NEWTOWN, Conn. — On the seventh anniversary of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School the Newtown High School football team overshadowed the event by winning the state championship for the first time in over 26 years.
With a last-minute touchdown pass, the Newtown Nighthawks beat Darien in the Class LL state championship 13-7. The title was the first for Newtown since 1992.
FINAL — Oh. My. God.
— Shawn McFarland (@McFarland_Shawn) December 14, 2019
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
Ben Pinto, whose brother Jack was among those killed in the shooting seven years ago, played linebacker for Newtown.
“The whole town showed out on this special night,” senior Jared Dunn told The Hartford Courant. “We knew we had to bring it home for our town.”
Class LL STATE CHAMPIONS!!! So incredibly proud of these boys and coaches! #NHS pic.twitter.com/uV0xMVrS6l
— Dr. Longobucco (@DrLongobucco) December 14, 2019
Twenty first-graders and six educators were killed at the elementary school Dec. 14, 2012.
According to Connecticut Against Gun Violence, which helped to organize vigils held in the state Saturday, more than 700,000 Americans have been killed or injured in acts of gun violence since the Sandy Hook shooting.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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