JPW BLUE

Newtown 26, Monroe 0

Justin DeVellis scored a pair of touchdowns while Phillip Reynolds and Michael Senf scored one touchdown apiece as the Newtown Junior Pee Wee Blues blanked Monroe, 26-0, in the 2005 season opener last weekend at Hawley School.

DeVellis got the Nighthawks going on the opening kick, taking the ball at the 40 and bringing it all the way down to the 15. And after a couple of running plays led by quarterback Andrew Tarantino, DeVellis was able to get around the end for the first score of the game.

Leading the strong blocking up front on the play were Dean Baye, Cooper Gold, Kyle Morrisey and JP Kitzmiller.

Later, Tarantino executed a fine roll-out pass and hit Kitzmiller in the flat for a 25-yard gain down to the five. From there, DeVellis followed the blocking of Ryan Manion and Riley Wurtz to score his second touch of the game.

In the second half, the ‘Hawks put together a strong drive with runs by Jack McManus, Reynolds, Chris Stanton, Cooper Gold and Riley Wurtz. On a thunder play, Reynolds was able to find the end zone with great blocking up front by Luke Moore, Nick Pedalino and Kyle Morrisey.

Later, Senf bulled his way over the goal line for the final touchdown of the game.

On defense, Newtown was led by the strong penetration of Alec Woznick, Pedalino, Senf and Wilder Carnes as Wurtz recovered two fumbles on the day.

JPW GOLD

Newtown 35, Bethel 13

Danny Hebert scored three touchdowns and Pat Capozziello scored two as the Newtown Junior Pee Wee Golds rolled past Bethel, 35-13, in the 2005 season opener.

The Nighthawks struck early in the first quarter. After Jack Kearney recovered a Bethel fumble, Hebert ripped off a 70-yard run and Capozziello followed with a three-yard jolt for the TD (adding the extra point, too).

Bethel came back with a long drive to tie the score at seven, but after a long kickoff return by Capozziello, Hebert pushed in the second touchdown on a quarterback sneak. The extra point was again run in by Capozziello. 

In the second half the defense stepped up behind the hard hitting of Linebackers “Bull” Villa, Max Lopez and KC Condon and stopped the potent Bethel running game. After the ‘Hawks took over on downs, Hebert took a handoff from quarterback Travis LeBlanc and went off right tackle for a 55-yard touchdown scamper.

Later – after big defensive plays by Michael Lengel and Matt Sharpe – Hebert struck again from long distance, ripping off a 60-yard run down the sidelines.

The defense stopped Bethel yet again and took over after a fumble recovery by Pat Riccardi. After pounding the middle with fullback Josh Villa, Capozziello went around right end 35 yards for the final score of the game.

Tom Bauer, Tom Gleason, Matt White, Mike Lengel and Jack Kearney provided a strong effort on the offensive line.

PEE WEES

Ridgefield 14, Newtown 6

Two fumbles close to the end zone proved too much to overcome as the Newtown Pee Wees dropped a 14-6 decision to Ridgefield in the 2005 season opener last weekend at Hawley School.

The Nighthawks played very well on both sides of ball … sustaining offensive drives all day long while providing strong plays on defense (eight tackles by Sean Ross, interception by Michael Lord, blocked punt by Jacob Enriques).

JUNIOR MIDGETS

Newtown 24, Ridgefield 18

Max Nacewicz bulled his way in from the one with seven seconds left to lift the Newtown Junior Midgets to a 24-18 win over Ridgefield in a 2005 season-opening barn burner last weekend.

With the scored knotted at 18-18 and less than a minute left on the clock, quarterback John Fracker hit a streaking Kevin McCarthy down the middle and the speedy halfback brought the ball all the way down to the one. Fracker then handed off to Nacewicz, who punched his way into the end zone for the win.

While Nacewicz got the glory for winning the game, it was Kyle Vignone who had the performance of the game – three touchdowns (two of those resulting from fumbles he recovered).

The game got off to an inauspicious beginning as Ridgefield returned the opening kick 65 yards for a touchdown. Later – after Vignone recovered a fumble – he rambled 26 yards on a fourth-and-one play to tie the game at 6-6.

Then the ensuing kick-off was bobbled, Vignone scooped up the ball and broke clear for a 40-yard touchdown. Ridgefield tied the game late in the half and both teams left the field knotted up 12-12.

In the second half, the Newtown defense kept the Raiders pinned deep with strong plays by defensive ends Keith Reszoly and Cody Fischer. Middle linebacker Nacewicz and the defensive linemen Lewis Thompson, Nick Dinielli, Drew Seymour and Ryan Korth kept the Raider backfield aware that rushing yards would not come easy.

Son, Vignone struck again, busting 36 yards to create an 18-12 Newtown lead. A botched Nighthawk punt gave Ridgefield the ball deep in Newtown territory and they quickly scored to knot the score at 18-18.

But Nacewicz came through in the end.

MIDGETS

Newtown 29, Monroe 0

Tory Deakin scored two touchdowns (on carries of 15 and 22 yards) to lead the Newtown Midgets to a 29-0 win over Monroe in the 2005 season opener last weekend. Kyle O’Connor and Connor McNamara also scored.

It was O’Connor who got things started on a 50-yard scamper on the first play from scrimmage. After he added the extra-point kick, Newtown had an 8-0 lead. Soon after, Deakin scored on a 15-yard reverse and then added a 22-yard TD on a toss left just before the close of the first half to put the locals up 22-0.

In the second half, McNamara put the finishing touches on the game with a 35-yard touchdown ramble.

Alex Markham, Mike Hadgraft and Tim Willmott made big defensive stops in the first half as Brian Kuruc and Nick Tarantino came up big in the second half.

MIGHTY MITE GOLD

Newtown 12, Bethel 12

With Troy Frangione at QB and Logan Walsh at center, Newtown put forth a strong offensive effort and tied Bethel, 12-12, in the 2005 season opener.

Nick Lotrecchiano, Bubba Condon, Chase Wurtz, Bryce Mather, and Matt Elias also played well on offense.

The defense led by Devin Luzietti, Colten Moroney, Nolan Fisher and Mike Cirone.