Hut, Hut … Highlights From The Youth Gridiron

Newtown Youth football highlights from this past weekend are as follows:

79ers

Mahopac 6, Nighthawks 18: The Nighthawks bounced back in a big way for their game with Mahopac on Newtown Day. Tucker Garrity recovered his onside kick on the first play of the game to set the pace. Ryan Tani took the ball from midfield down to the 7 yard line, where two plays later, he punched it in for the Nighthawks’ first score. On the next set of downs for the offense, quarterback Luke Melillo ran a keeper deep into Mahopac territory, setting up Griffin Cross’s touchdown run. Mahopac scored next on a broken play. Gren Paynter led a pack of Nighthawks as they stuffed the extra point attempt. The Nighthawks offense went three and out, and it looked like Mahopac might even the score before halftime, but Jack Mulligan’s monster sack sent the teams into halftime with the score 12-6. On Newtown’s first possession of the second half, Matthew Dubois ran the length of the field, only to get stopped at the one. Luke Melillo recorded the Nighthawks’ final touchdown of the day on a QB sneak up the middle. In the fourth quarter, Robbie Morrill intercepted a desperation pass to seal the victory for Newtown. Outstanding defensive play from John Albanesi, Jack Hannan, Gavin Connors, Riley McCafferty, Garrett Norberg, and the rest of the tenacious Newtown defense. The offense was crisp and focused: Ryan Straiton, Trevor Merrick, Sean Dauber, and the rest of the offense provided excellent protection for the backfield.

Grade 5

Newtown Nighthawks 0, Ridgefield Black 6: Both teams battled hard to the finish, but Ridgefield came out ahead with a 6-0 win. Despite strong defensive play by Nevin Zink, Joe Accousti, Erik Benson and Anthony Adamcheck, Ridgefield scored a touchdown in the first half, with Ryan Marusi stopping the extra point. Patrick Conte threw several passes for first downs and Nevin Zink had a 30-yard run, but Newtown was unable to punch through. The fifth grade Nighthawks are home this week to take on rival Southern Duchess.

Grade 6

Newtown 35, Bethel 0: The main ingredients in the young Nighthawks winning recipe this week included one portion of special teams (a blocked punt and a punt return for a TD), a pinch of passing (three TD passes), and a large heaping of defense (another shutout). Newtown moved to 6-0 (5 by shutout) on the season with a resounding 35-0 defeat of Bethel.

Early in the first, Devin Luzietti returned a punt 22 yards to set up Newtown deep in Bethel territory. After a 22-yard sweep by Jared Pearson, Luzietti powered off tackle for a nine-yard score behind the drive blocking of Jeremy Salaris and Carlo Fenaroli. Pearson added the extra point kick. Early in the second, Michael Doyle broke through the line to block a punt, with Pearson recovering. Five plays later, Ethan Carpenter hit Matt Meyers in stride on a post for a 27-yard touchdown pass. Brandon Hensel and Matt Davis provided the pass protection. Pearson’s kick made it 16-0. Just before halftime, Pearson caught a 13-yard pass on the goal line from Matt Maturo to give Newtown a 22-0 lead.

The formidable Newtown defense, behind the hard-hitting of Christian Thanasoulis, Tim Mammen, Colin Theis, and Hunter Booker, held Bethel to two first downs in the half. Late in the third, the defense again flexed its muscle, as Nick Rohrbacher, Justin Appley, Colin Patrick and Matt Pindell forced another punt. Peyton Manning scooped up the ball, cut to his right, and streaked down the sideline for a 30-yard score. After an Austin LeBlanc fumble recovery early in the fourth, Newtown’s final score occurred when Sam Duffy made a leaping catch in the end zone on a 13-yard pass from Maturo. Maturo added the extra point on a bootleg.

Grade 7

Newtown 20, Ridgefield Black 0: The Newtown seventh graders traveled to Southern Dutchess last Sunday to play the Ridgefield Black Raiders and came away with a 20 to 0 victory and improving the young Nighthawks to 6-0 on the season. Connor Roche stepped it up with three big receptions from the tight end position and gained 89 yards. Julian Dunn added a nice one-handed catch for 26 yards, with Will Dalton making a spectacular diving TD catch in the back of the end zone to get the Hawks on the scoreboard early during their first drive. Colton Smith led the hawks in rushing with 79 yards on seven carries, while Dunn got into the action with an 18-yard touchdown run up the middle for the second score.

From the defensive side, Rat Rubino led all defenders with seven tackles followed by Bubba Condon and Tim Krapf with five takedowns. The line play of Eric Cascone, Kevin Conte, Jake Lambert and Markus Elken shut down the middle, while Bug Santella made three big tackles from the cornerback position. The play of the day went to Jaret DeVellis, who picked off the Raider’s quarterback and raced into the end zone for a 76-yard touchdown.

The seventh graders host Southern Dutchess this Sunday at Taylor Field behind Hawley School. Game time is 2 pm.

Grade 8

Newtown 26, Yorktown 6: The eighth grade Newtown Nighthawks had their best showing of the year in their first home game at Taylor Field. The Hawks would not be denied as they led 10-0 at the half. Yorktown narrowed the deficit to 10-6 early in the third quarter, but the Hawks put the game away, scoring 16 unanswered points in the second half to record their second win of the year. With the threat of rain and a chill in the air, Newtown went with their power-running game and imposed their will on the visitors from New York.

The potent offense was led by Newtown’s version of Thunder and Lightning, with the power running of Cooper Gold, 79 yards on 16 carries, and the breakaway speed of Justin Saint, 123 yards on ten carries and three touchdowns. Excellent blocking by both the first and second team offensive lines, including Nick Landau, Ryan Wagner and Nathan Cabral, opened large running holes and kept the Yorktown defense on their heels the entire day. Newtown was also able to move the ball through the air when needed, with Drew Tarantino completing five of five passes on the day.

Special teams were a highlight of the game led by Stephen Walsh with 123 return yards, including kickoff returns of 19, 13 and 55 yards and two punt returns for 13 and 23 yards, giving the Hawks excellent field position throughout the day. Following the touchdowns, Newtown completed all of their PATs on booming kicks by Nick Norberg and the special teams effort was capped off with a blocked punt by Patrick Afriyie as he overpowered the Yorktown players.

The Nighthawk defense also played a great game, holding Yorktown to just three first-downs on the day. Solid tackling was the highlight led by Afriyie with ten tackles, Walsh with five and Matt White, Jordan Salvesen, Cameron Partrick, James Leidlein and Jack Lago with three each. Solid performances were also turned in by Connor Noonan, Austin Babyak, Mike Davis and Riley Cross at linebacker and in the defensive backfield and tough line play by Brendan Peterson, Billy Begg, Michael Dinelli, and Jordan Headford who harassed the Yorktown running backs as they tried to find room to run. The inspired Hawks also recorded five sacks on the day by Dominic Scarangella, Salveson, Afriyie and Leidlein, and a sack and safety by Partrick. The Hawks have a bye this weekend, but will be back in action the following week against the Norwalk Titans.