The Newtown American Youth Football eighth-grade team concluded the regular season at 8-0 and is taking aim this week on a Candlewood Valley League championship when it opens the playoffs against the Norwalk Titans.

The Nighthawks are the No. 1 seed and have out-scored their opponents 213-20 on the year

Read on –

EIGHTH GRADE

Newtown 37, Monroe 0

The eighth-graders will be rolling into the Candlewood Valley League playoffs on the heels of a 37-0 win over Monroe last weekend.

The Nighthawks concluded the regular season at 8-0, having out-scored their opponents 213-20 along the way. The locals have registered two consecutive shutouts and five in their last five games and with the No. 1 seed will battle the No. 4 seed Norwalk Titans, a team the ‘Hawks defeated 14-0 back on October 1.

In the win over Monroe, Kyle Vignone scored three touchdowns on runs of 25 and 75 yards as well as a 48-yard punt return. Rory Noonan and quarterback Will Arndt also posted touchdowns to lead the high-flying offense.

Things were going the locals’ way right from the start as cornerback Ryan Korth intercepted a ball on Monroe’s first play from scrimmage. And on their first play from scrimmage, Vignone raced into the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown.

Vignone rambled 75 yards on Newtown’s next possession to stake the locals to a 16-0 lead and soon after return a Monroe punt 48 yards to put the locals on top 22-0.

After that touchdown, Newtown recovered a squib kick by Rory Noonan, who then stepped into running back mode and carried the ball a couple of times deep into Monroe territory. He finished off the drive with a 12-yard TD. Rob Frangione, pulled down the extra point snap on a fake kick and sprinted around the surprised Monroe defense to close out the half, giving Newtown a comfortable 29-0 lead.

The Newtown offense took the opening kickoff and started right back where they had left off.

Fullback Derek Krewson was inserted into the game and began to pound away at the heart of the Monroe defense. Noonan again recorded two big runs around end and an apparent touchdown was ruled out of bounds at the two yard line. On the next play, though, Arndt followed center Louis Raab up the middle and into the end zone for the final score of the day.

The defense continued to shine as Max Nacewicz picked off a pass. Defensive ends Matt Datin and Sean Devaney shut down the outside running game while nose tackle Rob Franzino worked hard in the trenches and sealed up the middle.

Cornerbacks Korth, Tom Capozziello, Dan Aurelia and Matt Genovese played error free ball. Safety Vignone was sharp throughout the game and frustrated the Monroe QB with batted down passes along with Fischer and Aurelia.

Datin was named the Offense Lineman of the Week as fellow linemates Devaney, Omari Miles and Ryan S.t George played well through out the game.

SIXTH GRADE

Hudson 26, Newtown 13

Danny Hebert and Josh Villa scored touchdowns, but the sixth-grade team - playing with heart and intensity - was unable to overcome a bigger Hudson Valley White team and fell, 26-13.

On offense the Nighthawks moved the ball early with the inside running of Villa and Max Lopez and the outside darts of Hebert. But the drive stalled.

James Marusi, Kyle Morrissey and Robbie Hughes were the mainstays on the offensive line.

After a fumble recovery by Chris Stanton, Hebert swept right end to bring the ball inside the 10. The Nighthawks pounded it up the middle with Lopez and Villa, who scored from the four.

Early in the 3rd quarter Christian Barrett and Kory Kling tackled the Hudson quarterback on a keeper, causing a fumble which Hebert picked up and took 50 yards for the TD to tie the score.

The defense played well in the second half, but had trouble containing the big Hudson Valley running backs.

Playing well were Dan Cartisano, Nick Madden Patrick Capozziello and Trevor Parsons.  

79er GOLD

Newtown 20, Bethel 0

Trevor Lopez scored on runs of 41 and 45 yards and James Leuci scored his first touchdown of the season to as the 79er Gold team improved to 7-1 with a 20-0 win over Bethel.

Lopez scored from 41 yards out on Newtown’s first possession of the game. Then Ryan Shaw started his personal defensive show with three straight tackles, forcing Bethel to give up the ball once again, and soon after Leuci was muscling his way into the end zone to give the locals a 14-0 lead.

Later, Shaw registered a sack and forced a fumble, which was recovered by Mike Dutsar. Quickly, Matt Maturo – who called all of the plays in the game – started off Gold with a blast left and Lopez gathered in 16 yards. The next play was a quick pass to Steve Fax for 13 yards. Soon after, a sweep right to Lopez resulted in a 45-yard TD and a 20-0 lead.

Lopez finished the day with 169 yards on 11 carries.

The defense dominated the rest of the way as Shaw finished with nine tackles and a sack. David Anderson scooped up a fumble. Justin Dunn and Fax continued to move the offense out of the backfield as Fax highlighted his day with a 50-yard run down the right sideline.

79er BLUE

Newtown 24, Monroe 6

Ethan Carpenter and Forest Speed scored two touchdowns apiece as the 79er Blue defeated Monroe, 24-6, to improve to 4-4 on the season.

The defense – lead by the heavy hitting by Devin Luzietti, Bryan Kiley, Jeremy Salaris, Jared Pearson and Mitchell Savoca – forced a short series and Monroe was forced to punt. The offense wasted little time marching right down the field and Carpenter scored on a 35-yard quarterback keeper, following the strong drive blocking of Andrew Svanda, Gordan Walsh, Gregory Harrison and Salaris.

Austin LeBlanc,  Shawn McCarthy,  and Charlie Fletcher continued to flex the defensive might of the locals and on the next offensive possession Carpenter found himself in the end zone again with the blocking help of Salaris and Nick Rohrbacher.

At the open of the second half, Speed took the kick and raced 65 yards for the score with the blocking assistance of Adam Robertson, Rohrbacher and Brian Raab.

On their next possession Monroe gave the ball right back to Big Blue on a fumble by their quarterback. On third and 15, Carpenter rolled left and he fired a pass to Raab for 12 yards. The locals achieved the first down and soon after Speed scored on a strong counter. Steven Senf, Colin McCafferty and Thomas Adessi provided the key blocks.

Geoffrey Santore, Nick Lametto, Scott Gregson and Fletcher made some sparkling defensive plays to close out the game.