By Kim J. Harmon

DANBURY – The Nighthawks knew they were running into a hot Immaculate High School team last Saturday down in Danbury, a team that had scored 219 points while earning a nearly unblemished record of 5-1.

Couple that with it being the Mustangs’ Homecoming and the prospects looked mighty tough for the struggling Nighthawks, who have fought a never-ending battle with inconsistency while winning just two of six games.

It was mighty tough.

Immaculate quarterback Tom Wilson rushed for three touchdowns and threw for one other as the Mustangs rolled, 34-7. Unbelievably, Wilson only ran the ball four times and only completed one pass . . . yet found the end zone four times.

The Mustangs scored their first touchdown with 4:46 left in the first period on a five-yard burst up the middle by Sam Young. The push down the field had been simple in nature, runs off tackle or off guard, but the Immaculate offensive line was working so well that Newtown had trouble putting a stop to the drive.

After the Nighthawks were stymied on their next drive, Immaculate went back down the field, aided well by an interference call on the Nighthawks as the Mustangs faced a third-and-11 situation. The penalty kept the drive alive and soon after scampered 17 yards deep into Newtown territory, Wilson was punching his way into the end zone with 11:23 left to play to give Immaculate a 14-0 lead.

It seemed as if everything was moving according to plan for the Mustangs, but the Nighthawks showed a spark of life on their next drive. Taking the ball on their own 46, the ‘Hawks used a holding penalty on Immaculate to extend a drive to the Mustangs’ 41. From there, Sean Raby rambled 13 yards to the Immaculate 28.

Soon after, Rich Petretti – facing a fourth-and-five – scrambled for big yardage and a first down at the Immaculate five. It took just two plays and – with 5:37 left - Raby rolled into the end zone with a two-yard touchdown to trim the Immaculate lead to 14-7.

But the Mustangs answered that touchdown with one of their own just 1:44 later.

Wilson was faced with third-and-and long at the Mustangs’ 40 when he pulled a play action fake. The fake drew the Newtown defense in and Wilson was able to find Evan Kaczka all alone down the right hash marks for a 60-yard touchdown pass and a 20-7 Immaculate lead.

The Newtown defense was able to repel another Immaculate touchdown with just two minutes to go in the half. The Mustangs had the opportunity to start a drive on the Newtown 26 and soon after Wilson was throwing into the end zone to try and further expand the lead.

But the pass was deflected off the hands of a Newtown defensive back, off the face mask of a Danbury receiver, and right into the hands of Adam Hayden, who brought the ball out to the 26 yard line.

The half ended soon after.

Neither team moved early in the third quarter, but with 2:01 left Wilson took the snap at the Newtown 25, tucked the ball under his arm, and rolled left and through the Nighthawk defense for his third touchdown of the afternoon and a 27-7 Immaculate lead.

In the fourth quarter, with 4:01 left, Wilson put the final touches on the game – and the 34-7 score - with a two-yard keeper.

The Mustangs out gained Newtown on the ground, 268-144. There were only seven passes thrown in the game and only one of those was completed – the 60-yard TD pass by Wilson.

Adam Hayden (7-for-68) and Sean Raby (17-for-52) carried the load for Newtown, but it wasn’t enough as the Nighthawks dropped to 2-5 on the season heading into a Friday night contest with Foran in Milford.

NEWTOWN   0        7        0        0        -        7

IMMACULATE        7        13      7        7        -        34

First Quarter

IM - Young 5 run (Amalfitano kick)

Second Quarter

IM - Wilson 4 run (Amalfitano kick)

N – Raby 2 run (Hamilton kick)

IM – Kaczka 60 pass from Wilson (kick failed)

Third Quarter

IM – Wilson 26 run (Amalfitano kick)

Fourth Quarter

IM – Wilson 2 run (Amalfitano kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

NEWTOWN: Hayden 7-68, Raby 17-52, Petretti 3-17, Hunzeker 3-5, Russell 3-2. TOTALS: 33-144.

IMMACULATE: Childs 18-82, Tarzia 8-68, Wilson 4-50, Riepe 5-29, Young 8-27, Robbins 2-12. TOTALS: 45-268.

Passing

NEWTOWN: Russell 0-for-3; Petretti 0-for-1.

IMMACULATE: Wilson 1-for-3, 60 yards, 1 TD