By Kim J. Harmon

A

s much as the Newtown High School football team would very much like to repeat the successes of the 2000 season – a 9-1 record, a Thanksgiving win over arch-rival Masuk, and a trip to the CIAC Class L semi-finals – it will no doubt have to come to grips with the idea that it will have to take a step back in 2001.

How big a step?

Well, maybe not big at all. But the Nighthawks will have to find their way this year without players like Matt McCarthy, Matt Saunders, Kyle Tobin, Adam Hayden, Rich Petretti, Todd Palo, Tom Denninger, and Nick Savino.

McCarthy was a superb tight end and a wrecking machine on defense. Tobin and Hayden were the anchors in a devastating backfield that combined speed (Tobin) with power (Hayden). Petretti and Savino hooked up plenty of times on long passing routs while Palo and Denninger were rocks on the interior line. And Saunders was a solid defensive force up the middle and a pretty good fill-in for Tobin and Hayden.

So, it’s a new-look team and coach Ken Roberts pretty much likes the way it looks so far.

“This team is very close,” he said. “We’ve started the season knowing we were inexperienced and, in our scrimmages, we’ve played a lot of people. We’ve evaluated a lot of people and I think we’re putting it all together.”

It’s an entirely new backfield in 2001, with junior Tom Ryan calling the signals. In scrimmages Ryan – who saw a fair amount of time at QB as a sophomore, in addition to punting – has shown poise, good foot speed, and a strong arm. While throwing, he will be looking to guys like senior Drew Narcum (TE), junior Tim Byrne (SE), and junior Tim Barrett (FL).

When he isn’t throwing the ball he’ll be handing out to junior tailback Kyle Nowak or senior fullback Mike DeLuca.

“We are definitely inexperienced on offense,” said coach Roberts, “but one thing that is evidence is that they are working hard.”

A revamped line, charged with protecting Ryan and opening the holes, will include junior RC Coyle and senoirs George Wurtz and Matt Regan at guard with juniors Andrew Dutton and Trevor Seferi and senior Mike Nitopi at tackle. Senior Chad Thomas will snap.

Some of those same faces will turn around on defense. Senior Erin Johnson looks to be the nose guard with senior Ben Carroll and Dutton working from the tackle position. Regan and Narcum will be defensive ends. Senior Shawn Gleason and Wurtz will patrol the linebacking positions while seniors Rob Konkos and Dan Evans will take the corners. Senior Sean Speer and junior Joe Gantert will provide the last line of defense at the safety positions.

The ‘Hawks also have a solid kicking game this season, with Ryan punting and junior Casey Kirch doing the place-kicking. While reticent in the past to attempt many field goals, coach Roberts said Kirch has the ability to be used frequently in 2001.

“If we have a strong point right now,” he said, “it’s that we’re well balanced offensively and defensively. We also have a good mix of juniors and seniors on both sides of the ball and a great sophomore class running the scout teams in practice.”

Besides lacking some experience, the ‘Hawks are a bit small and don’t have the kind of team speed they exhibited last year. But coach Roberts said they will be physical this season and – with many of the teams in the South-West Conference being forced to take a step back this year – they are hoping for some big things.

“We’re not looking at states of Thanksgiving or anything right now,” said coach Roberts. “We’re just taking it one game at a time and looking to improve each game. We want to get better that day and then move on to the next.”

Schedule

 

Sept. 14   Bethel      7 pm

Sept. 21   at Brookfield            7 pm

Sept. 28   Bunnell    7 pm

Oct. 5      at New Milford         7 pm

Oct. 13    Foran       7 pm

Oct. 19    Immaculate               7 pm

Oct. 26    at Jonathan Law       7 pm

Nov. 3      at Weston                2 pm

Nov. 9      Bullard Havens        7 pm

Nov. 21    at Masuk  7 pm

The South-West Conference championship game will be held Friday, November 16, at 7 pm.