The sixth grade Newtown Nighthawks are on their way to the Shoreline Youth Football Conference (SYFC) Championship Game after defeating the Monroe Lions 13-6 at home on November 9.

Tucker Lowe legged a long opening kick to put the Lions on their own 31 to start. Tackles by Hudson Levy, Brody Taylor, Braxton Kuzma, Anthony Ripley, Kieran Kane, Noah Pape, and Charlie Tortora (for loss) contained the Lions to their side of the 50 yard line. Seizing momentum, the Nighthawks hopped on the Kane Train for a 50 yard touchdown dash around blocks by Chase Blank, Luke Guagliano, Shep Nelson, Austin Rekos, Jackson Dudow, Murphy Cullen, and Leo Liang to put Newtown up by six.

Pinned on their own 25 after another booming kick by Lowe, Monroe battled in vain against Newtown’s daunting defense for the remainder of the first quarter. Pass coverage was provided by Brayden Andrews and the first of two near-interceptions by Chase Pacuk, denying the Lions in the air. Tackles were made by Lightning Luke Salce and Ben Weintraub, stopping Monroe on the ground, and a forced fumble by Taylor recovered and returned 30 yards by Jake Kennedy sent the Lions’ offense back to the bench.

Both squads exchanged four and outs to start the second quarter, with tackles by Cole Willinger and Chase Ibbitson (for loss) giving the Nighthawks’ offense favorable field position for their second scoring drive on rushes from Colin Doyle, Salce, and Taylor, culminating with a 51 touchdown pass from Kuzma to Kane (point after by Rekos).

Monroe’s only score came as time expired in the first half after an apparent interception by Chris Evans was called off, preceded by relentless QB pressure from Gavin Penna, Tortora, Ibbitson, Levy, Guagliano, and Ripley.

A defensive battle of wills defined the second half, with crushing hits made by Jack Brackett, Lowe, Andrews, Kane, Rekos, Willinger, Pacuk, Kennedy, Ripley, and Weintraub, and gritty gains on offense by Salce, Kuzma, Kane, and Levy supported with blocks by Mason Leonard, Jack Fregoe, Garrett Hydeck, and Ethan Lucian. Although the score did not change, the second-half stalemate was broken late in the fourth quarter when Kuzma connected with Rekos for 35 yards and a crucial first down that enabled the Nighthawks to ultimately run the clock out on the Lions. Kane’s five yard run on fourth and two allowed the Hawks to punch their ticket to the SYFC Championship Game against Pomperaug at Madison Surf Club on Saturday, November 15 beginning at 1 pm.