Newtown Sixth-Graders Topple Norwalk Raiders 24-6, Win Third Straight Football Title

Newtown’s sixth grade team earned its third straight Candlewood Valley League Championship with a 24-6 win over Norwalk this past weekend. In the much anticipated match-up between the top two, undefeated teams in the league, the Newtown Nighthawks handled the Norwalk Raiders by quickly and aggressively hitting the end zone early and often for an 18-0 lead.

Colton Smith, with a 45-yard kickoff return to open the game, set up the first touchdown on a Nick Lotrecchiano 25-yard gallop for the young Nighthawks. The second series ended on a quick option from quarterback Colton Smith to Lotrecchiano for a 15-yard touchdown run. During the third series, Smith rolled outside the pocket and hit tight end Tim Krapf for a 12-yard touchdown pass. The final score was set up by wide receiver Troy Frangione’s diving catch for a 20-yard reception to the three-yard line. Running back Jaret “Bread” DeVellis blasted up the middle from three yards out on the next play for the final touch down.

When the onslaught finally settled, Newtown had rushed for 242 and passed for 74 yards. The offense was led by running back Lotrecchiano with 98 yards on eight carries and two TDs rushing, plus two receptions for 21 yards.

Smith added 76 yards on nine carries and was five-for-five passing for 74 yards and one TD completion. “Sugar” Shane Quimby added to the mix with 37 yards on four carries and DeVellis contributed 16 yards off of four carries. Joe “Waterbug” Santella, Bubba Condon, Nick Rubino, and Forest Speed also added to the rushing total.

Once again, the line opened up giant holes to allow the backs to move the chains. The blocking of Eric Cascone, Jake Lambert, Markus Elken, Griffin Davis, Connor Roche, Kevin Conte, Eric Street, Aidan Petershack, Harry Duffy, and Christopher Hartley throughout the season helped Newtown earn its third undefeated season in a row.

As has been the story all season, the Nighthawks’ defense was stingy all day, just giving up two yards through three-and-a-half quarters. The only big play for the Norwalk Raiders came in the fourth quarter off of a 65-yard completion resulting in their only touchdown of the day.

The defense was led by defensive ends Elken, Krapf, and Roche, who combined for 10.5 tackles. Elken and Krapf repeatedly broke through Norwalk’s line, resulting in three tackles in the backfield and Roche swept around Norwalk’s offensive end for a sack and a fumble. Quimby added a sack and forced fumble while the aggressive Newtown defensive secondary, consisting of Smith, Condon, Kevin Ross, Ryan Sullivan, Aaron Beckett, Rubino, Lotrecchiano, and Quimby stopped the run and pass and eliminating any threat of a Norwalk comeback.

The mighty defensive line of Lambert, Cascone, Conte, Petershack, Patrick Donnelly, Davis, Brandon McIntyre, and Bobby Lydon stopped all potential runs up the middle with cornerbacks DeVellis, Logan Walsh, Santella, David Bauch, Will Dalton, and Jacob Boots Burden controlling the outside. Sean McCafferty also contributed during the team’s season.