Nighthawks Capitalize On Turnovers, Crush Weston 44-7

By Andy Hutchison

Four turnovers — an interception and three fumbles, one of which was returned for a touchdown — forced by the Newtown High School football team’s defense jump-started the Nighthawks to a 44-7 thumping of Weston in last Friday’s game at Blue & Gold Stadium.

The host Nighthawks won their third straight game to improve to 3-1 and Weston fell to 1-3 on this chilly but dry night. Newtown led from start to finish and six Nighthawks scored. Kurt Nacewicz found the end zone twice in a 21-point second quarter as the Hawks built a 27-0 halftime cushion, aided by fumbles on consecutive plays from scrimmage by Weston. Tory Deakin scooped a fumbled ball and ran it back 58 yards during that three-TD quarter.

Although the score became lopsided in a hurry, things were a little dicey for the Hawks early on. Newtown led 6-0 after a first quarter score in which quarterback Jake DeVellis hit Jamie Vavreck for a 12-yard score. In the second, Weston was knocking on the door of the Newtown end zone and threatening to take the lead when quarterback Robbie Cordisco was picked off by NHS cornerback Brian Reszoly in the end zone.

“They put one in there and it’s a totally different game,” NHS Coach Steve George said.

Nacewicz proceeded to score on a 43-yard catch and run for a 13-0 advantage and the Hawks were off and running (literally). Nacewicz scored each of his TDs on pass plays, but both were manufactured by his speed after getting the ball. Newtown compiled 221 rushing yards behind the efforts of DeVellis (seven carries for 49 yards), Rory Noonan (nine for 30 yards), Nacewicz (four for 27) and Ed White (four for 26). Nick Tarantino had his first carry of the season and made it a memorable one, busting loose for a 79-yard sprint across the goal line in the fourth quarter.

“I just got my shot and knew I had to run full speed,” Tarantino said.

DeVellis was 7-for-10 passing and Newtown dominated in time of possession (the Hawks had the ball for more than 28 of the game’s 48 minutes). The only area in which Newtown had problems was on third down conversions, but the Hawks made up for that with a perfect five-for-five fourth down conversion performance.

Rory Noonan booted five extra points between the uprights and tacked on a 32-yard field goal, which fullback Brian Kuruc helped set up with a carry.

Newtown had 325 total yards of offense compared to just 186 for Weston. JR Shine and Kyle O’Connor pounced on fumbles for the Hawks.

“The defense gave the offense good field position all game,” Nacewicz said.

“Everyone was intense,” Noonan added.

George said he expected a closer game, but said his team’s size advantage on the line helped the Hawks control this game. “Our kids played very well,” George said.

The game was a homecoming of sorts for Weston Coach Joe Lato, who was a teammate of George’s in the early-to-mid-1990s. Lato was a fullback and George played guard. They graduated in 1993 but have stayed in touch and are good friends.

“It’s hard to beat your friend but, at the same time, I’m happy for these kids,” George said.

The Hawks hope to carry over the success they had against Weston into Saturday’s home tilt with Oxford at 7 pm.

“It’s a big confidence booster going into next week,” Nacewicz said.