Newtown High Gridders Earn Spot In SWC Title Game

By Andy Hutchison

STRATFORD — Newtown High School’s football team earned a berth in the South-West Conference championship game with 28-7 win over Stratford at Penders Field on November 12. Newtown’s defense did not allow a touchdown for the second consecutive week — the Red Devils’ lone score came on a kick return — and Louis Fennarolli rushed for three TDs as the Nighthawks improved to 8-1 to earn a date with Masuk of Monroe in the title game.

Newtown held a slim 7-0 lead at halftime, but put the game out of reach with a pair of third-quarter scores, dropping Stratford to 3-6 this fall.

Quarterback Cody Fischer, who has worked hard in practice and been given the chance to start for the Hawks because of injuries knocking three other QBs out of the lineup, played well in the win, completing some timely passes along the way.

“It feels really good. I think the line did an excellent job tonight. They gave me a lot of time to let me go through my reads. With an inexperienced quarterback a good line is key,” Fischer said.

Sean Devaney and Justin Devellis had second-quarter interceptions to help the Hawks carry the lead into the break. In the third, a Michael Lord INT set up Fennarolli’s rush for a TD on third and goal from the two yard line. James Horosko pounced on a fumble to set up Fennarolli’s third score. Fennarolli barged his way over the goal line from a yard out for a 21-0 lead. In the fourth, Andrew Cebry turned the corner, slipped a tackle and found his way into the end zone from 19 yards out on a fourth and two play to finish off the NHS scoring.

“I knew this team was going to be good — athletic and fast. They were everything I thought they were, but my guys just stepped up tonight and played well,” Newtown Coach Steve George said.

Newtown’s scheduled Thanksgiving Eve/regular-season game against undefeated Masuk on November 24 will serve as the SWC title game rather than the teams meeting twice in a span of six days (the SWC championship, had it not come down to NHS-Masuk, would have been played November 18).

Ironically, in effect, the only game not scheduled to be played at Blue and Gold Stadium may be the only one to be held at Blue and Gold this fall. As of a week or so before the game, it was scheduled to be played at Blue and Gold. Sure, the Newtown-Masuk regular season tilt was slated for Blue and Gold, but the championship game was originally scheduled to be played in Brookfield, one of the “home” fields the Nighthawks have had this season during the conversion from grass to turf at their home digs. NHS has had a slew of obstacles to overcome, beginning with no locker rooms due to extensive renovations to the school, and continuing with a lack of home field for every game.

“These kids have suffered through no locker room — they change in my auto shop everyday,” said George, a shop teacher at the high school. “One day one of my players spilled gasoline all over his jersey so he couldn’t wear it. It is what it is — it hasn’t bothered them one bit, to their credit. You know, they haven’t had a home game all year and it would be really exciting for them to be able to have that opportunity.”

Newtown’s players will gladly take the extra time to rest, heal, and prepare for the game. The Nighthawks have overcome injuries to three quarterbacks, not to mention losing key receivers, the starting kicker, and other personnel at various times this campaign.

Starting quarterback Will Arndt went down with an injury and backups Gregg Frattaroli and Dan Hebert have also been sidelined. Receivers/defensive backs Ryan Korth, Rory Noonan, and Mike Lengel, along with lineman Dakota Christiano, round out the starters whom the Hawks have been missing. The Newtown coach has ruled out Korth, Noonan, Lengel, and Christiano for the Thanksgiving Eve game.

“Its’ ridiculous. I think we have three or four torn ACLs, a couple of broken collar bones — assorted other injuries but, you know what? — underclassmen are stepping up, seniors are stepping up. It’s awesome,” said Doug Brede, one of Newtown’s defenders who has played a key role in keeping opposing offenses at bay.

“It’s really exciting. A lot of guys have had a chance to step up and really prove themselves — show what we’re made of and I’m really proud of the team,” Fischer said.

George has been pleased with his defense, particularly the play of Max Nacewicz and Fennarolli.

“We love it. We’re a team — we all have each other’s backs, we all do our jobs,” Brede said of the NHS defensive unit. “We push each other and get work done.”

“I think they feel the pressure a little bit, because all of the injuries we’ve had on offense. They’ve been stepping up and putting up some zeros on the board the last couple of weeks. That’s what we need to continue to do,” George added.

If the Newtown defense is going to continue to limit the success of opposing offenses, that’ll mean coming through against a Masuk offense that has scored no fewer than 42 points in each of its nine games this campaign. The Nighthawks certainly don’t expect this game to be easy.

“It’s a challenge every year — championship game or no championship game,” George said. “They’re a tough team and they’ll be tough to beat.”

Last year, Newtown upset Masuk on the road to knock the Panthers out of the playoff hunt, so the returning Panthers are apt to be that much more hungry than they otherwise would be. And, in a championship game, who isn’t hungry for a win? But the Nighthawks also have the desire and confidence to win.

“I think we’ve got a really good chance. I think, if we play how we did tonight,” Fischer said after the win over Stratford, “We’ve got a very good chance.”

“Oh, I think we’ll do well. They might get a touchdown or two but — you know what? — I think we’re going to beat ’em. They’re ours,” Brede added.

The Nighthawks remain in contention for a Class LL state playoff berth. Heading into the final game, the team is ranked sixth — and top eight qualify.