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The Pomperaug defense, shown here in the Oct. 21 game against Weston, has allowed an average of only 20 points per game in six of seven games this year. During the Oct. 28 game, No. 99, Tom Satkowski; No. 65, Brian Flood; No. 57, Emmett Reilly; and No.40, Joe LaCava, led a defense that held Newtown, a team that averages 43 points a game, to just seven points in the first half. (Ken Morse photo)
By Ken Morse – Special to the Middlebury Bee-Intelligencer
The Newtown Nighthawks used the final 10 minutes of the Oct. 28 game to slip away from Pomperaug with a 28-8 final score. But the Panthers 2-5 record really doesn’t indicate what this team brings to the field.
Outside of the 48-8 one-sided loss to Masuk in the second week of the season, the Pomperaug defense has allowed an average of 20 points per game in five of the other games heading into last Friday night’s showdown with 7-0 unbeaten Newtown.
The Nighthawks have been averaging 43 points per game and have outscored their opponents by an average of 33 points. So it may have come as a surprise to Newtown that they were clinging to a 14-8 lead with 10 minutes remaining in the game with Pomperaug.
“Obviously it was a disappointing night for us,” said Pomperaug head coach James Reed. “Newtown is a really gifted team that also executes their scheme really well. That’s why they are always in the playoff discussion at the end of the year. I was very proud of our guys for taking the fight right to Newtown. I think it shows a ton of growth from last season, and even from earlier this season.”
It took a spectacular play for the Nighthawks to get on the board in the first half. Faced with a fourth down and 12 yards to go at the Pomperaug 33-yard line, Newtown quarterback Justin Dunn scrambled for a 16-yard run for the first down.
At 4:45 to go in the half, Dunn connected with Dan Mason on a 4-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 advantage. Pomperaug went right down the field looking to tie the game but turned it over on downs at the Newtown 12-yard line with 1:11 to go in the half.
Newtown used a couple of long passes to set up a first and goal before the Pomperaug defense held, stopping Hunter Cobb at the 3-yard line as the half came to a close.
The Nighthawks had to rely on big plays to stay ahead of the pesky Panthers. An 80-yard touchdown run by Cobb handed Newtown a 14-0 lead in the third quarter.
With 10:34 to go in the game, Pomperaug got on the board when quarterback Matt Lenczewski threw a touchdown pass to Jon Consiglio and the two-point conversion closed the gap at 14-8.
“It made me happy to see Matt back on the field,” said Reed. “He’s been practicing for the past two weeks after fracturing his tibia against Masuk in the second game of the season. This was the first significant action he’s seen since the injury, and we weren’t surprised that he was prepared.
“He worked really hard in August to earn the starting spot, and now he’s worked equally hard to get healthy. As his mobility gets better, he’ll be on the field more and more for us. Troy Harwell has been outstanding for us, and being able to move him to other spots will only make us better on offense.”
This was the second closest game of the season for Newtown as they used the final 10 minutes to put the game away. Dunn threw a 62-yard touchdown pass to Matt Bucci and two-and-a-half minutes later, Ben Mason went the distance from 37 yards out to open up a 20-point lead with the score at 28-8.
Pomperaug is back home Friday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. when they host New Fairfield.
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