Seven years to the day since the tragic Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, the Newtown High School Nighthawks won a football state championship in unbelievable fashion, scoring a 36-yard touchdown on the last play of the game to walk off as winners.
With the game against Darien tied 7-7 late in the fourth quarter, Newtown forced a turnover on downs and had just 56 seconds left to try and score. The Nighthawks advanced from their own 33-yard line into Darien territory. Newtown snapped the ball with three seconds left in the fourth quarter, and after time expired, quarterback Jack Street launched a perfect pass to the corner of the endzone, and receiver Riley Ward made the catch to win the title.
Newtown High School (the school that Sandy Hook feeds into) wins a state championship on a 36 yard TD pass on the final play of the game. Oh my goodness. pic.twitter.com/QMPeL942E6
— Eagle-Eyed Social Media User Dan Why-Ner (@DanWeiner) December 14, 2019
The championship is Newtown’s first since 1992.
FINAL — Oh. My. God.
Street hits Riley Ward for a 36-yard game winning touchdown as time expires in the fourth quarter.
Newtown 13, Darien 7.
The Nighthawks (13-0) are your Class LL state champions. pic.twitter.com/qCIF3E5Ruu
— Shawn McFarland (@McFarland_Shawn) December 14, 2019
Newtown. Champs. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/AclxqEF6cz
— Shawn McFarland (@McFarland_Shawn) December 14, 2019
[jwplayer 2vFP6MXc-q2aasYxh]