79ers

79ers 40, Shelton 19: The Newtown Nighthawk 79ers opened the season with a dominating win over the Shelton Seahawks. The defense – led by Jake Dandrea, Zach Reilly, Ian Kennedy, Nick Sabillon, Carlos Contreras, and Julian Crone – established their dominance early by forcing Shelton to punt after three downs on the first possession. The Newtown offense struck quickly with running back Shaine Luzietti taking the first handoff 20 yards up the middle. Jeffrey Garrity took the next handoff 40 yards for the games first score. Garrity tacked on the extra point to give Newtown a 7-0 lead. On Newtown’s next possession, Luke Hannan outraced the Seahawk defense 31 yards for another score. Michael Haddick added the extra point to put Newtown up 14-0. Shelton came back and scored on the next possession but was thwarted on the extra point when William Wallace sacked the Shelton quarterback in the backfield. Newtown scored on its third possession after Shaine Luzietti racked up 40 yards on two carries to get the offense into scoring position. Quarterback Jack Street ran in Newtown’s third touchdown from 9 yards out and James Iarpoli tacked on the extra point. The Newtown offensive line continued its dominance in the second half, led by the blocking of Aiden Foss, Trevor Jacozzi Nick Fischer, Jordan Conrad, Grant Baker, Will Stenz, Tommy Gies, and William Wallace. Newtown Running backs CJ Demers, Mathew Carpenter, TJ O’Connell, and Nevin Bell-Hill all had strong runs. Newtown’s fourth touchdown of the day came on a pick six with Jack Street intercepting a pass and going 40 yards for the touchdown. Michael Haddick scored Newtown’s fifth TD of the day on a 20-yard run. Jack Street finished off the day with his third TD on a 20-yard run with James Iarpoli adding the extra point to cap off the victory.

Grade 5

Nighthawks 26, Norwalk Gold 0: The home opener for the fifth graders played out at Blue & Gold Stadium under sunny skies tinged with smells from the grill and Snack Shack. In short, perfect for football! Newtown improved to 2-0 on Sunday, with scores coming from both the offense and defense. Fullback Daniel “the road paver” Mason pounded two into the end zone and running back Griffin Cross had a terrific sideline run for another. Quarterback Luke Melillo hooked up with wide receiver Tucker Garrity on a 20-yard strike for the fourth TD of the day. Not to be denied, the defense contributed with a safety. Cross and Garrity had over 100 yards rushing apiece. Excellent play from Derrick Lewis, Tom Usher, Garret Norberg, Jack Clark, Connor Hughes, Karl Kelly, and Jack Swanson contributed to the outcome. Offensive lineman John Albanesi, Brandon Giglio, Shane Demers, Jack Hannan, and Norberg, along with Gavin Connors, Kyle Cascone, Jack Clark,  Thomas Usher, Thomas Hassleberger, Jack Swanson, Thomas Jewell, Ryan Straiton, Connor Hughes, and Chris Maturo opened holes all day and were the driving force behind the big drives, including one for 98 yards. The defense, with big plays by Robbie Morrill, Reed Hammond, Gren Paynter, Matthew Dubois and company, gang-tackled and ransacked the Packers’ offense as the Nighthawks cruised to victory.

Grade 6

Newtown 28, Shelton Seahawks 0: The Newtown offense got to work early on Sunday when Ryan Kost connected with Mark Hall on a third down and 17 for a for a 93-yard pass play on the third play of the game. Kost also connected with David Daria and Kyle Roche for touchdowns. CJ Shambelan, two carries for 41 yards, and Tim Shaw, three for 25, led the rushing attack. The Newtown offense capped its scoring for the day with a touchdown run by Josh Dunn. Newtown’s defense also had a great day, keeping a tough-running Shelton offense out of the end zone with a great team effort. The linebackers led the way with Dunn making nine tackles and Mike Garner and Will Stenz contributing with four tackles each. Garner also had a tackle for a four-yard loss, and a sack. David Petrini had a big day on the defensive line with two tackles and combining with Shambelan for a sack. Defensive linemen Doug Carriero, Jacob Duffy, Tristan Crone, and Connor Marlin contributed to the shutout with two tackles apiece.

Grade 7

Newtown 27 Norwalk 12: After two postponements due to Tropical Storm Irene, the 2010 Candlewood Valley League champion Nighthawks began the campaign in the Colonial Youth Football League with a victory over Norwalk Green. The Newtown defense quickly went to work on Norwalk’s opening drive with Ben Mason forcing a fumble which was recovered by Ryan Brello. Patrick Conte led the offense downfield with a 30-yard run. Mason capped off the drive with a two-yard run for the touchdown. Norwalk quickly took the ball the other way just to have the drive ended by Steven Moccio with an interception in the end zone. In the second quarter, Adam Bell forced a Norwalk fumble, recovered by Bobby Haskins. The half ended with the Nighthawk defense, led by Bell, Alex Morganti, Jack Phelps, and Steve Macejko, holding Norwalk scoreless. The second half opened with Mason returning a kickoff for 48 yards into Norwalk’s territory. Norwalk’s defense stopped the Newtown momentum with an interception. Being forced to go for it on fourth down, Norwalk was stopped short by Morganti and Thomas Long, turning the ball over on downs. On the ensuing drive, Conte hit Haskins for a 45-yard reception.  Mitchell Savoca then connected with Moccio in the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown reception. Conte connected with Haskins on the extra point attempt putting Newtown up 13-0. Norwalk’s next drive was cut short by the defensive efforts of Ryan Marusi and Justin Dunn, and Newtown took over. Conte hit Mason on a screen pass up the middle for a 52-yard touchdown run. Norwalk was not going down quietly in the fourth quarter as the team put together a drive capped off by a 50-yard run for a touchdown.  Mason blocked the extra point attempt. Newtown responded with a drive of its own downfield ending with a five-yard touchdown run by Joe Acousti. Morganti connected on the extra-point attempt. Norwalk again put together a touchdown drive to end the game, despite the defensive efforts of Owen McInerney and George Pagett.

Newtown 12 Norwalk 0: The Nighthawks took to the field for the second time in four days to face the Norwalk Packers. The game turned out to be a defensive showdown with the Nighthawks coming out on top. Newtown closed the first quarter by forcing Norwalk into turning the ball over on downs due to the defensive line of Adam Bell, Alex Morganti, Stevie Macejko, and Thomas Long. Newtown opened the second quarter with a reception by Owen McInerney, followed by a Patrick Conte run, and a Ben Mason five-yard run for the touchdown. On the Packers’ next possession, tackles by Morganti and Thomas Long forced Norwalk into a third and 30 situation. Mason made an interception for a pick-six, putting Newtown up 12-0 at the half. The second half continued to play out as a defensive game with both teams going scoreless. The defensive efforts of Ryan Marusi, Mitch Savoca, and Morganti forced Norwalk to turn the ball back over to the Nighthawks with Ryan Brello recovering the fumble. After back and forth play, Newtown put together an offensive drive following a Conte fake punt and running 28 yards for a first down. A fumble on the next play was recovered by Colin McCafferty netting a five-yard gain.  The drive ended with a field goal attempt hitting the crossbar and bouncing out. Consecutive tackles by Matt Bucci and Bobby Haskins for a loss of yardage set up another Norwalk third and long situation. The Newtown defense of Justin Dunn, John Pierce, and Willie Whitlock stopped Norwalk.

Grade 8

Newtown 37 Shelton 6: Newtown bounced back in convincing fashion after suffering a last-minute loss against Norwalk (16-14) the previous week. The Nighthawks scored on their initial drive as Jared Pearson (seven carries for 150 yards, three TDs) galloped 75 yards on fourth down behind the blocking of Christian Morlock and Jeremy Salaris. Henry Lyon added the first of his three extra point kicks for an 8-0 lead. Shelton came back to score on a long pass play, but the tying extra point was blocked by Andrew Svanda. Newtown extended the lead in the second, as Pearson took a toss around left end for a 42-yard touchdown made possible by a great downfield block by Nick Samuelson. Entering the third quarter, Pearson hooked up with Matt Elias on a touchdown pass for the second straight week, this one covering three yards for a 24-6 lead. The next possession saw Pearson take a swing pass from Matt Maturo (6-for-9 passing for 90 yards, two TDs) and scamper 39 yards for the score. Elias and Svanda had key blocks. The final score of the day came on a 32-yard pass from Maturo to Devin Luzietti (32 yards rushing, 43 receiving). Yet again, the downfield blocking was superb, as Gordon Walsh and Declan Sullivan allowed Luzietti to go untouched for the score. Michael Doyle ran in the extra point.  Other offensive highlights included first down runs by Scooter McCarthy and Michael Roche behind blocks by RJ Oliviera, Chance McMahon, and Nick Rohrbacher. The defensive front of Morlock, Ryan Shaw, Samuelson, Charlie Fletcher, and Bryan Kiley was formidable against the run, yielding just 32 yards on 19 carries. Against the pass, Shaw led the way with one total sack, while Fletcher, Morlock, Maturo, and Pearson each had a half sack. Elias had two pass defends, while Doyle and John DelRossi had one apiece.