Nighthawk Football Team Soars Past Falcons

Newtown High School’s football team got all the scoring it needed on defense thanks to an early-game safety and a shutout performance against Joel Barlow on November 6. The Nighthawks blanked the Falcons 28-0 behind Max Nacewicz’s three touchdown runs, to improve to 7-1 with two games remaining.

This was a “home” game for the Nighthawks, but played in Brookfield because of ongoing renovations at Blue and Gold Stadium. While the Nighthawks continue to play on the road the team continues to be hampered by injuries — but also continues to win. Backup quarterback Dan Hebert, in the pocket for injured starter Will Arndt, left the Barlow game with an injury in the early going. Cody Fischer stepped in to take the snaps and lead the charge.

The Nighthawks appeared poised to take the early lead the conventional way — on offense — but an interception by the Falcons gave Barlow the ball at its own two yard line late in the first quarter. Three plays later, Newtown defenders Nacewicz and Michael Lord combined on a tackle in the end zone for a safety and a 2-0 NHS lead. Gunnar Cedergren sacked the quarterback to force a punt, and Lord recovered a fumble in an all-defensive first half which ended with Newtown clinging to the 2-0 lead.

After Justin Brophy’s second half kickoff pinned Barlow back at its own 14, Nacewicz recovered a fumble at the 17 to give NHS great field position. Nacewicz later scored on a two-yard run and Brophy’s kick for the point after made it 9-0 Nighthawks less than three minutes into the third quarter.

Nacewicz broke the game open with a 78-yard TD run for a 16-0 cushion later in the third. Doug Brede quickly thwarted Barlow’s next possession with a quarterback sack deep in the backfield and a tackle at the line of scrimmage. On Newtown’s ensuing drive, Nacewicz followed great blocking from the offensive line and fellow running backs Lou Fenaroli and Andrew Cebry to carry the ball six times for 45 yards and capped the drive with a four-yard TD run with 1:41 left in the third.

Cebry blocked a punt, giving the Hawks excellent field position at the Barlow 35, then carried the ball three times ball, concluding the drive with a ten-yard TD run with 9:41 left in the game.

Nacewicz carried the ball 14 times for 153 yards, Cebry carried seven times for 40 yards, and Fenaroli had ten rushes for 46 yards. Cedergren and Doug Brede both had six tackles and a QB sack, and Nacewicz and Lord compiled eight and seven tackles, respectively.