Another summer, another Grip It & Rip It Tournament for Dan Farina. Only this time, he wasn't dressed in the usual red for New Canaan High School.

Fresh off a Class L state title as offensive coordinator of the Rams, Farina was hired as the Nighthawks' new head coach in February.

"Newtown's been a strong program for a long time and I'm fortunate to be able to build on that," he says. "Our goal is to make a state championship and we want to play for it. Anything less we can find meaning in it, but I think these guys want to win, but mostly I want to build a strong football team and have these guys have each other's backs."

Newtown was one of more than 30 high school football teams competing on day one of the annual 7-on-7 passing league tournament in New Canaan.

The FCIAC, SWC, SCC and NVL were all represented with some out-of-state teams as well.

A champion of the tournament will be crowned Saturday after bracket play.

Newtown hosts St. Joseph's High School for its season opener Friday, Sept. 8.