By Kim J. Harmon

Some might say, “oh, it was only Bullard Havens,” but no one on the Newtown High School football team is going to minimize its 41-12 win on Friday night mainly because the Nighthawks needed it so badly.

After beating Bethel (14-13) and Brookfield (27-0) to start the season, the ‘Hawks got stuck in a six-game death spiral that saw their 2-0-0 record slip to 2-5-1. A win – any win – would be a real good pick me up.

“We needed this,” head coach Ken Roberts said as his team ran up and down the field against the Tigers.

And they got it. With three touchdowns by Mike Deluca (7- and 53-yard runs and a 14-yard pass) and touchdowns from Sean Speer (13-yard run), Rob Konkos (25-yard pass) and Shawn Gleason (39-yard run), Newtown hammered Bullard Havens pretty good.

It was 21-0 after just seven minutes and 24 seconds were gone in the first quarter – and it was 35-6 by the close of the first half. The ‘Hawks, in fact, were in firm control of the game from the opening kick and never let go.

Starting on offense, the ‘Hawks drove easily down the field and scored on a seven-yard run by Deluca.

They kicked, Bullard Havens fumbled, and the ‘Hawks drove for another touchdown, scoring on a 14-yard pass from Tom Ryan to Deluca. They kicked, Bullard Havens fumbled on its first play from scrimmage, and the ‘Hawks drove for yet another touchdown, scoring on a 13-yard run by Speer (who carried the ball all four plays on the short drive).

There was still 4:36 left in the first quarter and the ‘Hawks had a 21-0 lead.

In the second period, Ryan hit Konkos from 25 yards out for the fourth score of the game. It was a nifty little drive of nine plays – featuring a swift, 24-yard run by Kyle Nowak – that led to that touchdown.

About three minutes later, Bullard Havens scored its first touchdown off a solid, sustained drive (reaching the end zone on a seven-yard run by Linval Dillon) and trimmed the Newtown lead to 28-6. But the ‘Hawks answered back pretty quickly – in just two plays – to go ahead, 35-6. Gleason scampered 39 yards for that touchdown.

Casey Kirch added his fifth extra point of the game – an accomplishment of some note (the ‘Hawks would have to go back years to find someone who kicked five extra points in one season, let alone one game) that was overshadowed by the explosive offensive performance.

Early in the second half, it was another quick strike by Newtown – this time, just one play – that put the ‘Hawks ahead, 41-6. Deluca burst through the Bullard Havens defense on a 53-yard jaunt that gave him his third TD of the game.

Kirch missed the kick and finished 5-of-6 on the night.

All that was left was for Bullard Havens to score on a one-yard by Ray Barnes to trim Newtown’s 35-point lead to just 29 points.

The win will give the ‘Hawks a little impetus – and probably a more comfortable 10 or 11 days of practice – as they prepare for the traditional Thanksgiving holiday matchup with rival Masuk. The Panthers, with a 57-21 win over Joel Barlow, are sitting on a 5-4-0 record.

Bullard Havens 0   6   0   6 - 12

Newtown       21 14   6   0 - 41

 

First Quarter

 

N – Deluca 7 run (Kirch kick)

N – Deluca 14 pass from Ryan (Kirch kick)

N – Speer 13 run (Kirch kick)

Second Quarter

 

N – Konkos 25 pass from Ryan (Kirch kick)

BH – Dillon 7 run (kick failed)

N – Gleason 39 run (Kirch kick)

Third Quarter

 

N – Deluca 53 run (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

 

BH – Barnes 1 run (pass failed)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

 

Rushing

 

NEWTOWN: Deluca 8-98, Nowak 6-61, Speer 5-31, Gleason 4-59, Kling 1-0, Matt Deluca 2-minus 1, Iodice 2-3, Whipkey 1-minus 3, Bagaglio 8-26.

Passing

 

NEWTOWN: Ryan 3-3-0, 51 yards, 2 TD.

Receiving

 

NEWTOWN: Deluca 1-14, Konkos 1-25, Barrett 1-12.