The Newtown Junior Pee Wee Gold team took a 14-0 lead on Ridgefield Black in the Candlewood Valley League championship game, but could not hold on to it and suffered a 22-14 overtime loss.

In recent action, the Junior Midgets – the CVFL regular season champs – concluded their season with a 14-6 loss to Ridgefield at the end of October. The challenge of beating the same team three times in one season (Newtown had prevailed 24-18 and 30-6 in the previous two meetings) was perhaps too much to overcome.

Lost opportunities were the gremlins in the usually smooth running Nighthawk engine. The Newtown offense pressed deep into Raider territory on several occasions only to fall victim to costly turnovers. The defensive line was seemingly pushed aside at the line of scrimmage just enough to allow Ridgefield to stage meaningful drives for two touchdowns and a kicked extra point.

After a scoreless first half, Ridgefield broke through on the opening drive to score early in the third quarter. Kyle Vignone scored Newtown’s lone touchdown on a burst through the middle late in the third to cut the Ridgefield lead to 8-6.

The defense just could not stop the Raider onslaught, as Ridgefield controlled the ball with power running and pushed downfield to take the lead early in the fourth quarter. Despite a noble and hard-working effort by Max Nacewicz at fullback, Vignone was unable to spring loose, QB John Fracker could not find open seams to run or throw, and the necessary fourth quarter yards did not materialize. Newtown ended the game – and the season – in a desperate attempt to score the tying points from midfield.

And so despite the fact that the Junior Midgets left Hawley disappointed to finish at 5-2, they were nonetheless aware that they had given it their all over the course of the entire season, and for these young men and their coaches, that feat was noble enough to warrant high praise.