Ken Roberts spent a lot of time on the Blue & Gold Stadium playing surface sideline in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Roberts was an assistant coach in 1997 and served as head football coach at NHS from 1998 to 2007.

The grass is gone; the field surface having been switched to turf since he coached there, but the memories remain, and some new ones were made when Shelton visited Blue & Gold and won an interconfernece battle, led by Ken Roberts' son, Jake Roberts, the Shelton quarterback.

Ken was in attendance to see his son complete 20 of 33 pass attempts for 311 yards and three touchdowns, and rush the ball 11 times for 36 more yards and another score as Shelton withstood Newtown's comeback effort for a 35-28 win.

"I have been back at Newtown for other sports, but being on the that field for a varsity football game brought back so much emotion and great memories. I am so thankful to have spent the time in Newtown that I did," Ken said. "It was a long stressful day with many different emotions."

Back when he was 5 and 6 years old, in 2006 and '07, Jake served as a water boy for his dad's Newtown squads.

"One of the best things about Jake being a water boy is he understood at a very young age how important football is to me. Jake realized at the age of 5 that this is more than just a game, it is serious and very important to many people. I think being the son of a coach you realize how much goes into a football game and how much you get out of playing this sport depends on your level of commitment. Jake has committed to playing football and understands that if you go out there and earn it you will get it," Ken said.

Ken earned coach of the year accolades in 2006. He has many fond memories of coaching at Newtown High, including a state playoff appearance in 2000 and some big wins over rival Masuk of Monroe.

"I would say the biggest success I had at Newtown is coaching many of the players that are now in coaching," said Ken, who coached a variety of sports for 27 years, including a decade's worth in Newtown.

Among his former Newtown players are Joe Devellis, now defensive coordinator at Westhill High in Stamford, and Newtown High Head Coach Bobby Pattison, along with assistants Tyler Tarantino, and Kyle Tobin.

"To me a good coach is a very special person and so may players I coached at Newtown are now coaching. It is great to see," Ken said.

"I have so many great friendships and memories from my years at Newtown. I still stay in touch with many of the coaches, as well as many players also. It was a great opportunity for me and a great time - my years at Newtown," Ken added.

Ken left his coaching position with Newtown to spend more time with his three children.

"Watching Jake play on that field added to all of the special times and memories I have had at Newtown," he said.