NHS Football Alums Compete In Hall Of Fame Game

By Andy Hutchison

FAIRFIELD — David Bray and Jake DeVellis, recent graduates of Newtown High School who were teammates on the football team, had a chance to reunite on the playing field in one last high school game.

The Nighthawk duo was selected to the Fairfield County team that took on the New Haven County squad in a battle of all-star high school football players in the 13th Annual Hall Of Fame Classic on July 10.

It wasn’t exactly a game to remember, from a score and end result standpoint, for the locals — New Haven County rolled to a 49-0 win under the lights at Sacred Heart University. But it was the experience and opportunity to play with top-notch players that made this somewhat of a winning situation for those on the losing end.

“It’s good for the kids. The definitely earned it,” NHS Coach Steve George said. “They worked hard all year.”

George nominated his quarterback, DeVellis, and lineman Bray, and both were chosen to represent Newtown.

They joined forces with some of their careerlong rivals from South-West Conference schools, including Brookfield, Masuk, and Bunnell, along with those from FCIAC schools.

DeVellis said it was a little strange to look to his side and see he was lined up next to a Masuk player, rather than against one of Newtown’s biggest foes. “It was a little unusual,” he said.

Players traded mascot stickers from each other’s schools and put them on their helmets as part of the tradition.

DeVellis said it was a nice experience to learn systems under new coaches during the two weeks of practice that led up to the game. He also acknowledged that it was a bit difficult to adjust to new teammates, taking snaps from a different center and timing plays with unfamiliar receivers, in a short span of practice time.

Bray, who blocked for DeVellis just as he did during this past season’s run to the SWC title game and state playoffs, will attend Sacred Heart this fall and looks forward to strapping on the pads at the collegiate level.

He had a chance to get a feel for the university’s turf field, along with a small taste of college football given that many of the players in this game are continuing their careers at the collegiate level.

“It’s nice to be able to play on the field before anyone else gets here,” he said.

DeVellis, who will attend Southern Connecticut State University in the fall, does not plan to continue his football career but is hoping to walk onto the baseball team.