JUNIOR MIDGETS

Clinton 26, Newtown 19

A long bus ride up I-84 to a small New England factory town northeast of Worcester turned into an even longer bus ride down I-84 after the Newtown Junior Midgets suffered their first loss of the season, a 26-19 decision to Clinton, Massachusetts.

The game got off to an ominous start when Newtown fumbled the opening kickoff. But the defense stuffed a fourth and short attempt by Clinton as the game quickly turned into a hard fought physical battle of wills and the first quarter ended in a scoreless tie.

Midway through the second quarter, Clinton again attempted a fourth and short deep at their own 35 yard line. The defense rose to the occasion again and stuffed the play, forcing Clinton to turn the ball over on downs.

Two plays later, Kyle Vignone broke through and danced around tacklers before sprinting 30 yards to the end zone for the touchdown. But as the extra point attempt was blocked, a Clinton defender scooped up the ball and raced 90 yards for the extra point and Newtown led 6-1.

Clinton started with nice field position after the kickoff and began to move the ball down the field before breaking off tackle for a 20-yard touchdown. The extra point was good and Clinton now had an 8-6 lead.

On the next possession, Clinton intercepted a Newtown pass and raced 50 yards for the score. The extra point attempt failed and Clinton now led 14-6. Then Newtown QB John Fracker orchestrated a nice drive down the field deep into Clinton territory, but ran out of time.

Newtown started the second half with more intensity and confidence than they had shown in the first. After kicking off the ball, the defense stiffened and a nice defensive surge busted a Clinton running play in the backfield. When the ball popped loose at the Clinton 25, it was quickly pounced upon by Nick Dinelli.

Newtown kept up their penchant for converting turnovers into points when Kevin McCarthy broke several tackles and went 25 yards for the touchdown. James Sharpe ran the extra point in and the game tightened up with Clinton now ahead by only one, 14-13.

Clinton answered right back, though, using superior line size to drive the ball between the tackles, moving down the field and scoring on a 20-yard run to take a 20-13 lead.

Newtown began the fourth quarter with an impressive march down the field. From midfield, Fracker connected with McCarthy on a pass and run that went all the way to the 15. Two plays later, Vignone busted up the middle for his second touchdown of the day but the extra point failed and Newtown again trailed by a single point, 20-19.

On the ensuing kick, Clinton broke off a solid return to the Newtown 45 and continued to pound the ball right at the middle of the Newtown defensive line, once again breaking into the end zone for a 26-19 lead.

With time winding down, Newtown began an impressive drive deep into Clinton territory. Newtown marched down to the Clinton 5 before fumbling the ball. Clinton took possession and chewed up the remaining time on the clock for the win.

The Junior Midgets, still undefeated in Central Valley League play, and will finish the regular season with at Bethel on Sunday.

MIDGETS

Newtown 34, Monroe 0

Kyle O’Connor scored a pair of touchdowns (one on a 34-yard fumble return) and the Newtown Midgets blanked Monroe, 34-0, on Sunday at Weston High School. Nicky Tarantino, Zach Dent and Tory Deakin (on a pass from Tucker Schmidt) also scored touchdowns.

Tarantino started things off with a four-yard run and as Brendan Blawie ran in the extra point, the Midgets had a 7-0 lead.

On defense, Ian Archer and Kevin Brown made some nice hits to contain Monroe and get the ball back for the offense and the Hawks wasted little time getting on the scoreboard again. On the first offensive play, O’Connor took a hand off, cut to the outside, and scampered 51 yards for a touchdown to give the Hawks a 13-0 lead right before the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter it was all Newtown as the defense continually pounded Monroe. The efforts of Connor McNamara and Bryan Purus were too much. The Hawks then got the ball back and drove it up the field, culminating in a three-yard run by Dent. After Tim Willmott kicked in the extra point, the locals went into halftime with a 21-0 lead.

In the third quarter, quarterback Tucker Schmidt executed a great play action fake and found a wide open Tory Deakin for a 32-yard touchdown pass. Blawie again ran in the extra point to give Newtown a commanding 28-0 lead.

The Hawks defense still confused Monroe and did not allow a first down in the third quarter. Just as the fourth quarter got started, O’Connor scooped up a Monroe fumble and returned it 35 yards for the final touchdown of the afternoon.