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NORWALK, CONN. Norwalk Packers 8th grade coach John Woodring had no complaints after Sundays 24-20 loss to Newtown in the Colonial League championship game. The Packers came down to the final play with a chance to win, but a pass from the Newtown 20-yard line fell incomplete.
Weve played in the championship game three times before and we laid an egg every single time, Woodring said. This was a fun game to watch. I couldnt be more proud of the kids effort.
Devon Willoughby scored on a 22-yard run and an 68-yard kickoff return for Norwalk. A.J. Ibarrondo scored on a 46-yard touchdown burst for the Packers other score.
Unfortunately for the Packers, an officials decision played a key role in determining the outcome. Norwalk led 20-18 after Ibarrondo scored on the final play of the third quarter. Newtown then marched to the Norwalk 26-yard line and faced fourth-and-9. A pass over the middle fell incomplete. There was minimal contact with the receiver, and a belated flag flew for pass interference. Instead of taking over with eight minutes to play, Norwalk was pinned in the shadows of its own end zone. Newtown scored the game-winning touchdown four plays later.
I think the pass interference was the biggest play of the game, Woodring said. I thought it was a lousy call, but theres nothing you can about it. Its like a microcosm of life.
Newtown recovered an onsides kick and Norwalk held. The Packers moved inside Newtown territory on their next drive, but lost the ball on a fumble. After another Newtown drive stalled, Norwalk got the ball with 22.8 seconds left on its own 46. Ibarrondo hit Alex Jerome on a 34-yard pass play to get to the Newtown 20 with 3.5 seconds left. Ibarrondos final pass fell incomplete at 7-yard line.
The dramatic ending capped a rock 'em, sock 'em game that featured more intensity than some high school encounters. Newtown led 6-0 in the second quarter before Willoughby answered with a 22-yard run to tie the game at 6-6 at halftime. After Newtown scored on its first drive of the third quarter, Willoughby answered again. He took a lateral on the kickoff and appeared pinned on the sideline. He burst through the tiniest of openings to race 68 yards with the kickoff return. Jerome kicked the conversion for Norwalks first lead of the game midway through the third quarter.
Newtown scored on its next drive the conversion was blocked, as Newtown failed on all four its PATS and Ibarrondo gave Norwalk one final lead before Newtown countered. Willoughby finished with 72 yards rushing on nine carries, and Ibarrondo rushed five times for 70 yards.
The Packers finished 8-1-1. It defeated Newtown, 16-14, in the first week of the season and tied, 14-14, on Oct. 1. Newtown, a team Norwalk has faced in previous title games, got the final say. We clawed, we scrapped, we battled, Woodring said. We knew it was going to be a dogfight. We were just 20 yards away. That was a battle to the end.
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