Date: Mon 30-Oct-1995

Author: TOMW

Illustration: I

Full Text:

Mike Powers, NHS Football Lineman

B Y T.W YATT

When Newtown High School football coach Bob Zito finds himself looking at a

crucial short-yardage situation he doesn't need to consult with the voice on

the other end of the headphones. He doesn't need to reexamine his team's

position on the field. And he certainly doesn't need to resort to trickery.

No, Zito can have his quarterback give the ball to whomever he chooses. Just

as long as he follows number 77.

The young man inside of that double-seven game jersey, Newtown High senior

Mike Powers, has quickly blossomed into one of the Indians' most unsung and

most valuable players this fall.

At six-foot-three and 235 pounds, Powers is Newtown's biggest man up front.

Zito also calls him his best.

" I don't even have to think about it, " Zito said. " He's our best offensive

lineman. He gets better and better every game. His best game is always the

last one we played. "

In Newtown's most recent victory, 37-7 over Immaculate, Zito ran the ball

behind Powers all afternoon. The senior helped his backfield teammates to gain

185 yards and dominate the game clock in muddy and unfavorable field

conditions. " He had a great game against Immaculate, " said the coach. " We

ran over his side the whole day. He was pancaking people and putting them on

their backs. It's beautiful to watch him on film. "

When Powers isn't opening holes or protecting his quarterback, from his right

tackle position, he's lining up in the trenches on the other side of the ball.

" It's tough to say which side of the ball he's better on, " Zito said. "

Defensively, his job is to occupy area to free up our linebackers. He's not

going to make many big plays doing that, but when the linebackers make the

plays he's getting his job done. And they have been. "

Outstanding two-way lineman haven't exactly been a rarity at Newtown High

School over the years, but in the case of Mr Powers there's an exception.

It's his first year.

When tossed into the fray as a wet-behind-the-ears sophomore lineman, Powers

learned from the school of hard knocks. Though big and strong for a tenth

grader, Powers was banged around in his first varsity football preseason until

a broken leg, in the final scrimmage, bounced him for the season.

His leg eventually healed, but Mike Powers didn't come back out the following

year as a junior.

" I think he got intimidated by the whole thing and got a bad taste in his

mouth, " Zito speculated. " We threw him into a starting role with some real

rugged seniors in preseason and he got banged up a little bit. He didn't come

out for football last year, but he was at every single game. I remember

turning around and seeing him sitting there in the stands. "

While he had foregone his junior football season, though, Powers remained an

active and well-rounded member of his high school. In addition to competing

with the NHS track and field team and becoming an avid weight lifter, Powers

was also a member of the NHS choir, an actor in the drama club, and a member

of the debate team.

But football seemed to have left an emptiness in Mike's life.

Beginning his senior year, Powers made a choice. He wanted to get back out on

the field. And starting with an impressive showing in the school's springtime

Blue & Gold game, Mike went on the comeback trail.

Helping to fill the void of three graduated NHS linemen, Powers became the

focal point and the Indians followed him out of the blocks to a 6-0 start this

season. And with Newtown's lack of size up front, coach Zito considers Powers

a godsend.

" Mike was like the missing link for us this year, " said the coach. " And

he's gone beyond our expectations. He's such an easy going and courteous guy

off the field, but on the field he turns it up a notch. Maybe two notches.

Mike really wants to win. "

And whether or not the entire Newtown High School football team wins will

depend largely on the performance of #77. Powers wasn't in uniform a year ago

as his school was twice outsized and overmatched by two-time defending WCC

champion, Brookfield.

He's there now.

And there's plenty of room on his shoulders.