By Kim J. Harmon

It only took about a half – or 24 minutes of game time – last Friday night for the Newtown High School football team to show fans that a potentially explosive offense is primed and ready to take charge in the South-West Conference in the fall of 2006.

Whether it was Tucker Kass tossing brilliant passes down the left sidelines to Joe Bowen, Jake DeVellis tossing bombs down the right sidelines or tucking the ball and running, Chris Potter darting through gaping holes in the line, or Joe DeVellis running back kicks the annual Blue & Gold football game – the conclusion of spring practices – was electrifying.

“We have high expectations (for 2006),” said head coach Ken Roberts. “We have lots of returning players and lots of leadership.”

And the team, which finished 6-3-1 a year ago, will boast weapons all across the field.

“The offense will be fun to watch,” said coach Roberts. “To defend us, you will have to defend the run, the pass and the option. We have good targets and we can spread the ball around. We have skill everywhere on the field.”

Last year, the Nighthawks opened the season with an impressive 10-7 win over Pomperaug and then added a 42-0 shellacking of Weston before suffering three disappointing losses in a row. But a 35-10 win over New Fairfield started the locals back on the right track and the season finished with a 15-15 tie against Masuk in the traditional Thanksgiving holiday game.

It was the strong showing that earned coach Roberts the South-West Conference Coach of the Year award from the Fairfield County Chapter of the National Football Foundation.

“It was a great honor for the whole Newtown program.” he said, “It’s called Coach of the Year but it should be Program of the Year. It shows that we’re doing the right things. We have had some great leadership and the support has all been positive and that’s what helped turn us around.”