Hut Hut ... Youth Football Game Highlights

Grades 2-3

Newtown 79ers 13,  Somers 6: The 79ers pulled out a soggy win at Somers, NY on Saturday afternoon. On the opening series of the game, Josh Dunn capped off a nine-play, 64-yard drive with a 9-yard sweep to the left side for a touchdown. Solid blocking by Michael Garner, AJ Salaris and Alex Street allowed Newtown to consistently march down the field. On the first play from the defensive side of the ball for Newtown a fumble forced by Brandon “Gigs” Giglio was recovered by Somers but the tone for the game was set. Daniel Badiola, Tucker Garrity and Gren Paynter made key tackles on the second Somers possession, forcing a punt. The next defensive series resulted in a Somers fumble. Simon Preston made a hit during the exchange and Larry DeLuca recovered the ball. The first play from scrimmage after the turnover was a toss right to CJ Shembelan who took it 28 yards for a touchdown behind the solid blocking of Ryan Williams and William Stenz. Ryan Kost topped it off with a QB run to the wide side for the extra point for a 13-0 halftime lead. Ryan Tani, Derrick Lewis, Jake Wetchler, Jack Carello and Tucker Garrity had key tackles in the second half.

Grade 4

Newtown 25, Somers 6: Bobby Haskins scored two touchdowns, one after receiving a 45-yard pass from Justin Dunn who also plunged into the end zone on a quarterback sneak. Patrick Conte scored on an end-around. Jack Wellman and Edward Lovely helped out with outstanding blocking for the offense. Joseph Accousti, Ryan Marusi and Adam Bell played strong defense.

Grade 5

Newtown Gold 22, Somers 6: Jared Pearson ran 61 yards for the first Newtown touchdown. Pearson scored for the conversion point behind the powerful front line of Matt Davis, Ryan Shaw, Jeremy “Capt. Crunch” Salaris, Sean “Scooter” McCarthy and Michael Dutsar. Tim Mammon, John Delrossi, Brian Kiley and Charlie Fletcher provided key tackles and linebackers Doyle, Salaris and Pearson were strong, helping to hold Somers to minus five yards after the first 19 plays. Halfback Michael Doyle had big carries to set up quarterback Ethan Carpenter’s touchdown. Carpenter ran outside and beat the Somers defenders to the goal line. Nick Genovese tallied more than 20 yards on Newtown’s next possession which set up Steven “Fax” Faxlanger’s touchdown run behind Declan Sullivan’s block for a 20-0 lead. Newtown kicker Ryan Shaw pinned Somers at its six yard line and James Accousti, Flax, Charlie Fletcher and Doyle helped push Somers back to its one yard line. Nick  Bourgeouis and Pearson blasted through the line and caught the Somers quarterback behind the goal line for a rare safety. Matt Carino and Kyle Martinez did not allow a runner past their safety positions until deep in the third quarter. Gabriel Barrett made several tackles in the win.

Grade 8

Newtown 28, Bethel 0: Newtown started its season off with a convincing victory against Bethel this past Sunday in Bethel. Newtown scored its first touchdown on an option pass thrown by Josh Villa. After taking the pitch from the quarterback, Villa swept right and passed an 18-yarder to Chris Devaney. Devaney, fully extended, made a leaping catch and ran the final five yards for the score. Newtown was led offensively by Danny Hebert who ran for Newtown’s second touchdown, returned a punt for another and returned a late-game interception for a final touchdown. Overall, the front line was anchored by strong blocking from Mason Flynn, Tom Bauer and Ralph Strocchia. Ivan Hutchinson contributed two extra points that easily cleared the goalposts. Newtown was strong on defense, yielding only 22 yards in the game. John Carroll had a 15-yard sack to set the tone for the game. James Marusi and Patrick Thornberg each recorded a sack and a half. Robbie Hughes and Villa shut down the Bethel run with great pursuit from the linebacker slots. Hutchinson had an interception late in the third quarter.

Newtown 39, Bethel Bobcats Silver 25: The Nighthawks gained 400 yards on the ground. Jaret DeVellis, Colton Smith and Nick Lotrecchiano combined on 22 carries for 355 yards and six touchdowns. Bubba Condon added two extra points and 15 hard earned yards for four first downs. Rat Rubino, Sugar Shane Quimby and Forest Speed added the remaining 30 yards on just four carries. The offensive line of Eric Street, Griffin Davis, Kevin Conte, Eric Cascone, Jake Lambert and Connor Roche pened up huge holes for their backs. The defense was led by Jaret DeVellis, Sugar Shane Quimby, Tim Krapf and Bubba Condon (six tackles each). The special teams were led by Quimby and Nolan Fisher (two and a half tackles each). Speed, Griffin Davis, Ryan Sullivan, Waterbug Santella and Aidan Petershack also stood out on defense.