The 2000 season was a spectacular one for the Newtown Pop Warner Football program and the 2001 season – if the first week is any indication – could be heading in the same direction as the Junior Midgets, Midgets Junior Pee Wees, and Pee Wees all registered wins over Brookfield last weekend.

The Junior Midgets (32-0) and Midgets (43-14) rolled to easy wins while the Junior Pee Wees (12-6) and Pee Wees (6-2) found themselves in tighter games. The 89ers, meanwhile, were locked up in a 6-6 tie.

Here’s what happened . . .

Junior Midgets

Picking a play of the game for the ESPN-like highlights would be difficult as nearly everyone on the Junior Midget squad shined in a 32-0 thrashing of Brookfield. But Tucker Kass’ pass to Brian Poeltl – who not only made an acrobatic leap and completed a one-handed catch, but then scrambled 37 yards before being dragged down just a few feet short of the end zone – would be one of those selected.

Also entertaining was Tommy Gaboriault’s 15-yard touchdown run, which was reminiscent of old-time power football as he muscled his way through the line, braking two tackles before finding daylight in the end zone.

Then there was first-year player Steve Vichiola, who grabbed his first interception and ran 18 yards before, with some second efforts, reaching the end zone. Or there was Brian Stickles’ punishing hit on the Brookfield quarterback, which resulted in a fumble – a fumble that Gaboriault scooped up and ran 43 yards with for a TD.

Newtown opened the game with solid runs by Kass of seven and 15 yards. Kass also found daylight for eight yards on a run that was made possible by a block from Nick Maurer. But it was the halfback option play, Kass to Poeltl, that ignited the crowd and eventually put Newtown ahead, 7-0. Joe Collins ended up scoring the touchdown and Poelt added the extra point.

The defense held tough on Brookfield’s first series, with Drew Adamek, Collins and Joey Devellis all coming in with big tackles. Back on offense, Joe Curran and Vichiola carried the ball behind the blocking of the “Bacon Boys,” Steve Orrico and Joe Bowen. Devellis scrambled for a 25-yard gain while Gaboriault scored his first touchdown and put Newtown ahead, 13-0.

Cody Shpunt, Stickles, Adamek, Bowen and Orrico all came up with huge tackles to stop Brookfield again. Devellis then snared the punt and rambled 25 yards with it before bring brought down. Curran, Collins and Poeltl all carried for solid gains behind the line work of Matt Kuruk, Scott Perry, Tim Shepard, Jon Monaco and Ted Gissen.

Later, on defense, Vichiola grabbed his interception and nearly scored a TD on the run back. Moments later, though, Kass shot through a hole opened by Bowen and Orrico for the touchdown. Devellis hit Jake Putnicki for the extra point and the Junior Midgets were ahead, 20-0.

The defense continued to shine and after Stickles leveled the Brookfield quarterback, Gaboriault rambled 43 yards with a fumble recovery and another Newtown touchdown. The Junior Midgets went into the locker room with a 26-0 lead.

On the first offensive series of the second half, with Adamek now at the helm, Vichiola took a handoff and rambled 29 yards for his first touchdown of the year, giving Newtown a convincing, 32-0, lead.

The Junior Midgets continued to stiffen against the Brookfield offense the rest of the way. Vichiola intercepted another pass and Putnicki fell on a fumble to spark the defensive effort.

The Junior Midgets will travel next Sunday, September 9, to meet the Aspetuck Wildcats in a 12 noon contest.

Junior Pee Wees

Mark Schueneman scored a pair of touchdowns and Brian Reszoly tore off a nice 40-yard run to lead the Junior Pee Wees to a 12-6 win in the season opener. Dan Curtis was impressive at quarterback while Kyle McNamara dominated the defense with several fine tackles. Jake Devellis also made a big tackle.

The Junior Pee Wees will battle Aspetuck next weekend at 12 noon.

Pee Wees

Defense was the rule of the day as the Pee Wees trimmed Brookfield, 6-2.

Zach Conger forced two Brookfield fumbles in the first minutes of the game and Tyler Tarantino later recovered a Brookfield fumble, but Newtown could not capitalize. Jamie Post, Chuck Brooks, and Brett Mauro all made big defensive stops.

The Newtown offense did finally move, however. Starting on the Brookfield 25, Tarantino and Jeff Davis made some nice runs with Tarantino picking up a first down behind the blocking of Greg Rodden and Tim Wheeler. Thomas Hutchison chugged down to the three for another first down and Tarantino – behind a hole created by Rodden and Wheeler – scored the TD for a 6-0 Newtown lead.

Brookfield started to move on its next series, grabbing a pair of first downs, but Brendan Martin stopped the threat with an interception. The Pee Wees couldn’t move and left it up to the defense of Josh Friedman, Erik Dreher, and Brett Mauro to stop Brookfield at the close of the half.

Early in the second half, Justin McGrath made a TD-saving tackle on a punt which Brookfield brought all the way down to the Newtown eight. Solid defense by Friedman, Dreher, McGrath, Lucas Vendel and Eric Palmer stopped Brookfield on the five.

With little field to work with, Newtown was pushed back, tackled in its own end zone, and Brookfield was awarded the safety.

Ryan Manning, Chris Matthei, Robert Eckenrode, Doug Makl, Jamie Goodwick, Travis Speer, Mario Roehrs, and Dan DeLaVega all made fine plays the rest of the way, but the score would remain with Newtown on top, 6-2.

The Pee Wees will battle Aspetuck (away) on Saturday, September 8, at 10 am.

NOTE: The Newtown Pop Warner web site is www.eteamz/ npwnighthawks.com.