EIGHTH GRADE

Newtown 14, Norwalk 0

Kyle Vignone scored a pair of touchdowns as the eighth-graders remained undefeated with a 14-0 win over Norwalk last weekend.

The game started out as a fierce defensive battle, with both squads refusing to give ground. But the Nighthawks mounted a strong drive down the field in the second quarter and lit the scoreboard first when Vignone burst free on a 12-yard touchdown run.

Rory Noonan booted the extra point.

Norwalk made repeated attempts to move the ball in the second half, but a key defensive series thwarted their plans. Matt Datin made a big tackle for a loss at midfield and on the following play, Norwalk went to the pass but Noonan, blitzing from his linebacker position, jumped high in the air and was able to get a hand on the pass and allowed linebacker Max Nacewicz to make a diving interception on the tipped ball.

Later Vignone, after stopping a Norwalk drive with a key tackle on third down, bolted 41 yards for his second touchdown to put the ‘Hawks ahead, 14-0.

Norwalk threatened again early in the fourth and moved the ball to the Newtown 10, but the defense, determined to continue its shutout streak, made an impressive stand. Noonan had a big tackle for a loss on a sweep and, on fourth and goal, ran down the quarterback on a rollout before rudely putting him on the ground.

Newtown fumbled the ball on the next possession and Norwalk would have one more shot at scoring on the defense.

But the D closed out the game with a memorable series.

Norwalk took possession of the ball at the Newtown 36 and was driven back to its own 32 in four plays. On the first, defensive end Cody Fischer sacked the Norwalk QB with the help of Datin, Sean Devaney and Eric McCabe. On the next play, Devaney and McCabe flushed the QB out of the pocket, who was again sacked by Fischer. And on fourth down, Norwalk attempted a screen pass that turned into a lateral and simply went all wrong. Multiple players on the defense chased the ball carrier backwards and the tackle – for an 18-yard loss – was made by Fischer, Nacewicz and Noonan.

Newtown took possession of the ball at the 32 and wound out the clock for the win.

Fischer and Noonan were awarded defensive game balls. Datin and Devaney were recognized for playing hard nosed football, making key plays through out the game. Vignone was recognized for his leadership on the defensive side of the ball, key tackles and snagged the offensive gameball.

Louis Raab got the nod for Offensive Lineman of the Week at the center position, playing a strong game while keeping the big Norwalk defensive tackle out of the backfield and executing all snaps flawlessly.

The ‘Hawks will host Southern Dutchess this weekend.

FIFTH GRADE

Newtown 33, Norwalk 32

Julian Dunn rushed for 245 yards and five touchdowns and the fifth graders needed every one of those yards and TDs as they nipped the Norwalk Dolphins, 33-32, in Candlewood Valley League action last Saturday.

Dunn carried the ball 34 times on the day, most of the time behind the hulking line Jim Leidlein, Matt White, Patrick Afriyie, Tommy Gleason, Grant Shaw, Connor Noonan, and Nick Strokis, which dominated the Norwalk defensive line.

Kyle McKnight, Cameron Weibel, Nick Landau and Andrew Bouton gave solid performances on the line as well.

When Dunn wasn’t lugging the ball out of the backfield, Cooper Gold, Chase Wurtz, Matt Hoyt and Jack Lago did their share with Drew Tarantino playing well at quarterback. Andrew Derrickson also contributing out of the backfield.

On the opening drive, the Nighthawks reeled off a seven-play, 58-yard drive, highlighted by runs of 11 and 17 yards by Wurtz and Dunn, with the touch coming on an eight-yard blast by Dunn between Afriyie and Gleason. Tarantino connected with Noonan on the PAT pass to put the locals up, 7-0.

Norwalk came right back, however, taking the opening kickoff to the Newtown 49 before scoring two snaps later on a busted play that saw the Norwalk QB run for 37 yards and the score. The Newtown defense, though, stepped up and stuffed the extra point to make it 7-6.

The ‘Hawks drove the length of the field on their next possession with some tough short yardage runs for critical first downs from Gold and longer runs of eight and 10 yards from Dunn. The 11-play drive was capped off by a 29-yard run by Dunn and Tarantino connected again with Noonan for the PAT, the locals lead 14-6.

Some tougher defense was shown by both squads to close out the half.

In the second half, Norwalk took the early momentum by returning the opening kick off for a touchdown and converting on the PAT to trim the Newtown lead to one. Newtown however, answered right back, capping a nine-play drive with a four-yard dive by Dunn that put the locals on top, 20-13.

But Norwalk answered right back, running a counter for a 65-yard touchdown that trimmed the Newtown lead down to one again, 20-19. Of course, the ‘Hawks roared back as Dunn returned the kickoff 21 yards and then combined with Gold to get the locals down to the Norwalk 35 where Dunn blasted off the left side and down to the two with a nice 33-yard gain, getting key blocks from White and Gold. Dunn took it in on the next play and Tarantino converted on the PAT with a bootleg into the end zone to give Newtown a 27-19 lead.

Norwalk would not give up and after returning the kick off to the Newtown 39, putting together a drive with a touch to make it 27-26 in Newtown’s favor after three quarters of play.

Derrickson took the Norwalk kick and returned it to the Newtown 46, setting the stage for a three-play drive that culminated when Dunn rushed 45 yards for his fifth touchdown of the day to put Newtown ahead, 33-26.

Then Norwalk put together yet another drive from the Newtown 34, driving in for the score to make it 33-32 but Patrick Carello, Noonan and Dunn came up big on the conversion attempt, stuffing the extra point to leave Newtown with a one-point advantage. After Patrick Afriyie recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt, the locals ran out the clock for the win.

FOURTH GRADE

Newtown 25, Aspetuck 6

Nick Lotrecchiano scored three touchdowns as the fourth-graders stymied the Aspetuck Wildcats, 25-6.

Lotrecchiano scored first off a 40-yard scamper set up by a spectacular double reverse and then scored off a 35-yard half back option pass from Colton Smith, Finally, Lotrecchiano added his final TD on a nice 10-yard sweep around the left end.

Smith punished the Aspetuck defense all day with hard runs and added a PAT. Rising star Shane Quimby punched in the Nighthawks’ final score of the day with only seconds remaining in the game on a 10-yard scamper around the right end.

Markus Elkin, Jake Lambert, Erik Street, Stephen Grasso and Logan Walsh anchored a strong defensive performance. Linebackers Bubba Condon and Max Rucinski stuffed everything in the middle while corners Richard Sadlon and Jaret DeVellis put the damper on any Aspetuck spark with some impressive tackles deep in the Wildcat backfield.

The 4-0 fourth graders will have a bye this weekend.

79ER GOLD

Newtown over Monroe

Against a run stifling defense, the 79er Gold squad went to the air for it’s fourth victory of the season.

Matt Elias was on the receiving end of two touchdown passes – the first, a half back option from Mike Doyle that covered 30 yards; and the second, a 35-yard flea flicker from Matt Maturo. In all, Elias totaled 80 yards receiving and running.

Mike Doyle, not to be out done, ran for 70 tough yards and threw for 30, totaling 100 yards.

Maturo, again in complete control of Gold’s offense, threw for 65 yards and scored Gold’s second touchdown, a 25-yard quarterback keeper. Trevor Lopez, as usual, came up big, scoring the third touchdown of the game right up the gut from the three yard line and then added the second of his extra points.

A determined effort by the offensive line of James Leuci, Nick Samuelson, Ryan Shaw, Mike Dutsar, and Mike Roche made all that possible. A stifling defense led by Justin Dunn and Colin Thies, which didn’t give up a first down until the third quarter, kept Monroe’s offense off the field and gave Gold’s offense ample opportunity to score.

Adding to the victory was Peyton Manning’s fumble recovery that set up Gold’s third touchdown. Effectively ending the game was Ryan Shaw’s 35-yard kickoff that pinned Monroe deep in its own side of the field.