By Matt Kuruc

What a season!

The 89ers’ big for an undefeated season ended last weekend with a 12-0 loss to New Fairfield. The Falcons came to play and this game meant something to each and every player. The attitude of these players was extraordinary.

The game started with a 10-yard boot by Chris O’Connell. Dana “The Driver” Hansen aimed to please with the first of his many tackles at linebacker. Brendan Blawie and Robbie Phillips pushed to the next level and backtracked the New Fairfield offense. Bones made the initial hit on a big play which gave the ball to the Nighthawks.

Bones started the drive with a one-yard run, but the offense fumbled the ball and the drive was quickly ended. Hansen would lead the defense on the next series, picking up another tackle, which led to a McCarthy/Phillips sack.

Finally, the Falcons broke away and scored a touchdown.

Back on offense, Bones picked up six yards and McCarthy picked up four as the first quarter ended. In the second, McCarthy picked up 23 yards on a carry and Bones added five more, but Newtown could not hold on to the football.

Hansen and McCarthy played solid defense to stop New Fairfield. Bulldozing by Jimmy Sharpe helped push the Nighthawks’ confidence back up. Tucker “Corner Pocket” Schmidt desolated the Falcons with his tackles and the 89ers pulled off another sack with Tory Deakin and Hansen.

Keith “Trucker” McGrath, Brian “The Wall” Kuruc and Max “The Snapper” Nacewicz were tough cookies on defense. They shined in the last quarter of the game, despite the score. Schmidt ended the game with a beautiful heads-up pass and eight-yard run.

Great blocking jobs by Kuruc, Nick Tierno, Andrew Seymour, Matt Yitts, McGrath, Robbie “The Screwdriver” Phillips, Sharpe and Nacewicz. And hats off to Schmidt, John Fracker, Mitch Udisky, Chris Caulfield, Tyler Reszoly, Evan Alpert, Blawie and the coaching staff of Davis, Seribus and Phillips.

Good luck in the Friendship Games.