Visiting and deceptive No. 8 seed Darien came to Newtown on a rainy Sunday afternoon and blanked the No. 4 Newtown High School football team 21-0 in the Class L State semifinals.

The Nighthawks fell behind 14-0 after one quarter of play and trailed by that same score at halftime of this December 3 battle at Blue & Gold Stadium.

Newtown threatened to get on the board but was denied twice deep in Darien territory, once following a Brady Macey recovery on a Darien fumbled punt return.

Darien added a third-quarter touchdown and held a traditionally potent Nighthawk offense in check.

"It didn't end the way we wanted it to but there was a lot to be proud of," said Newtown Coach Dan Farina, who completed his first year with the Nighthawks.

"I'd give anything to have another week with these kids," Farina added.

The Newtown coach noted that the Hawks overcame lots of adversity with early-season injuries changing the shape of the team.

"Our senior class did a great job this entire year picking each other up, holding each other accountable," Farina said.