By Kim J. Harmon

The plan seemed so simple, but the execution of it seemed near impossible.

Head coach Ken Roberts was awfully matter-of-fact last week when he pointed out what it would take for the Newtown High School football team to defeat high-scoring Masuk in the traditional Thanksgiving matchup.

A simple plan …

“If we get into a shootout, we’ll lose,” coach Roberts said some 30 hours before kickoff. “We have to play defense and move the chains.”

… and one that worked to perfection as the Nighthawks defeated the Panthers, 27-21, last Wednesday night at Blue & Gold Stadium. With the win, the ‘Hawks – who suffered a 54-7 loss to Pomperaug on opening day back in September – improved to 7-2-1 and earned a seventh-place spot in the CIAC Class L rankings, a mere 75 points behind Windsor Locks.

“We were a little nervous,” said senior running back Bob Pattison, who scored the game-winning touchdown on a three-yard run in the fourth quarter, “but we knew what our defense could do. We were confident and we just came in and showed that we didn’t fear (Masuk) at all.”

On a wet and somewhat sloppy field, the ‘Hawks played defense (allowing only 255 yards of total offense to the team averaging 38.8 points per game, highest in the South-West Conference) and moved the chains (rushing for 262 yards on 41 carries, at a clip of 6.39 yards per rush).

“I knew we had a chance to win if we executed on offense and moved the chains,” said coach Roberts. “Our seniors did it. It was a great job by the entire program, from the freshmen right through to the coaching staff.”

Things were not looking all that well for the ‘Hawks early as Matt Allen put Masuk on top, 7-0, with a five-yard run just four minutes into the first quarter. But Roy Scheunemann answered right back for the ‘Hawks a couple minutes later, bursting through a hole off tackle and racing up the right sidelines 65 yards for a touchdown.

But only 20 seconds later, on Masuk’s first play from scrimmage on its ensuing drive, quarterback Anthony Krize flipped a pass to Shawn Cavanaugh and it turned into a 66-yard touchdown that put the Panthers back on top, 14-7.

It appeared as if the ‘Hawks – despite the favorable field conditions – had fallen into the shootout coach Roberts had feared.

But the defense began to take a stand and it started – as Masuk was driving in for another score – when Marc Ingerman recovered a fumble on the Newtown 20 with 3:14 left in the first quarter. The ‘Hawks shut the Panthers down for the rest of the half.

“We knew we had to make some adjustments at 14-7,” said coach Roberts. “Our defense has been strong all year, but we lost our cornerback (Dan Kearns) in the first quarter and that hurt. But coach (Brad Piccirillo) did such an awesome job preparing the team for this game and they were ready.”

The ‘Hawks accepted the kick to start the second half and on the second play from scrimmage, Pattison burst up the middle on a 64-yard run that took the ball all the way down to the Masuk one. Two plays later, John Collins – on a pitch left – swept around the corner for a three-yard touchdown with 10:05 left. But on the extra-point attempt, Steve Kean faked the kick and the holder flipped the ball to Brendan O’Connor who ran in for the two-point conversion to give the ‘Hawks a 15-14 lead.

Masuk had a chance to grab the lead back with 7:56 left in the third, but a 28-yard field goal went awry.

A few minutes later, after the ‘Hawks scooped up a fumble at their own 42 with 4:53 left in the third, Joe DeVellis – who helped spark the defense by knocking down a couple of passes – started the next scoring drive by breaking through the Masuk defense for 28 yards. On the ensuing play, sophomore quarterback Tucker Kass dropped a nice pass into the hands of senior tight end Brennan Coakley and after Coakley shed his defender he rambled untouched the rest of the way (34 yards all told) to put the ‘Hawks on top, 21-14.

But a little over a minute later, Masuk – working primarily from the shotgun set – scored on a seven-yard run by John Zervos to tie the score, 21-21.

Both teams stalled on their first offensive series in the fourth quarter, but things changed quickly with the ‘Hawks facing a third-and-15 situation with 5:03 left to play. Kass dropped back to pass and although he had DeVellis open the ball was tipped by a Masuk defense … only it fell right into DeVellis’ hands and the sophomore brought it all the way down to the Masuk 13.

And after picking up the first down inside the five, Pattison put the ‘Hawks on top – for good – with a three-yard run off tackle.

“We worked on that play all week and I told Tucker if he threw it, I would catch it,” said DeVellis, who had six grabs this season for 80 yards and a touchdown. “I love these seniors and I wanted to do anything I could to help them out.”

Masuk got the ball back at its own 37, but on the second play from scrimmage Collins picked off a pass in the flat at the Masuk 47 with 1:53 left. Pattison then took the ball four times and bulled his way through the defense for 21 yards and a pair of first downs to finish off the dramatic win.

“Being down at the half and coming back is one of the greatest feelings in my life,” said Pattison. “It’s awesome. After that (loss to Pomperaug) there were some doubters, but we went out there and showed them what we could do.”

Since opening the 2003 season at 1-5-1, the ‘Hawks went 11-3-1. And while finishing off the 2004 season at 7-2-1, the ‘Hawks (who lost to Brookfield on the final play of the game and tied Bunnell) were as little as one play away from qualifying for a CIAC Class L state tournament berth.

It was a pretty bad start for the ‘Hawks – but, man, what a finish.

Newtown 27, Masuk 21

First quarter: Masuk – Matt Allen 5 run (Shawn Cavanaugh kick); Newtown – Roy Scheunemann 65 run (Steve Kean kick); Masuk – Cavanaugh 66 pass from Anthony Krize (Cavanaugh kick). Third quarter: Newtown – John Collins 3 run (Brendan O’Conner run); Newtown – Brennan Coakley 34 pass from Tucker Kass (kick failed); Masuk – John Zervos 7 pass from Krize (Cavanaugh kick). Fourth quarter: Newtown – Bob Pattison 3 run (kick failed).

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing: Newtown – Bob Pattison 22-130, Roy Scheunemann 11-85, Mark Ingerman 3-10, John Collins 1-3, Joey Devellis 4-34; Masuk – Anthony Krize 5-31, Matt Allen 5-45, Roberto Muniz 2-4. Passing: Newtown – Josh Rouse 0-for-2, Tucker Kass 2-for-6 for 67 yards; Masuk – Anthony Krize 9-for-17 for 175 yards. Receiving: Newtown – Brennan Coakley 1-34, Joey DeVellis 1-33; Masuk – Shawn Cavanaugh 2-84, Roberto Muniz 2-24, Mike Diaz 2-57, John Zervos 3-10.