By Kim J. Harmon

W

hen Ken Roberts inherited the Newtown High School football team from the departed Bob Zito, he inherited a team that was in the midst of a fairly massive changeover.

Heading into the 1999 season, coach Roberts was leading a team which had lost 19 starters from the previous season. So even though he had some talented players to mold into a different system, they were, as the old song goes, young and inexperienced.

But things are different now.

Much different.

Heading into the 2000 season - with 22 starters returning - there is quite a bit of stability to build on and it has coach Roberts thinking some optimistic thoughts.

“I think we can be much improved this year,” he said, with his team in the midst of a very solid pre-season. “Our experience will be a big plus since last year, at some point, every one of these kids had started and spent time on the field.”

And with the team gaining some maturity on the field, it has gained some maturity in the locker room.

“It’s a big senior class,” said coach Roberts, “and it’s coming together. They have put aside their personal agendas. We went from worrying about me to worrying about the guy next to me.”

Of course, the guy most people would worry about is the quarterback since, more often than not, a football team can only go so far as the quarterback will take it.

Nothing to worry about here, it seems.

“Rich Petretti is probably the most improved player on this team,” said coach Roberts. “He went to camp at UMass and is learning to read the field a lot better. He has worked really hard.”

When Petretti is not dropping back to pass, he will likely be handing off to Kyle Tobin, a speedy back who has got the jukes to shake up opposing defenses.

“With his speed,” said coach Roberts, “he will be able to break the big one. He is starting to read the blocks better and hold on to the football better.”

Newtown will generally run a single-back offense, but on the occasion when a fullback is tossed into the mix guys like Adam Hayden and Matt Saunders will get some carries.

Split wide to one side will be Nick Savino – “our down the field, big play receiver,” said coach Roberts – and split to the other side will be Mark Werbeck and Dave Roodhuyzen. And coming off the line will be the ‘Hawks imposing tight end Matt McCarthy – the General – who is not only a big target to throw to, but a hard guy to knock down.

“I am much more confident in the passing game,” said coach Roberts. “Now I feel we can spread the field and not let other teams put eight guys up on the line of scrimmage.”

It is said the line of scrimmage is where the game is really won and lost and with all the work that line coach Tony Branca has done with the big guys – mostly on schemes and techniques – coach Roberts is confident his game plans will move along smoothly.

“The line will be what carries us,” he said, “so we can run, throw and catch the football.”

So, it is clear there is reason for optimism down at The Stadium, a reason to believe that the 3-7 record of a year ago will simply be a bump in the road to success.

“Our expectations are very high,” said coach Roberts. “It’s critical how we get out of the gate and it’s very critical how these kids adapt to adversity.”

The 2000 season will open Saturday, September 16, down at Notre Dame. Kick off will be 1:30 pm.

DATE    OPPONENT      TIME

Sept. 16    at Notre Dame     1:30 pm

Sept. 22    Bunnell                    7 pm

Sept. 29    at Stratford         2:30 pm

Oct. 7       Brookfield                7 pm

Oct. 13     at Jonathan Law       7 pm

Oct. 20     at Pomperaug          7 pm

Oct. 27     Immaculate              7pm*

Nov. 3       Foran                       7 pm

Nov. 10     at New Milford          7 pm

Nov. 22     Masuk                      7 pm

* - Homecoming