Eighth Grade Gridders Fall In Regional Final

Newtown eighth grade football team fell 20-6 to the undefeated Worcester Cowboys in the American Youth Football New England Regional championship game in Leominster, Mass on Saturday.

The Hawks got inside the Cowboy 30 on its their first three possessions, but could not get a score.  They finally crossed the goal line late in the second quarter and took a 6-0 lead into halftime.

Worcester needed just two plays to take an 8-6 lead at the start of the third quarter. Newtown countered with a 14-play drive, but it eventually stalled in Worcester territory.

The 8-6 score carried over into the fourth quarter. The Cowboys’ punishing ground game finally wore down the heroic but short-handed Hawks (a pair of two-way starters did not play due to injury), and with the help of a punt block, Worcester scored two more touchdowns to seal the victory.

The Hawks’ runner-up finish represents the highest placement of any eight grade team in Newtown AYF history, team coaches said.

Members of the team are: Players Justin Appley, Hunter Booker, Matt Carino, Ethan Carpenter, John DelRossi, Michael Doyle, Sam Duffy, Matt Elias, Justin Faith, Steve Faxlanger, Carlo Fenaroli, Peter Fiorella, Charlie Fletcher, Greg Harrison, Brandon Hensel, Bryan Kiley, Devin Luzietti, Henry Lyon, Peyton Manning, Matt Maturo, Shawn McCarthy, Chance McMahon, Christian Morlock, RJ Oliviera, Stephen Pansa, Jared Pearson, Michael Roche, Nick Rohrbacher, Jeremy Salaris, Nick Samuelson, Ryan Shaw, Declan Sullivan, Andrew Svanda, Mark Urso, and Gordon Walsh; and coaches  Joe Duffy (head coach), Kevin Booker, Chuck DelRossi, Tim Doyle, Mike Kiley, and John Pearson.