79ers 21, Aspetuck Wildcats 7: The Newtown 79er football team improved to 3-0 with a dominating victory. Newtown’s offense got off to a quick start scoring on its second possession of the game. Shaine Luzietti scored on a 27-yard power run up the middle breaking tackles as he found his way into the end zone. Luzietti tacked on the extra point on another run up the middle to give Newtown a 7-0 lead. The Nighthawks second touchdown came on a weaving 45-yard run by Mathew Carpenter. Carpenter looked to be held for no gain but somehow broke free and behind some great blocking found the end zone. After Shaine Luzietii, William Wallace and CJ Demers all recorded tackles in the backfield to force Aspetuck to punt, Newtown’s offense went back to work.

Behind the great blocking of the offensive line led by Zach Reilly, Grant Baker, Nick Sabillion, Anthony Dorazio, Jack Stenz, Jordan Conrad, Trevor Jacozzi, and Aiden Foss, Jack Street showed off his arm by hitting CJ Demers in traffic for an 8-yard completion. Street then connected with Jeffrey Garrity on a 45-yard touchdown pass. Newtown tacked on the extra point when Street found Demers in the back of the end zone for another completion. Newtown’s defense dominated all day led by Nicholas Fischer, Ian Kennedy, and Nevin Bell-Hill allowing only a handful of Aspetuck first downs. In the second half Newtown went back to the running game with Jake Dandrea, James Iarpoli, and Eric Burbank all running the ball effectively and kept the Aspetuck offense off the field.

Grade 4

Newtown 18, Monroe Lions 6: The Newtown fourth grade Nighthawks overcame a sluggish start to improve to 3-1, beating the Monroe Lions at Blue & Gold Stadium. In first half, the offense could not get on track, but the defense was holding tough to keep the game close. Late in the half, Monroe was able to break a long run and grab the 6-0 lead. Newtown got the ball to start the half, with hopes of getting something going on offense, but went nowhere on their first drive. The defense made sure that Monroe did not extend the lead. They allowed only 4 net yards in the second half and Monroe never seriously threatened. Patrick Grover led all tacklers with 8, and Jack Mulligan and Jared Dunn had 6 tackles each.

On the second possession of the half, the Hawk offense began to move the ball effectively and the drive ended when Dunn broke a 31-yard run for the score that tied it up. Dunn added a second touchdown run after Connor Haywood recovered a Monroe fumble at midfield, on their next possession, as the Newtown offense pounded it on the ground. The game was still in doubt, with Newtown up 12-6 and Monroe with the ball and plenty of time left on the clock. Once again the defense was swarming, and William Swierbut’s big hit on fourth down all but ensured the victory. Not to be outdone, the offense drove the ball for their third straight score, on Connor Moran’s five-yard bootleg, and ran out the clock.

Grade 6

Newtown 22, Aspetuck 8: Newtown improved to 3-0 with a win over Aspetuck in Weston on September 11. After the Newtown defense stopped Aspetuck on a fourth and short, Ryan Cost capped the first drive of the game with a 30-yard pass play to David Daria for a touchdown. On the next offensive series Kost found Daria again on a fourth and long play that resulted in a touchdown. Aspetuck was able to score before the end of the first half, leaving the score at 16-8. Late in the third quarter C.J. Shambelan made an interception to help the defense stop any hopes of a Aspetuck comeback. In the fourth quarter Josh Dunn capped off a drive with a touchdown run over lineman Daniel Badiola and Alex Street. The Newtown defense was able to keep Aspetuck out of the end zone for the rest of the day, led by Tyler Rising with eight tackles and Michael Garner with five.

Monroe Lions 37, Newtown 8: Newtown played the runner-up in the American Youth Football Championship and dropped its first game of the season this past weekend. The Newtown offense came out strong, with Ryan Cost completing a pass to Simon Preston for the first score of the game. Newtown faced a strong offense, but played well in the face of adversity. Tyler Rising and Mark Hall led the defense with five tackles each, and Josh Dunn and Michael Garner had four apiece.

The boys face a big test next week when Monroe, also 3-0 and runner up for the National Championship, comes to Blue & Gold field on Sunday.

Grade 7

Newtown 28, Aspetuck 14: Newtown played a hard-fought game against Aspetuck in Weston. The Newtown offense accumulated 320 yards behind the efforts of offensive linemen Jack Riley, Jack Wellman, Ed Lovely, Matt Krasnickas, Adam Bell, and Alex Morganti. On Newtown’s opening drive, receptions by Gavin Stubbs and Bobby Haskins allowed quarterback Justin Dunn to move the ball quickly down field. Aspetuck’s defense picked up the pressure, forcing a fumble recovered by Newtown’s Sean Wallace but forced Newtown to turn the ball over on downs. Aspetuck utilized the remainder of the first quarter to put together a drive and scoring on a 27-yard reception at the end of the quarter. To start the second quarter, an eight-yard run by Ben Mason was called back on a holding penalty forcing Newtown into a first and 20 situation from its own 39 yard line. The Nighthawk offense put together an impressive drive with runs by Mason, Colin McCafferty, and Mitchell Savoca to move the ball deep into Aspetuck’s territory. Quarterback Patrick Conte connected with Haskins for a 12-yard touchdown reception and then hit the extra point attempt to take the lead, 8-6. Hunter Cobb recovered the onside kick giving possession back to Newtown. What became a common penalty, Newtown was called back again for holding at the start of its offensive drive. Conte wasted no time following the penalty and connected with Haskins on a 48-yard reception, bringing the Nighthawks back into Aspetuck territory. Following an incomplete pass attempt to Savoca, Conte connected with him in the end zone on the next play to go up 14-6; Aspetuck blocked the extra point attempt. Aspetuck did not let Newtown relax, however, bringing the ball across midfield on short yardage plays then, connecting on a 40-yard touchdown reception tying the score 14-14, connecting on the extra point attempt. On the following possession, Aspetuck penalties allowed for 20 yards before Conte handed off the Savoca at Aspetuck’s 32 yard line. Savoca took the handoff and connected with Steven Moccio in the end zone for the touchdown to close out the half leading 21-14.

The second half began with Aspetuck working the Nighthawk secondary of Savoca, Joe Acousti, and Cobb taking the ball to the Nighthawk 2 yard line. The defensive line of Morganti, Bell, Ryan Marusi, and Steven Maejko made a goal-line stand with Marusi making a key tackle in the back field forcing a fourth down situation. A fumble on the pitch recovered by Aspetuck allowed the Newtown offense to take over on downs on the 12 yard line. Both teams tightened their defensive efforts not allowing either offense any productive yardage the remainder of the third quarter. Newtown’s Thomas Long made a diving tackle in the backfield for a loss of yardage as Aspetuck was entering Newtown’s red-zone. Haskins then ended the Aspetuck threat by intercepting the pass and returning it 22 yards before being brought down. Again, Newtown hurt itself with a holding penalty after an 8-yard run by Mason. Conte and Haskins then combine again for a 49-yard reception before turning the ball over on downs. Tackles by Acousti and Morganti forced Aspetuck into a third and long with Cobb then knocking down the long pass attempt to beat the Nighthawk defense. With under two minutes remaining, short yard runs by Ryan Brello and McCafferty set up a Conte to Savoca 30-yard reception. Newtown added an insurance touchdown with Conte faking the hand-off and taking the ball 10 yards for the score. On the following kick-off an Aspetuck player touched the ball, allowing Cobb to fall on it giving possession back to Newtown who ran out the remainder of the clock. Newtown’s defense held Aspetuck to 161 yards.

Grade 8

Newtown 34, Monroe 16: Newtown shined in their inaugural appearance at Nighthawk Stadium as they piled up 400 yards of offense in the victory. On the Hawks’ first play from scrimmage, Jared Pearson sprinted around left side for a 98-yard touchdown run. Pearson also added scoring runs of 60 and 23 yards as he accumulated 295 yards rushing on only nine carries. Andrew Svanda caught a 29-yard pass from Pearson for a touchdown, and Matt Elias broken free down the sideline to catch a 55-yard touchdown pass from Matt Maturo. Henry Lyon added two extra point kicks. Outstanding blocking was provided by Greg Harrison, RJ Oliviera, Chance McMahon, Declan Sullivan, and Nick Rohrbacher. Defensively, Newtown did not give up a first down until the third quarter and forced three turnovers — interceptions by Pearson and Peyton Manning, and an onside kick fumble recovery by Nick Samuelson. The leading tacklers on the defensive line were Christian Morlock and Jeremy Salaris. Linebackers Pearson, Svanda, and Devin Luzetti were equally adept at defending both the run and pass. Also making tackles were Justin Appley, Michael Roche, John DelRossi, and Carlo Fenaroli.