpunt and Putnicki helped do that. But back on offense, Poeltl carried the ball and Adamek fell on a Newtown fumble and the ‘Hawks were once again forced to punt.

The game finally began to turn.

The defense started out strong behind tackles from Orrico, Shpunt, Curran, Poeltl, Putnicki and Vichiola and Gaboriault made a big hit on a screen pass, but Seymour started advancing the ball. On a play inside the Newtown 10, Seymour fumbled the ball into the end zone – where Seymour recovered it for the only score of the game.

Devellis opened the next offensive series with his trademark scramble, passing five yards to Poeltl. But the ‘Hawks could not achieve the first down. Tackles by Kass, Bowen, Shpunt and Orrico stopped Seymour, though, and forced it to punt.

Kass found the hole for a five-yard gain to start the offense off and Poeltl, Devellis and Gaboriault all took turns carrying the ball, but a Seymour interception ended the postseason hopes of the Nighthawks.

Newtown finished its championship season with a 7-3 record.