By Andy Hutchison

Newtown High School’s football team continued its dominance with a 42-0 shellacking of visiting Pomperaug of Southbury at Blue & Gold Stadium on October 19.

The Nighthawks will put their undefeated ways on the line in a visit to another unbeaten, Bunnell of Stratford, this Friday, October 26, beginning at 7 pm.

It took the Nighthawks a little time to get started, but once Dan Mason scored the first of his three rushing touchdowns — and four TDs overall — late in the opening quarter, it was all Hawks in the win over Pomperaug.

Mason scored from four yards out, then added a two-yard score early in the second quarter.

One play after Newtown quarterback scrambled for a first down on third down and 16 yards to go, Melillo connected with Riley Ward on a 37-yard pass and catch play for a TD and a 21-0 cushion midway through the second.

Jack Zingaro thwarted one of few Pomperaug big play threats with an impressive on-the-run pass breakup deep downfield. Newtown, on its ensuing possession, added to its lead.

After a Joseph Pagett reception and Jeffery Garrity carry, Mason plowed through the middle for a six-yard score with just under two minutes left in the half.

It was 28-0 Nighthawks at the break, and it could have been an even bigger lead if not for a dropped pass in the end zone on Melillo’s last-second 43-yard heave.

In the third quarter, Easton Ricks came up with a quarterback sack, and Mason caught a short pass from Melillo and went 50 yards for a score.

Jack Street came on to take the snaps. Street rolled out and hit Harry Lucas in the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown to cap the scoring.

Melillo completed 13 of 19 pass attempts for 246 yards. Pagett caught eight passes for 133 yards. The rest of the passing game, six receptions totaling another 132 yards, was distributed among five receivers. Jack Street completed his lone pass attempt for 19 of those yards.

“We call him Cool Hand Luke because he’s so calm,” Newtown Coach Bobby Pattison said of his starting QB.

“Our quarterback is a talented kid, and we’ve got some talented receivers. We can throw the ball; we can run the ball,” Pattison said.

On defense, Matt Dubois led Newtown with seven tackles. James Knox had six and Pagett, Easton Ricks, and Shea Talbot had five each. Ricks and Ben Pinto each had a quarterback sack.

“Our defense came out and got another shutout. That was one of our goals this week,” Pagett said.

Newtown’s goal against Bunnell, naturally, is to win. The Bulldogs defeated Newtown 40-0 last fall and, like these Nighthawks, have a 6-0 record.

“They’re going to be tough. They have a lot of team speed,” Pattison said. “I think our kids are going to be fired up this week to go down there and play them.”