The Newtown and Masuk High School football teams tangled on Wednesday night for the ninth time since the South-West Conference went to traditional Thanksgiving rivalry games.

The old Western Connecticut Conference used Thanksgiving Day for its championship game and the Newtown program has history there, as well.

In 12 games dating back to 1991, the Nighthawks have a 7-5-1 record with two WCC titles and three dramatic wins over Masuk.

 

2005

Newtown 15, Masuk 15 – With 10 seconds left in the first half of a 7-7 game, Newtown was about to down the ball and head into the locker room when Masuk called an inexplicable timeout. On the next play, Marc Ingerman burst up the middle for a 69-yard touchdown that gave the ‘Hawks a 15-7 lead and the cushion they needed to survive a draw with the Panthers. Chris Potter rushed for 91 yards on 17 carries and scored on a 60-yard touchdown run that gave the ‘Hawks their first TD. Tucker Kass was 8-of-22 for 107 yards.

 

2004

Newtown 27, Masuk 21 – The Nighthawks rushed for 262 yards and allowed only 255 yards of total offense to a team that had averaged better than 38 points a game during the regular season. Bob Pattison rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown while Roy Scheunemann had a 65-yard run for a touchdown. The ‘Hawks completed just two passes on the night … one, a 34-yard touchdown pass from Tucker Kass to Brennan Coakley.

2003

Masuk 48, Newtown 22 – Anthony Wargo was 13-of-28 for 165 yards and three touchdowns as Masuk, the top team in Class MM, rolled to the Thanksgiving win. The Nighthawks rushed for 205 yards on the night as Roy Scheunemann scored a couple of touchdowns and Kyle Kirch scored another.

2002

Masuk 56, Newtown 21 – A heavy snowstorm on Tuesday, November 26, forced the postponement of the Thanksgiving Eve game between Newtown and Masuk. The game was shifted to the icy field of Danbury High School, where the Panthers scored 28 first-quarter points enroute to the 56-21 win. The ‘Hawks rushed for just 20 yards while Tom Ryan was 19-of-37 for 229 yards and three touchdowns. Tim Byrne grabbed seven balls for 151 yards (including a 72-yard TD).

 

2001

Masuk 13, Newtown 0 – Kyle Nowak rushed for 60 yards and Tom Ryan was 8-of-19 for 78 yards as the Nighthawks were blanked in Monroe. Joe Gantert, Casey Kirch, Simon Censabella and Rob Konkos all grabbed two passes.

 

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 undefeated heading into the game.

 

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 their trip to the CIAC Class L semi-finals with a 19-0 win over Masuk.

 

1996

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.

1994

Brookfield 32, Newtown 0 – A ferocious Brookfield team pounded Newtown in the WCC championship game.

1992

Newtown 13, New Fairfield 8 – Joe Lato rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown to lead Newtown. Adam Rowe also scored a touchdown when he fell on a fumble in the end zone.

1991

Newtown 32, Immaculate 2 – 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 the Western Connecticut Conference championship game.