Howdy,

Newtown’s offense scored six times Thursday during its 42-0 beat down of Brookfield in the South-West Conference championship game.

Credit the Nighthawks’ defense with assists on two of those touchdowns. Twice they forced turnovers that gave the offense the ball within five yards of the Brookfield end zone as part of their awesome showing.

“The defense has stepped it up all season,” Newtown senior linebacker Tim Krapf said. “The offense has its ups-and-downs. Our offensive line has been strong the whole time.

“Our offense can put up points, but when they don’t, our defense really bails it out. I would say that the strong point of the team is defense.”

Bobcats head coach Rich Angarano said, “I don’t even think we got 100 yards total offense.”

The Bobcats had 45 yards of offense, to be exact. They also had three turnovers and four first downs, three of which came in the game’s first seven minutes.

It was the third straight SWC title for Newtown (11-0), ranked fifth in The Day of New London Top 10 state coaches’ poll. It was also the SWC’s last title game.

Newtown beat Brookfield (9-2) almost a month earlier, 21-14.

Nighthawks’ receiver Julian Dunn had eight catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns to earn game MVP honors.

“Dunn is what Dunn is — he’s very good,” Angarano said.

Dunn’s second touchdown was the 47th of his career, tying former Bristol Central tight end Aaron Hernandez for the state-record, according to the Connecticut High School Football Record Book.

Both teams top running backs missed the game with injuries — Jaret Devellis (Newtown) and Bobby Drysdale (Brookfield).

Sophomore linebacker Ben Mason set up Newtown’s first touchdown with an interception at the Brookfield 39. He returned it to the 2-yard line.

“That kid, he’s an animal,” Krapf said. “He’s a sophomore, and he benches 315 already.”

Newtown coach Steve George said, “He does it all, that kid. He’s only 15 years old, too. … And he’s a young sophomore. When he started last year, he was 14.”

Nick Rubino ran for a touchdown on the next play with 1 minute, 51 seconds left in the first quarter. He finished with 15 carries for 80 yards and three touchdowns.

Ethan Carpenter took a screen pass from Jacob Burden and bolted 85 yards for a touchdown to give the Nighthawks a 14-0 lead in the first minute of the second quarter.

“We played good defense as long as we could,” Angarano said. “That screen hurt us. … It was a beautifully executed play.”

The Nighthawks were driving early in the third quarter when it fumbled the ball away at the Bobcats’ 7.

No matter. Krapf recovered a Brookfield fumble at the latter’s 5 on the very next play. It set up Rubino’s 1-yard touchdown run to push Newtown’s edge to 21-0 with 6 minutes left in the quarter.

Troy Frangione got the Nighthawks’ special teams involved with the scoring as he had an indescribable 74-yard punt return to the Bobcats’ 1-yard line.

Rubino scored on the next play.

“Troy does that to us all the time in practice,” George smiled. “And it’s really frustrating when you’re trying to coach up your punt team.

“It’s worse at practice. That was a tame one.”

Dunn caught touchdowns of 28 and 6 yards in the fourth quarter. The second was from younger brother, Justin, a sophomore and back-up quarterback.

For more information on the SWC title game, read Sean Patrick Bowley of the GameTimeCT.com Monolith, and Jon Chik and Rich Gregory of Hearst Inc.

• • • •

Dave Ruden of the eponymous Ruden Report reported Thursday that next week’s FCIAC championship game is most likely the last.

The CIAC and its football committee agreed over the summer to a two-year trial starting in 2015 that, among other things, caps the regular season at 10 games.

The impetus of that pact came after the 2013 season when the Connecticut State Medical Society Sport Medicine Committee strongly encouraged the CIAC to adopt its recommendations for increased player safety.

The football playoffs had three rounds the previous four years. Last year was also the first year in a two-year cycle in which the calendar allowed for an 11-game regular season. It resulted in both Ansonia and New Canaan playing 15 games in 14 weeks as both played 11 regular season games, a league title game, and three playoff games.

Playoff teams were also playing too many games in a short period of time. Some were playing four games in 17 days — Thanksgiving Day and three rounds of playoffs.

A 10-game regular season would make it impossible for leagues to hold a championship game, which were almost always played the week before Thanksgiving.

FCIAC executive secretary John Kuczo told Ruden that two appeals to the CIAC for an exemption had been turned down.

The NVL discontinued its league championship after last year, much to the delight of its coaches. Too often teams were playing in the regular season and the NVL final.

Ansonia and Woodland played three times last year as they met in the regular season and the NVL and Class S finals.

The FCIAC championship might seem superfluous to some. There’s no need to play extra games in a contact sport (unlike basketball), and a CIAC title is a bigger deal than any league title.

Three teams had a monopoly on the FCIAC title, too, as Bowley tweeted Thursday. Greenwich (six), Staples (five), New Canaan (four) had won 15 of the last 18 titles.

There are those in the FCIAC who have told outsiders the importance of its championship. The FCIAC began its title game in 1966, 10 years before the CIAC began state finals. An FCIAC title often meant more to the winner than a state title.

“People in this league know a lot about the importance,” Staples coach Marce Petroccio told Ruden. “They say you don’t know you will miss something until it is gone. We’re going to miss it.”

Darien and New Canaan will play for the FCIAC title next week as part of their annual Turkey Bowl. The game was moved from Darien to Stamford’s Boyle Stadium and kicks off at 10:30 a.m.

Darien and New Canaan last played for the FCIAC title in 2008 on Thanksgiving. That game was also moved to Boyle and drew an estimated 9,500 fans.

• • • •

West Haven head coach Ed McCarthy announced before this season that it would his 44th and last year.

Well, maybe not.

WestieBlue.com editor Mike Madera tweeted Thursday that McCarthy would “likely” return next year.

The New Haven Register was unable to reach McCarthy to confirm Madera’s tweet (Madera contributes to both the New Haven Register and GameTimeCT.com).

McCarthy has won a state-record 331 games. The Blue Devils are 5-5 this year and play host to Fairfield Prep on Thanksgrabbing.

• • • •

STORYTIME~!

Kurmudgeonly Kyle Brennan, Waterbury Anarchist-American: YOUR Naugatuck v. St. Paul preview.

Scott Ericson, Hearst Inc.: New Canaan’s LaPolice elevates the play of his teammates.

Kevin D/ Roberts, CentralCTCommunications.com: Bristol Central enjoying resurgence, and, St. Paul hopes to keep streak going.

Tom Yantz, Hartford Courant: A feature on Cheshire's Andrew Yamin, who has rushed for 2,339 yards this year.

• • • •

Thanks for reading. More soon.

Vaya con dios.