79ers

79ers: Norwalk 13, Newtown 0: The first day of fall saw the Newtown Nighthawks 79ers in their home opener take on the tough and experienced Norwalk Packers. Spirits were high as Coach Andy Stubbs sang a stirring rendition of our national anthem.

The game started slowly for both teams; however, Norwalk struck on its second possession with a 40-yard touchdown run. They tacked on the extra point to take the lead 7-0.

Newtown held the Packers scoreless in the second quarter behind the strong defensive line play of Miles Capener, Julian Crone, Sean Gordon, and Richie Wilford. Norwalk was able to control the clock and launched a long sustained drive that failed at the goal line with a touchdown-saving tackle by Newtown Safety James Iaropoli to end the half with the score still 7-0.

The third quarter was a defensive struggle with great tackling by Newtown’s Capener, Michael Ihlefeld, Andrew Swierbut, and Richard Guman. As the fourth quarter began, the game was still at 7-0, when Norwalk broke away with a 25-yard touchdown run. Newtown prevented the extra point, however, making the score 13-0.

With just minutes remaining on the clock, the Nighthawks’ offense couldn’t get traction, despite some strong running attempts by Dylan Magazu, Anthony D’Amico, Swierbut and Ihlefeld. Norwalk regained possession on downs and took a knee to end the game.

Grade 4

Nighthawks 31, Aspetuck 13: Jeffrey Garrity ran for two touchdowns and quarterback Jack Street threw for another to give the Nighthawks a victory over the Aspetuck Wildcats at Joel Barlow High School on Sunday.

Shaine Luzietti set up Newtown’s first score, returning the opening kickoff to the Aspetuck 43 yard line after hurdling a would-be tackler before being brought down. Street went to the air, completing passes to Luzietti, Garrity, and Mathew Carpenter, driving the Nighthawks down to the 11 yard line. Running back Luke Hannan hit pay dirt on his first carry of the day with a slashing touchdown run to give Newtown a quick 6-0 lead.

After Newtown’s stout defense caused a turnover on downs, Newtown’s Carpenter extended the lead to 12-0 on a 41-yard touchdown run. Newtown’s offense capitalized on another turnover on downs with Garrity scoring his first touchdown of the game on a 15-yard scamper to give Newtown a 18-0 lead. Aspetuck threatened to score with time running out in the half, but with a first and goal on Newtown’s 3 yard line, defensive end William Wallace stripped the Aspetuck running back and recovered the fumble to end the threat and close out the first half.

The Nighthawks opened up the second half with another strong defensive effort with plays by Luzietti, Michael Haddick, Jake Dandrea, and Anthony Dorazio. QB Street went back to the air assault, threading a pass to CJ Demers for a 7-yard touchdown pass extending the lead to 24. Street then converted the extra point on a QB keeper to give Newtown a 25-0 lead.

After Aspetuck got on the board in the fourth quarter, Garrity closed out the Nighthawk scoring with a 47-yard touchdown run behind the great blocking of Wallace, Nick Sabillon, Trevor Jacozzi, Grant Baker, Jordan Conrad, Jack Stenz and Demers, extending the lead to 31-7. Aspetuck scored with time running out to give Newtown a 31-13 victory

Grade 5

Newtown 26, Norwalk 20: The Nighthawks faced their arch rival, the hard-hitting Norwalk Packers, on Saturday at Newtown’s Taylor Field. Following three relatively easy early-season wins, the Nighthawks knew from the start that this game would be different.

The Nighthawk offense had trouble getting going in the first half and relied on Jack Mulligan’s punting to neutralize Norwalk’s field position advantage. Norwalk looked like it would score on its second possession, but Jack Kuligowski pounced on a ball that Matt Bradbury jarred loose from a Norwalk runner. After another Newtown punt, Norwalk did capitalize and went ahead 6-0. Again Newtown’s offense stalled, but Norwalk muffed Mulligan’s punt and Kuligowski was there again to jump on it. Newtown was able to capitalize, when JP Iarapoli hit Kuligowski for a 17-yard touchdown strike, tying the score at 6. Norwalk struck right back with a 47-yard drive and, after a Nighthawk fumble, Norwalk was able to punch it in for a 20-6 halftime lead.

Coach Carley needed to make some adjustments at halftime to stop the potent Norwalk offense and get his own offense back on track. The defense was clearly motivated in the second half, forcing Norwalk punts on the first two possessions, but the Newtown offense was still sputtering, with a fumble and punt of their own. After the defense held again, Mulligan penetrated the Norwalk line and blocked the punt, with Connor Moran grabbing the ball and taking it to the Norwalk 16. From there, the offense was able to cash in with a 1-yard power run by Jared Dunn, at the start of what would be a memorable fourth quarter.

After a booming Dunn kickoff pinned Norwalk deep in their own end, the defense came up big, pushing Norwalk back in the shadow of their own end zone. Not wanting to risk another punt, Norwalk took a safety, making the score 20-16. Newtown threatened to take the lead on the next possession after Kuligowski broke a 43-yard run down to the 9 yard line, but the Norwalk defense stiffened and the Nighthawks couldn’t reach pay dirt and gave the ball up on downs. Norwalk started on their own 5 yard line, looking to run the clock out, but the defense was determined to get the ball back. The defense, led by Bradbury’s 6 tackles, as well as Will Swierbut, Steven Sedensky and Danny Ingersoll coming up big with tackles in the Norwalk backfield, held Norwalk again. Norwalk chose to take a safety again, making the score 20-18, with Newtown getting the ball back with less than two minutes to play. After a holding penalty pushed Newtown back to midfield, Newtown had a lot of ground to cover and not much time. It didn’t take long. Iaropoli rolled to his left and got good blocking from his line, a speedy Kuligowski got behind the Norwalk defenders, and a beautiful pass met a nice grab and he was off to the races for the go-ahead score.

With 1:34 left on the clock, the game was still on the line. Dunn’s ensuing kickoff took a fortuitous hop, hitting the Norwalk return man’s leg and Will Swierbut was there to hop on it. Three kneel-downs sealed the sweet 26-20 come-from-behind victory, and the celebration was on.

Grade 6

Newtown 28, Aspetuck 6. Game captains were Asani Vessup, Shea Talbot, Kyle Burbank, and Gren Paynter. Hosting the Aspetuck Wildcats at Taylor Field last Saturday, the Nighthawks played focused, heads-up ball to card their fourth win of the season. On the third play from scrimmage, behind linemen Gavin Connors, Brandon Giglio, John Albanesi, Karl Kelly, Jack Hannan, Reed Hammond, and Kyle Cascone, Luke Mellilo handed the ball off to Tucker Garrity for a 44-yard touchdown run. Garrity would score another touchdown in the quarter, his second of three on the day, and Talbot would hit the extra point to make the score 14-0.

The defense played tough all day, with an interception from Garrity, and fumble recoveries from Jack Swanson, Hammond, and Cascone. Linemen Matthew Jewel, Jack Clark, and Thomas Hasselberger provided great run defense, and linebackers Easton Ricks, Daniel Mason, and Albanesi plugged the gaps. Griffin Cross had more than 100 yards on the day plus a touchdown. Garrity recorded his second pick-six on the season, and Talbot’s extra point was the last of the day for the Nighthawks, making the score 28-6. The sixth grade squad takes on Norwalk at Newtown Day.

Grade 7

Newtown 36, Oxford 12: The seventh grade Nighthawks’ road trip continued with a visit to Oxford and the boys continued their strong play on both sides of the ball. The Newtown offense did not take long to find their rhythm as Mark Hall caught a backward pass then heaved the ball downfield to a wide-open C.J. Shambelan that set Newtown up on the 1 yard line. Josh Dunn was able to punch the ball into the end zone for the first score of the day. The successful extra point kick made the score put Newtown up by 8.

Mark Hall then recovered the on-side kick on the ensuing kick. The Newtown Offense was able to drive down the shortened field and set up at the Oxford goal line. Simon Preston was able to take the ball in for another Newtown touchdown behind blocking by Jacob Duffy and Alex Street.

With Newtown up 16-0, the Oxford offense made a late first half push down the field and looked like they might sneak back into the game. Ethan Tousignant, however, was able to shove the Oxford runner out of bounds just short of the line to gain on fourth down.

Oxford was able to score on their opening possession of the second half. The Newtown offense then answered with a scoring drive of their own when Jacob Duarte sealed an opening for Simon Preston to slip into the end zone. Newtown was not successful on the point-after attempt and the score was 22-6.

The Oxford offense again found a way to score bringing the score to 22-12 late in the third quarter. The Newtown defense held the Oxford scoreless in the fourth quarter, while Josh Dunn scored his second touchdown of the day. The Newtown victory was completed when Jack Miller took the ball into the end zone to bring the final score to Newtown 36–Oxford 12. The boys play Norwalk Gold at Treadwell this Saturday as part of Newtown Day.

Grade 8

Newtown 34, Aspetuck 8: The Nighthawks eighth grade football team rolled to a 34-8 victory over the Aspetuck Wildcats on Sunday at Joel Barlow High School. Newtown’s offense set the tone early when running back Hunter Cobb took the opening handoff from quarterback Patrick Conte 70 yards for a touchdown. Conte and Mitchell Savoca had key blocks on the run to give Newtown a 6-0 lead. The Wildcats responded on their next possession to take a 8-6 lead to end the quarter.

Newtown’s next touchdown was set up by great runs from running back Ryan Mrusi and QB Justin Dunn along with a 28-yard pass completion from Dunn to receiver Mathew Bucci. With a first and goal from Aspetuck’s 8 yard line, running back Ben Mason took a handoff from Dunn up the middle for a touchdown for a 12-8 lead, putting Newtown in front for good.

After forcing a turnover on downs the Nighthawk offense went back to work. Conte started the drive by hooking up with Mason who took a screen pass 25 yards, carrying Wildcat defenders along the way. Conte then found Savoca on the wing for a screen pass; Savoca made a nice cut back, outraced the defense and took it 40 yards to the house for a touchdown. Savoca then kicked the 2-point conversion to give Newtown a 20-8 lead.

The Nighthawks nearly capitalized on a turnover to end the half when Ryan Brello recovered an Aspetuck fumble caused by a hit put on the Wildcat running back by defenders Mason, Conte, and Savoca. With time running out in the half, Dunn hit George Pagett for a 28-yard catch and run before being brought down at the 2 yard line just before time expired.

Brello helped extend the lead for Newtown in the third quarter with three receptions from Conte totaling nearly 70 yards, with Brello hitting pay dirt on a 35-yard touchdown reception and Savoca added the 2-point kick to give the Nighthawks a 28-8 lead at the end of three quarters.

The Nighthawks capped off the scoring late in the fourth quarter following punishing runs by Joe Accousti and a 20-yard reception by Pagett from Dunn. RB Cobb finished the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run for his second TD of the game to give Newtown a 34-8 victory.

Newtown’s defensive front of Adam Bell, Jack Phelps, Jack Riley, and Thomas Long thwarted the Wildcat running game all day.