79ers

Ridgefield 15, Newtown 6: A defensive battle from the first whistle, Newtown’s lone score came in the second quarter on an 83-yard run by Matthew Dubois. Solid play on the offensive side from Riley McCafferty, Griffin Cross, Robbie Morrill and Luke Melillo moved the chains. The defense kept a run-happy Raider offense to two scores behind the crushing hits and tackles of Brandon Giglio, Gren Paynter, Jack Hannan, Charlie Asetta, Gavin Connors, Beau Arend and Tucker Garrity. Ryan Tani and John Albanesi had fumble recoveries for Newtown.

Grade 4

Newtown 19, Somers White 0: The game started out with a bang when Justin Cohelo stopped an opponent with a big hit to hold Somers on fourth down. It was a game of defense until Josh Dunn ran for a touchdown behind a block from William Stenz on the outside with 2:49 to go in the first. On the extra point attempt a bobbled snap was picked up by Ryan Kost who evaded several defenders to run it in and Newtown was up 7-0. Ran Williams and Doug Carriero came up big throughout the first half on defense for Newtown and held Somers without a score. The second half play belonged to Newtown. On the kickoff return to start the half, CJ Shambelan returned the ball to the Somers 38 yard line after a 24-yard return to the outside. With 8:48 left in the third, Josh Dunn took a 33-yard counter in for another score putting Newtown up 13-0. On the next series, with the defense playing well, Evan Landgrebe came up with a fumble recovery and Newtown never looked back. Behind the solid blocking from Alex Street, Max Goldstein, Andrew Deluca, Owen Walsh and Ethan Tousignant, Dunn took it in one last time from 32 yards out late in the third. Newtown’s defense played solidly the rest of the game. Newtown faces Torrington this weekend.

Grade 5

Newtown Nighthawks 32, Shelton Seahawks 0: In the first half, touchdowns by Mitchell Savoca, Thomas Cotton, Ryan Marusi and Gavin Stubbs, along with an extra point run in by Michael Liberante, ran up the Nighthawks’ side of the scoreboard. Shelton’s offense was shut down by Erik Benson, Seth Willis and Jason Hebner. In the second half, after a fumble recovery by Steven Moccio, Michael Cabral ran in a touchdown. Tackles by John Pierce, Jack Wellman and Matthew Krasnickas helped keep Newtown undefeated.

Grade 6

Newtown 31, Somers 0: Newtown’s defense produced its third shutout of the season, while the Nighthawk offense used several big plays to earn the victory. Somers was limited to six first-half yards due to several stops behind the line of scrimmage led by Ryan Shaw and Charlie Fletcher. Newtown scored midway through the first quarter on a 40-yard run by Michael Doyle behind the blocks of Gordon Walsh and Nick Samuelson.

Linemen Brandon Hensel and Matt Davis opened the hole that allowed Peyton Manning to gallop 44 yards for the next score. Late in the second, tackles by Sam Duffy and Nick Rohrbacher forced the fourth punt of the half. With less than a minute remaining, Matt Maturo found Doyle in the end zone for an 8-yard pass and a 18-0 lead. Jared Pearson opened up the second half with a 69-yard kickoff return. Ethan Carpenter ran in the extra point. The defense kept up the pressure as Colin Theis, Justin Appley, Hunter Booker and Tim Mammen made several big plays. The final score of the day came on a 55-yard jaunt by Steve Faxlanger, which was aided by blocks from Colin Patrick and Declan Sullivan.

Newtown is now 4-0 and faces undefeated Ansonia on Saturday.

Grade 7

Nighthawks 34, Somers Red Storm 0: The Nighthawks improved to 4-0 by shutting out New York’s Somers Red Storm. All aspects of the game were in full swing for the young Hawks with the offense moving the ball at will, the defense shutting down any threat and the special teams flying to the ball.

Nick Lotrecchiano led the Hawks with two touchdowns, one on the ground with a 24-yard effort and one on a fly route from the split end position. Colton Smith was once again on target at the quarterback position with a six-for-six effort and 184 yards passing and two TD passes. Julian Dunn led in the reception category with four catches for 119 yards, including a 60-yard catch and run corner route for a TD.

Will Dalton also contributed with a reception for 45 yards on a fast screen from the left side of the field. On the ground, Sugar Shane Quimby had the run of the day with a powerful 21-yard run breaking multiple tackles and running over a few opponents on his way to the end zone. Smith added 79 yards on 3 carries, including a 46-yard dive right up the gut of the defense for a TD. Lotrecciano, Jaret DeVellis, Forest Speed, Bug Santella, Rat Rubino, Logan Walsh and Boots Burden all contributed to the 170 yards of rushing for the day.

 The line blocking of Griffin Davis, Kevin Conte, Markus Elken, Eric Cascone, Jake Lambert, Aidan Petershack, Pete Manfredonia, Erik Street and Chris Hartley opened up holes all day. Petershack led the defense with four tackles, including two on special teams with James Leuci adding a 13-yard kick return during the opening kickoff. Bubba Condon and Rat Rubino shut down the middle at the linebacker position. The defense was once again a dominant force by holding the Red Storm without a first down.

This Sunday the Meriden Raiders and the Newtown Nighthawks will battle at Taylor Field at noon. The Raiders are the defending Mid Connecticut Football Conference champions who were one game away from going to the American Youth Football nationals in 2008.