NEW CANAAN – Brian Poeltl and Tucker Kass both scored touchdowns and the Newtown defense was impenetrable as the Junior Midgets captured the Candlewood Valley Division II Pop Warner championship with a convincing, 18-0, win over New Fairfield.

Whether it was Poeltl or Kass bursting through the line for touchdowns or Steve Orrico and Joe Collins sacking the quarterback for a safety, just about everything went according to plan for the Junior Midgets – who moved on to regional competition against Seymour on Wednesday (after press time).

The Nighthawks lost the opening coin toss in this one, but Joey Devellis raced downfield and recovered Joe Bowen’s short kickoff to put the ‘Hawks on the offensive. The offensive line of Nick Maurer, Matt Kuruc, Scott Perry, Drew Adamek, Bowen, Orrico and Jon Monaco paved the way for Poeltl, Joe Curran and Tom Gaboriault to bring the ball downfield. Curran ran three times for 16 yards and Devellis, the quarterback, had a 15-yard keeper to spark the drive.

But it was Poeltl who brought the ball into the end zone first, muscling his way through the line from one yard out. Gaboriault added the two-point kick and the Nighthawks took an early 8-0 lead on New Fairfield.

The offense wasn’t through, though.

Another onside kick – this time recovered by Kass – allowed the ‘Hawks to keep the football. Brian Stickles opened the new series with a five-yard run behind the blocking of Tom Jackman, Tim Shepard, and Alex Middeleer. Devellis then rumbled 30 yards behind the blocking of Orrico and Scott Perry. Kass picked up 20 yards of his own on five carries and then soared through the air, over the end line, to give Newtown its second touchdown of the day.

After Gaboriault booted another through the uprights, Newtown led 16-0.

Then the defense took the field for the first time and held New Fairfield behind tackles from Gaboriault, Orrico, Kass, Devellis, Stickles and Jake Putnicki. All too soon, the Newtown offense was back on the field.

Nick Maurer sparked the next series with a nice reception, but the drive ended with an interception. The defense, though, continued to stiffen up as Devellis, Teddy Gissen, Cody Shpunt, Kass and Bowen all turned in solid tackles.

Kass recovered a fumble to halt the New Fairfield drive.

Later, Poeltl, Putnicki and Kass continued to lead the defense – but Devellis turned in the play of the game as he tackled a New Fairfield runner and, in the process of rolling him to the ground, stripped the ball quickly and cleanly.

Devellis would end the first half with a 10-yard keeper.

Newtown – after recovering an onside kick – opened the second half on offense. Curran ran the ball well, as did Kass and Poeltl. Shpunt had a crushing lead block that sprang Devellis for a 15-yard carry and then grabbed a 12-yard pass from Devellis to get the offense moving.

But New Fairfield picked off a pass to halt the drive.

The defense, though, was ready to score. Orrico and Collins had tackles that pushed New Fairfield back and then the defensive line swarmed into the New Fairfield backfield, with Orrico and Collins sacking the quarterback for a safety.

Newtown led, 18-0.

Then Steve Vichiola (running), Perry (fumble recovery), Gaboriualt (fumble recovery), Adamek and Jackman (quarterback sack), Perry and Curran (quarterback sack) all turned in solid plays as the Nighthawks held on for the win.

The team is coached by Tom Bowen (head coach), Bill Shpunt, Dave Broughton, Vin Kurac and Mark Poeltl.

Junior Pee Wees

Slam Pomperaug

Jake Devellis scored three touchdowns and Mark Scheunemann added one as the Junior Pee Wees rallied from a 13-6 deficit to defeat Pomperaug, 26-13, and capture the Candlewood Valley Division II championship.

The Warriors jumped out to a 6-0 lead in this one, converting on two fourth-down plays to keep a drive alive. A run inside the one-yard line gave Pomperaug the touchdown, but Devellis stopped the point-after attempt.

Scheunemann was ready to respond. On the ensuing kick-off, he picked up the ball and ran to Newtown’s right side. Kyle McNamara and Ben Collins each threw blocks that knocked a Pomperaug player to the ground, and Scheunemann broke a tackle to get to the open field. He then turned on the jets and outran everyone to the end zone. The point-after kick attempt was unsuccessful, and the score was tied at 6-6.

Newtown attempted an onside kick on the kick-off. The ball did not go 10 yards and Pomperaug took possession on the Newtown 41 yard line. Again they were able to drive in for a touchdown. This time they were able to score their PAT and the Warriors led, 13-6.

On the Nighthawks’ next possession, the offense was moving, but Devellis was hit as he threw the ball towards Scheunemann. The pass was short and Pomperaug was able to intercept the pass. The defense on both teams stiffened at this point in the game, and the teams traded ball possessions. 

Pomperaug fumbled the ball on their own 30-yard line and the Nighthawks recovered. After a couple of off tackle plays that went backwards, Devellis broke to the outside and scored on a 30-yard run. This PAT was again unsuccessful and Pomperaug still led, 13-12.

On the ensuing Pomperaug offensive series, a bad handoff resulted in a fumble. Devellis was in the right place at the right time, as he picked up the ball and ran it in from 40 yards out for his second TD of the day.

The Nighthawks kicked off to Pomperaug and the Warriors offense started on its own 45-yard line.  On the third play of the series, defensive pressure from Jake Woolf and Collins resulted in an interception by Scheunemann – stopping the Warriors again.

The score at half time was Newtown 18, Pomperaug 13.

The Nighthawks got the ball to start the second half, but were unable to move the ball with much success. The Pomperaug defensive line controlled the line of scrimmage, and was making big plays against the Newtown squad. The Nighthawks and Warriors exchanged possession of the football a number of times, as neither team could put together a series of successful plays. Both teams lost the ball on turnovers as well.

Later, Brian Reszoly intercepted a pass on Pomperaug’s 48-yard line, but the Nighthawk offense was not able to move the ball. Charlie LoBosco punted and a Pomperaug player mishandled it, allowing Scheunemann to recover it.

This time the Nighthawks went to their fullback, Cody Marus, who pounded the ball up the middle with big gains. Marus picked up a first down, but the Warrior defense stiffened, and took the ball over on downs.

Reszoly stepped up on defense again and intercepted his second pass of the day. After a tough run up the middle for no gain, Reszoly took the pitch from quarterback Jaime Vavrek around the left end for about a 10-yard gain. On the next play, Devellis cut back against the defense and scored from about 10 yards out for his third TD of the game.

Charlie LoBosco kicked the PAT and the Nighthawks led 26-13.

Scheunemann, Matt Taylor and Kevin Canavan all turned in big defensive plays in the final moments of the game as the Nighthawks held off Pomperaug. They moved on to state competition on Wednesday (after press time) against Trumbull (Connecticut Southern League B) at Kennedy Stadium in Bridgeport.

Midgets Stun Pomperaug

The last time a Newtown Midgets team took a championship was way back in the 1970s and last weekend the drought was finally broken with a 16-8 win over Pomperaug in New Canaan. Marc Ingerman and Carey Olsen both scored touchdowns to lift Newtown to the win.

In the first quarter, Newtown drove the ball on the ground, setting up a pass play from Max Rojo to Ingerman. Steve Kean added the two-point kick to put Newtown ahead, 8-0, at the half. In the third quarter, Rojo was picked off and Pomperaug soon tied the score, 8-8.

But on the ensuing kickoff, Olsen took the ball back 80 yards for his fourth kick return touchdown of the season, putting Newtown ahead, 16-8. The defense then had to hold Pomperaug off in the fourth quarter.

The Midgets went on to state competition on Wednesday (after press time) against Waterbury.