Grade 6

East Haven Easties 37, Nighthawks 22: After a season-long winning streak, the sixth grade Nighthawks fell to the East Haven Easties in the Connecticut Semi-Finals in North Haven.

The Nighthawks started strong, with Patrick Conte completing a pass to Mitchell Savoca for a first down, but were unable to score. Ben Mason, Adam Bell, and Joe Accousti made key tackles, but an East Haven Eastie broke through for a touchdown. The Nighthawks came back roaring, with Conte throwing a pass to Savoca for what appeared to be a touchdown run, but the play was flagged. Blocked by Bell and Jack Phelps, Savoca tried again and made a first down, then a touchdown, tying the score. Nevin Zink kicked for two extra points, putting the Nighthawks in the lead at the end of the first quarter.

At the start of the second quarter, tackles by Scott Bauer, Conte, Zink, and Bobby Haskins forced a turnover on downs. Zink ran for a first down on a quarterback keeper, but the Nighthawks turned the ball over as well. Despite outstanding defensive play by Justin Dunn, Adam Bell, Alex Morganti, and Joe Accousti, the Easties broke through again, ending the half with a 12-8 lead.

In the third quarter, Mason, Zink, Conte, Accousti, and Morganti gave it their all, but the Easties scored two more touchdowns, widening their lead. The Nighthawks offense bounced back and drove hard. Conte passed to Haskins, Savoca, and Mason for first downs, and Savoca threw a touchdown pass to Haskins.

The Easties took over and scored, giving them a 17-point lead a few minutes into the fourth quarter, but the Nighthawks didn’t back down. After first down runs by Zink and Steven Moccio, Savoca threw to Moccio for a touchdown and Zink kicked for two extra points. The Easties made a final touchdown as the clock ran down, bringing the final score to 37-22.

Congratulations to the sixth graders who have ended the season as the Candlewood Valley Youth Football League Champions!

Grade 7

Newtown Hawks 28, North Yonkers Knights 32: The season was extended an extra week as Newtown played a final noneague game against the Westchester AYF Champions. Due to late scheduling, Newtown only had 20 players dress for the game against a full Yonkers squad. The Hawks wasted no time introducing the Knights to CVL football, as its opening drive featured pass completions to Declan Sullivan, Jared Pearson, Devin Luzietti, and Michael Doyle before Luzietti (four catches and two TDs on the day) beat the corner for a 13-yard TD pass from Matt Maturo (9-for-14, 70 passing yards). The offensive line, including Nick Rohrbacher, Charlie Fletcher, Jeremy Salaris, Brandon Hensel, and Ryan Shaw, did a great job providing pass protection. Pearson added the XP kick for an 8-0 lead.

Yonkers answered right back on the ensuing kick-off, returning it 70 yards for the score. Yonkers made it 13-8 early in the second as they broke through for a 36-yard TD run. Newtown displayed its quick strike capability as they needed only three plays on the next two drives to regain the lead. First, Pearson (11 carries for 155 yards, two TDs) rumbled around the left side for a 47-yard TD romp (with Shaw adding the XP kick). Then, after Ethan Carpenter deflected a Yonkers fourth down pass, the versatile Luzietti took a flanker reverse around the right side and broke several tackles as he cut back to his left for a 40 yard TD.

The 22-13 cushion was short-lived, however, as Newtown’s kick-off went directly to a running back on the line who promptly sprinted 50 yards untouched for yet another return TD. Matt Carino made a fine diving catch during the quarter as Newtown moved the ball. The entertaining half ended 22-19 on a leaping interception by Steve Faxlanger.

The second half saw defensive adjustments slow down the pace of scoring. Yonkers was able to take the lead on a methodical 12-play drive that consumed most of the third quarter. Multiple tackles on the drive were registered by Michael Roche, Faxlanger, and Doyle. Shaw batted down an attempted screen pass. The Hawks retook the lead (28-26) late in the third on a five play drive that featured a seven-yard completion from Carpenter to Luzietti, and runs of 39 and 31 yards by Pearson — the latter a TD. Back came the Knights with an eight-play drive.

Pearson and Gordon Walsh each had two tackles and Hunter Booker, Bryan Kiley, and Mark Urso played tough defense before Newtown just missed breaking up a pass that resulted in a 34-yard score. Newtown turned it over on downs on its next series and all Yonkers had to do was get one first down to run out the clock, but tackles by R.J. Olivera and Carlo Fenaroli and textbook pass coverage gave the Hawks one last chance on the 50 with under two minutes remaining. Maturo completed three passes to Pearson and Luzietti to get the ball down to the Yonkers 26, but a desperation half back option pass fell short on the final play of the Hawks season.

The team is coached by Joe Duffy, Kevin Booker, Paul Carpenter, Chuck Delrossi, Tim Doyle, and John Pearson.

Grade 8

Newtown 30, Madison Tigers 16: Newtown’s eighth grade youth football team traveled to North Haven High School to take on the Shoreline Champions, the 9-0 Madison Tigers, in the first round of the New England Regional Championships and the Connecticut Semi-Finals. In a battle of the two undefeated high powered offenses, Newtown prevailed with a 30 to 16 victory.

Newtown received the opening kickoff to start the game and marched right down the field with power runs and quick screens to catch the Tiger’s defense off guard. The young Hawks quickly scored on a 38-yard fly pass to Troy Frangione from Colton Smith for the first score of the game. Newtown was able to hold Madison on their first possession and showed more of the same from their first series, power runs and quick passes. This time, it was Julian Dunn running in the score from 20 yards out. The Tigers quickly stepped up and drove down the field on runs and passes of their own and ended with a score on a swing pass to their running back, who broke two tackles and headed into the end zone for their first score. Newtown responded with another long drive right before half and reached pay dirt on a fast screen to Dunn for 21 yards and another TD. As the half ended, Newtown was on top 24 to 8.

The Hawks knew the game was not over as Madison was averaging 40 points per game and their Shoreline Championship game saw them come back for the win after being down 38 to 14 in the third quarter. As Madison received the second half kickoff, they showed why they have one of the top offenses in the state by grinding it on the ground and through the air. The drive looked to be stopped, but on fourth and 11, the Tiger’s 6’1” QB hit his WR on a perfectly thrown go pass to pull within a TD. As the Hawks started their next possession, Madison forced a turnover at the 50 and had all the momentum going their way. A few runs up the middle, quick passes and tosses found Madison at the Newtown four yard line going in for the tie.

The Nighthawks defense had to make a statement, and what a statement they made! The Hawks changed to their short yardage defense with bulk in the middle and speed on the outside. First play, one yard gain on a dive up the middle; second play, pass broken up by Nick Lotrecchiano; third play, toss right stopped by Big Pete Manfredonia; fourth and goal, pass broken up by Sugar Shane Quimby and a turnover on downs.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Newtown was up by a TD, on the three yard line and 97 yards away from a possible defining moment of their young careers. Newtown went to the spread with sweeps and blasts to Smith, Dunn, and Lotrecchiano. As a penalty moved them back to third down and 13, Smith rolled out and found Will Dalton on a corner route and 30 yards for a first down. On the same drive, the Hawks found themselves in a fourth and two situation on the five yard line, and went with Tim Krapf up the middle behind the big offensive line and a three-yard gain for a first down. Smith concluded the 97-yard drive with a bootleg for the score and breathing room. Dalton ended Madison’s last ditch drive with 30 seconds left on the clock to give Newtown the victory.

All in all, Newtown’s rushing offense gained 228 yards on the ground thanks to the big men up front: Aidan Petershack, Griffin Davis, Kevin Conte, Markus Elken, Jake Lambert, Krapf, Connor Roche, Eric Cascone and Erik Street. Smith was seven for eight passing for 105 yards and two TDs with Frangione catching a TD, along with Dunn (TD), Dalton and Lotrecchiano’s two receptions each.

The defense was led by Dunn, Krapf, and Rat Rubino with six tackles each. Manfredonia and Davis led the D-line with five each followed by Smith, Lotrecchiano, Quimby, and Jaret DeVellis with four apiece. Bug Santella chipped in with two. Madison gained a total of 222 yards in the game and was held to their least points scored for the 2010 season.

The eighth graders will now advance to the Connecticut State Championship/NE Semi-Final game this coming weekend against 10-0 Meriden Raiders. As of press time, the game is scheduled for Sunday at 5 pm at Falcon Field in Meriden. Please check the NYF&C website at www.newtownyouthfootball.org/ for all schedule changes.