MONROE, CT — A blocked field goal attempt, getting stopped a yard short on fourth down, interceptions, and injuries added up to a tough Thanksgiving Eve for the Masuk High football team.
The Panthers were beaten 35-18 by visiting and unbeaten Newtown Wednesday night and fell to 7-3.
Despite the loss Coach Steve Christy was pleased with his team’s effort.
“We didn’t give up. We stuck with it the whole time,” Christy said. “I’m proud of these kids.”
The Panthers have had to deal with their share of injuries, including one to quarterback Aaron Champagne who exited the previous week’s loss to Brookfield.
Cole Henderson stepped up and threw a pair of touchdown passes to Shane Walker late in the game. Henderson, Nick Fox and Tariq Al-Hameedi all played under center at different points in the game.
Newtown jumped out to an early 7-0 lead but was limited to that single touchdown through the first quarter of action thanks, in part, to a Luke Longo interception.
The Nighthawks established a 14-0 lead in the second before Masuk took over the momentum. Longo blocked a punt, gobbled up the ball and scored to make a 14-6 game with 7:43 left in the second quarter. The point after kick failed.
Masuk, following a defensive stand, was in position to get the lead down to five but kicker Jackson Zylick’s 34-yard field goal try was blocked and the ball returned deep into Panther territory setting up another Nighthawk score and a 21-6 game.
The Masuk deficit stood at 15 through the third quarter.
A Newtown interception on the first play of the fourth set up another NHS score. Yet another Newtown INT led to the fifth and final NHS TD of the night.
Masuk kept at it. Freshman Michael Charland had some impressive carries to help Masuk move the ball and set up the two late TD passes. First Henderson connected with Walker from 18 yards out and then he hooked up with Walker on a 40-yard scoring strike.
Masuk recovered an onside kick, but Newtown sealed things with an interception with 1:41 to go.
“This stings. We’re going to feel the sting,” Christy said.
Masuk is in a battle for one of the final playoff spots in the State’s Class MM field with some games ahead on Turkey Day. The Panthers were ranked eighth and holding onto the final spot as of the end of Wednesday night’s action.
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