The Junior Midgets gave up just one touchdown - just one - and it was all the Danbury Trojans needed to record an 8-0 win.
The Junior Midgets gave up just one touchdown â just one â and it was all the Danbury Trojans needed to record an 8-0 win.
Newtownâs defense was led by Steve Orrico, Tommy Gaboriault and Tucker Kass, who combined for 25 tacles. And Steve Vichiola grabbed an interception on the first Danbury possession to get the Newtown offense started.
But even though Joe Collins and Joe Curran ran the ball well behind the line of Jon Monaco, Scott Perry, Drew Adamek and Matt Kurac, the efforts fell short. Joe Collins, Ryan Tanner, Jake Putnicki, Cody Shpunt, Orrico and Kass continued to made defense plays and Brian Stickles made a big quarterback sack that netted 12 yards.
After another Newtown possession failed to register a score â despite the work of Joe Devellis, and Joe Bowen â Stickles came up with a big fumble recovery on the ensuing punt. Still, Newtown could not penetrate a tough Danbury defense.
Devellis, Vichiola, Brian Poeltl, Orrico, Collins, Kass and Gaboriault all made big stops on defense to hold Danbury.
On offense, Curran ran the ball well behind the line of Nick Maurer and Tim Shepard and tight end Shpunt came up with a nifty seven-yard reception, but Newtown could not get into the end zone and the half ended with the score tied, 0-0.
The first Newtown offensive possession of the second half opened with a perfectly-executed halfback option from Poeltl to Kass for seven yards. But even though Poeltl ran the ball well, the âHawks had to punt away.
On defense, Orrico made two strong tackles to stop Danbury while Kass, Adamek, Shpunt and Ted Gissen all registered tackles. Devellis even came up with a quarterback sack to push the Trojans back 10 yards.
Back on offense, Collins came through with runs of five and eight yards and Kass ran the ball hard, but the âHawks once again had to punt. The biggest play of the game came on the next series as Danbury broke off a 58-yard run for a touchdown.
It would stand up.
Shpunt and Gaboriault made big plays in the waning minutes of the game to prevent another Danbury score.
Newtown will host the Danbury Vikings on Saturday, October 7, at 12 noon.
The Midgets had a considerably tougher time, dropping a 29-0 decision.
Danbury led Newtown at the half, 13-0, but the Nighthawks kept themselves in the game by recovering three fumbles. For the second week in a row, the offense was stymied, but hopes to get back on track on Sunday, October 7, against the Danbury Vikings. The game is at home and kick off is at 2 pm
The Junior Pee Wees had a difficult time, as well, losing 24-0 to a Trojan team that not only hasnât lost this year, but hasnât been scored upon, either.
The Trojans kicked off to the Nighthawks to start the game and executed a nearly perfect onside kick that bounced high into the air over the Nighthawk front line and stayed in the air long enough for the Trojans to get to the ball before it hit the ground again. The Trojans scored on their first series of offensive plays with a long TD run on fourth and about two yards.
The Nighthawks started moving the ball on the Trojans and were able to get the defense to go offsides to move the ball, but a fumble stalled the drive. This was the first of 10 fumbles on the day for the âHawks. The offensive line of Charlie Lobosco, Paul Murphy, Jake Woolf, Anthony Corletto, Timo Roehrs, Dan Cody, and Chris Dennis fought hard on every play.
The Nighthawk defense held on the next series for the Trojans, and gave the Newtown offense another opportunity. The Nighthawks moved the ball down the field on big runs by Jake Devellis and Mark Scheunemann, but turned the ball over on a pass interception. The Trojan defensive back returned the interception for the touchdown and the Trojans led by a score of 12-0.
The Trojans were able to score one more time in the first half, after getting the ball back after a fumble. The halftime score was 18-0.
The Newtown defense came out strong in the second half, and was able to shutdown the Trojan offense for the entire third quarter and most of the fourth quarter. It was a defensive team effort by Jake Woolf, Kyle McNamara, Michael Hadgraft, Ben Collins, Cody Marus, Mike Poeltl, Jake Devellis, Rob OâDonnell, Kevin Canavan, Matt Mascolo, and Scheunemann.
About midway through the fourth quarter the Trojans scored for the last time. Both teams exchanged possession of the ball without moving the ball much.
The Junior Pee Wees will host the Danbury Vikings on Saturday, October 6, at 12 noon.
The Danbury Trojans built up a quick lead on the Pee Wees and came away with a 28-7 win.
Opening the game on defense, the Nighthawks looked strong. Ryan Manning, Eric Palmer, and Chris Cardelle all made solid defensive plays, forcing Danbury to punt. Brett Mauro blocked the punt and gave Newtown great field positions, but the âHawks gave the ball up on downs.
Starting deep in their own end, Danbury started a quick drive that ended on a 70-yard touchdown gallop.
Thomas Hutchison took the ball right back at the Trojans, carrying the kickoff 56 yards down to the Danbury nine. But the âHawks couldnât push the ball in. Moments later, Kris Kling recovered a Danbury fumble at the 10, but the offense still failed to move against a tough Danbury defense.
Josh Friedman made a nice play on defense, but the tenacious Trojans scored again to take a 14-0 lead. Moments later, Danbury was ahead 20-0 after blocking a Newtown punt and setting up a quick, short drive.
Newtown received the ball to start the second half and managed four first downs as the âHawks marched down the field. Hutchison, Dreher, Justin McGrath and Conger handled the running. Jeff Davis completed a pass to Hutchison and Hutchison capped off the drive with a touchdown and extra point to trim the Danbury lead to 20-7.
On Danburyâs ensuing series, Manning recovered a fumble and it looked like the âHawks might get back into the game. Tyler Tarantino picked up some yardage behind a Chris Elias block and Hutchison followed Chris Cardelle to pick up some more. Kling added a yard, but on fourth-and-four a pass from Davis to Hutchison didnât gather in enough yardage to keep the drive alive.
The defense of Dreher, Conger, Hutchison and Licas Vendel forced Danbury to turn the ball over, but Danbury soon scored on a reverse. With the two-point kick, the Trojans had recorded the 28-7 victory.
Newtown will host the Danbury Vikings on Saturday, October 6, at 10 am.