89ERS

 

NEWTOWN 14, POMPERAUG 0: Jake DeVellis and Brian Mesko scored touchdowns as the 89ers completed an undefeated season with a 14-0 win over Pomperaug.

The 89ers started shaking things loose on the opening kick, when DeVellis handed off to Jaime Vavrek on a designed reverse. Even though the ball was soon fumbled away, it was a fine play. The defense of Mike Poeltl, Andrew Matsis, Doug Makl, Sean Gill, Ben Collins, Kyle McNamara, Timo Roehrs and DeVellis stopped Pomperaug, the second-ranked offense in the league.

With one minute left in the first half, Newtown got the ball in good field position on the Pomperaug 30. Two plays later, DeVellis scampered into the end zone from 20 yards out. The extra point failed and Newtown clung to a 6-0 lead at the break.

Pomperaug took the kick to start the second half and managed one first down before giving up the ball on downs. The Newtown offense then moved the football on good runs by Reszoly, Vavrek, and DeVellis to the 12-yard line. Mesko took it in from there.

Charlie Lobosco threw in some more excitement when he kicked the two-point conversion (a rarity at the 89er level) to give Newtown the 14-0 lead.

 

JR PEE WEES

 

NEWTOWN 32, POMPERAUG 13: Mark Scheunemann had four touchdowns and an interception and helping lead the Nighthawks to a 32-13 win over Pomperaug – securing for the Junior Pee Wees a spot in the first round of this weekend’s playoffs.

Newtown wasted little time in this one. Tyler Tarantino connected on an option pass to Mark Scheunemann for the Nighthawks’ first score and a 6-0 lead. On defense, Chris Elias, Dan Curtis, Zach Conger, Jared Modzelewski and Lucas Vendel put a stop to Pomperaug, forcing a punt. Scheunemann received the punt and brought it all the way back for his second touchdown of the day and Newtown – following Tarantino’s extra point – had a 13-0 lead.

Later, back on offense, the ‘Hawks got some fine blocking from Connor Martin, Ryan Manning, Michael Maher and Tom Jackman – but couldn’t get the ball into the end zone. Still, the defense of Vendel, Curtis, Conger and Jamie Post wasn’t giving anything up to Pomperaug. On a passing down, Scheunemann grabbed an interception and, on the first offensive play from scrimmage, Scheunemann ran the ball in for his third touchdown and a 20-0 Newtown lead.

Pomperaug had nice field position after the ensuing kick and used it to score its first TD of the game and trim the Newtown lead to 20-7. Pomperaug then dribbled an onside kick and recovered it. But a Matt Mascolo interception ended the threat.

In the second half, Pomperaug opened with the ball but once again Vendel, Curtis, and Jeffrey Davis stood tough on defense. On offense, the front line of Elias, Post, Greg Rodden, Manning, Jamie Goodwick and Brett Mauro opened some great holes for the running backs and Conger, Ryan McGrath and Tarantino took turns bringing the ball down the field. Tarantino scored the TD that put Newtown ahead 26-7.

The two teams traded turnovers and Newtown, back on offense, used the option pass to score another TD. It was Tarantino to Scheunemann and Newtown had a 32-7 lead.

Dan Cody, Connor Martin, Robert Morlath and Robert Eckenrode made some fine defensive plays and Justin Craparo narrowly missed an interception, but Pomperaug was able to get into the end zone and trim the Newtown lead to 32-13. Matt Taylor knocked the ball loose on the extra point attempt.

 

PEE WEES

 

NEWTOWN 39, POMPERAUG 14: Tommy Gaboriault scored two touchdowns while Ryan Martin, Cody Shpunt, Joey DeVellis and David Modzelewski scored one touchdown each to lead the Pee Wees to their biggest win of the 2000 season.

Modzelewski opened the scoring in the opening minutes of the game, picking off a Pomperaug pass and scampering 65 yards for the TD. DeVellis executed a perfect option to added the extra point and five Newtown a 7-0 lead.

On defense, the efforts of Joe Collins, Steve Orrico, Travis Speer and Drew Adamek halted Pomperaug. Tucker Kass then took over on offense and started things rolling with a 12-yard gain. Gaboriault would soon charge 25 yards for his first touchdown and Kass would add the extra point to give Newtown a 14-0 lead.

Thomas Hutchison played a solid cornerback while Brian Stickles, Erik Dreher and Ryan McGrath held tough at the line on defense.

Gaboriault and Hutchison carried the ball on the next offensive series and were aided by the strong blocking of Bowen, Orrico and Mario Roehrs. Gaboriault would score the next touchdown on a nine-yard run. The extra-point kick was wide and the ‘Hawks had a 20-0 lead.

Later, back on offense, Scott Suhoza carried the ball twice and Martin warmed up with s short gain. Then Martin got the ball again and was off on a 43-yard touchdown run that put the Pee Wees ahead 26-0.

Shpunt, Mike Shannon, Scott Perry and Martin continued with some fine defensive play. Bowen and Speer helped stop Pomperaug on its final offensive series of the first half.

In the second half, Pomperaug scored early on a 45-yard run. Pomperaug then took advantage of a Newtown fumble and scored another touchdown to trim the Newtown lead to 26-14.

Newtown knuckled down, though, and moved the football on the legs of Kass and Gaboriault. McGrath caught a short, quick pass. Then DeVellis swept around end for 25 yards, 10 yards of which were gained while tip-toeing the sideline. Shpunt soon followed with his second touchdown catch of the year. Hutchison added the extra point and Newtown had a 33-14 lead.

The defense held tough again and DeVellis would soon end the scoring frenzy with a 12-yard TD run.

Ken Cardelle, Tom Selleck, Matt Kuruc, and Skyler Gajdosik finished up the day with strong defensive plays.

JUNIOR MIDGETS

 

NEWTOWN 14, POMPERAUG 0: Kevin Wasicki and Mark Ingerman hooked up for two touchdown passes to lead Newtown to its fourth consecutive win.

Following a quarterback sack by Roy Scheunemann and Mark Ingerman on defense, the Junior Midgets took over on offense and Wasicki quickly hit RJ Marus for a first down. Wasicki then found Ingerman with a pass and Ingerman rambled 40 yards for the TD. In the second quarter, Schuenemann – one defense – tipped a pass into the hands of John Lewis, giving the ball back to Newtown. Wasicki soon found Ingerman with a 55-yard touchdown pass that gave Newtown a 14-0 lead.

Jonathan Butler, Jack Capito and James Wiedemann were all strong on offense. Dylan Borst, Max Rojo and Billy Beatty held tight on defense. Max Reed had a fourth-quarter sack and Lewis broke up a pass to keep Pomperaug out of the end zone.

MIDGETS

 

POMPERAUG 27, NEWTOWN 8: Pomperaug scored three times in the first half and coasted to the win over Newtown.

In the third quarter, Newtown began to step it up a bit. Matt Selezan, John Collins, and Stephen Kean all recovered fumbles. Although Pomperaug went up 27-0, Chris Canfield gave Newtown’s its first touchdown with a 55-yard run (with Kean kicking the two-point conversion).

Brendan O’Connor, Sean Reilly, Collins, and Keith Gotthardt had solid games. Despite the loss, the Midgets have secured a spot in the playoffs.