Nighthawk Football Team Wins Opener

By Andy Hutchison

SOUTHBURY — Newtown High School’s football team overcame an early 7-0 deficit, seized control and built a 21-7 lead, then hung on for a 21-13 win over Brookfield in the season-opening game on September 17. A “home” game for the Nighthawks, this afternoon battle between South-West Conference foes was held at Pomperaug High while the conversion from grass to turf is completed at Blue and Gold Stadium.

Newtown trailed for the better part of the first half ,but tied the score and took the lead in a span of 3:11 worth of game time midway through the contest.

“We knew Brookfield was going to be a good squad. We saw them in preseason. They’re real athletic, they’re real big. They’ve got some size and we knew they were going to cause problems for us. And down 7-0 that just confirmed my worries,” NHS Coach Steve George said.

The Nighthawks surrendered an early touchdown but the defense hung tough before the offense finally produced its first score of the campaign late in the opening half. First-year varsity starting quarterback Will Arndt finished off the game-tying drive with a three-yard run into the end zone to deadlock the score with just 28 seconds remaining before halftime.

Newtown grabbed the lead in the third quarter on Rory Noonan’s 17-yard catch and run to pay dirt less than three minutes into the second half. The go-ahead score was set up by Arndt’s 30-yard pass to Sean Devaney. Newtown never looked back.

“It shows the character of a team,” George said of the comeback effort. “We had a couple of good plays and Will didn’t make any mistakes.”

The Hawks extended their lead, with 7:21 remaining in the fourth quarter, following the only turnover of the game. Eric McCabe pounced on a fumbled ball on a Brookfield attempt at a fair catch on a punt return. It did not take long for the Hawks to cash in. On the next play, fullback Lou Fenaroli scored from 19 yards out to make it a two-possession game. Rory Noonan’s third extra point of the day made it 21-7.

“That’s the difference on the scoreboard right up there,” George said. “Obviously, if you win the turnover battle you’re going to win the game.”

Brookfield answered just 2:06 later when Leaon Gordon found the end zone for the second time, on a 30-yard scamper. A bobble on the extra point hold helped the Nighthawks block a low kick. Still, Brookfield could tie the game with another score and a successful two-point conversion. The Newtown defense, however, preserved the lead.

Defensive back Brendan McNamara came up with a big pass breakup. Max Nacewicz, who had consecutive quarterback sacks to thwart one Brookfield drive, helped seal the win on the other side of the ball with a clutch first-down run on a third and five in the final minute-plus.

“We definitely came out flat, but we kept our composure — we kept playing,” Nacewicz said after the win. “I’m really proud of the guys.”

Nacewicz had eight tackles, and fellow defender Michael Lord complied seven tackles.

Arndt threw for 190 yards, Fenaroli accumulated 67 combined rushing and receiving yards, Devaney had four catches for 53 yards, and Dan Hebert caught three passes for 56 yards.

George said the character and fight the team showed are strong points he’d like to see carried over in games to come, but added that he would like to see some improvement, including turning some missed tackles into successful tackles.

“There are a lot of things we need to work on, but it was a great effort by everybody and I think things will only get better from here,” Arndt added.

The Hawks, following a September 25 game at Bethel, will visit Immaculate of Danbury on October 2 as a stretch of five straight games away from Blue and Gold to begin the season continues.