Hatters Drop Season Opener to Norwalk

The football Hatters opened their 2011 campaign Friday with a heartbreaking 20-14 loss to the visiting Norwalk Bears.

Danbury had a chance to win the game on a drive that began when Austin Calitro intercepted a pass to stop the driving Bears deep in Hatter territory.  On the very next play, quarterback Gavin Mooney found James Harrington streaking down the sideline and the two linked up for a 64-yard pass before Harrington stepped out of bounds at the Norwalk 17.

As the seconds ticked away, Danbury seemed ready to deliver a thrilling come-from-behind victory to their cheering fans.  On fourth-and-goal from the 7-yard-line with 1:32 to play, Mooney spotted receiver Aaron Dixon crossing over the middle and fired a laser in his direction.  The pass was swatted away by Norwalk’s Andy St. Fleur, ending the Hatters’ bid for a comeback. 

"We had the look we wanted," Coach Dan Donovan said after the game.  "It was there, and that kid [St. Fleur] made a great play."

The game as a whole was characterized by strong defense on both sides, leading to few sustained drives and even fewer scores.  Norwalk got on the board first in the game’s opening stanza when Andre Cork found paydirt from under a yard out.  That drive was set up by a Mooney interception, his first of three on the evening.

Danbury answered with a touchdown of their own, utilizing the thunder-and-lightning rushing combination of Calitro and Harrington to sustain a drive that was also helped out by two huge Norwalk penalties – one late hit and one pass interference that put the Hatters inside the 5-yard-line.  Two plays later, Calitro found the end zone from under a yard away, and the PAT made the score 7-6 in favor of Danbury.

Norwalk wasted no time with their response.  On the ensuing kickoff, Bears’ Derek Edwards returned a kick 85 yards for a touchdown.  The Bears tried for a two-point conversion, but the Hatter defense held strong and Danbury was only down 12-7.

Danbury would score once more before halftime, when Mooney found a wide open Corey Chaffee down the sideline.  Their 40-yard linkup and the extra point gave the Hatters a 14-12 lead that they would ride into halftime. 

The only score of the game’s second half was set up by another big return from Edwards, who brought a punt back to the Danbury 37.  Norwalk capitalized on the great field position, scoring on a 1-yard run from Tomar Joseph.  The resulting two-point-conversion gave Norwalk a 20-14 lead to end the game’s scoring.

With the loss, the Hatters drop to 0-1 on the season.  They’ll be on the road next Friday to take on Fitch High School.  Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.