Newtown High School’s football team, for the third consecutive week to begin the season, put up nearly 50 points en route to an easy triumph. The Nighthawks, in their September 26 home opener, toppled Pomperaug of Southbury, 49-3 before a packed house at Blue & Gold Stadium. After scoring 47 points in each of their first two contests, the Hawks had 35 by halftime – 29 of which came in the second quarter – in their third (no) contest.

Leading the Panthers just 6-0 after one quarter of play – on Jared Pearson’s two-yard scoring run – the Hawks seized complete control of the game in the second. Pearson lined up under center to take some snaps to mix up Newtown’s look on offense. Starting QB Jacob Burden connected with the versatile Pearson on a 13-yard touchdown pass to open the second-quarter scoring. The two-point conversion attempt failed and Newtown led 12-0 with 10:35 to play in the opening half.

Strong runs by Nick Rubino and a juggling catch in traffic by Julian Dunn at the one yard line led to Rubino punching the ball into the end zone. Then Rubino topped it off with a two-point conversion run for a 20-0 NHS advantage with 5:25 showing on the second-quarter clock.

The Nighthawks forced Pomperaug to punt the ball on almost every one of the visiting team’s possessions. A three and out late in the second led to a Newtown three and in. Just a trio of plays following a Pomperaug punt – a 36-yard Burden-to-Dunn hookup, followed by two Jaret DeVellis runs – was all it took for the Nighthawks to score again. DeVellis scored from seven yards out for a 26-0 lead with 3:24 to play. DeVellis mimicked Rubino’s feat by following up his own TD with a two-point run.

Burden completed long passes to Dunn and Troy Frangione to set up a Dunn TD reception late in the opening half.

The ground game and aerial attack were both prominent in the first home game.

“We have a ton of different weapons out there and I think we’re starting to see it developing,” Newtown Coach Steve George said.

Newtown’s only notable mistake came on a fumble on the second half kick return. Pomperaug tried a pooch kick to deny Newtown’s kick returners a chance, and it paid off for the visitors when they recovered a botched fair catch attempt. Newtown’s defense held the Panthers to a 33-yard field goal.

DeVellis responded with another touchdown less than two minutes later. Sparked by strong blocking on the part of Newtown’s offensive line, DeVellis was sprung free for a 67-yard run to set up first and goal from the four yard line. One play later, he found the paint yet again, making it 42-3.

Following an Ethan Carpenter interception, the Hawks added more points on Ben Mason’s three-yard TD run. In the fourth, a late interception by Michael Doyle put the exclamation point on the win.

Newtown’s defense has allowed just 21 points thus far this season, thanks to the efforts of linebacker Nick Samuelson, among others.

“I think the coaches do a great job of putting everyone in the right place and then it’s about the execution because we’re right there,” Samuelson said.

Winning big doesn’t get old.

“You can’t really get tired of it,” said Dunn, who contributed on offense as a receiver, on the other side of the ball as a defensive linebacker, and also in special teams play. Dunn booted some of his kickoffs through the end zone for touchbacks.

With Newtown’s defense repeatedly stymieing opposing offenses, the NHS offense may be feeding off that success. “It gives you confidence,” George said.

The Hawks aren’t content with the defensive effort despite the easy triumph. “Our defense looked good tonight but we can definitely play better,” Dunn said.