Newtown Youth Football kicked off the season this past weekend. Week one highlights are as follows:

Grade 3

Newtown 6, Amity 0: The Newtown Nighthawks faced the Amity Spartans at Amity High School in the first game of the season. Amity controlled the ball for the majority of the first half, but struggled to move it consistently versus a very strong Newtown defensive. Newtown turned the ball over on its first offensive possession, but put together an 11-play, 75-yard drive that put the Nighthawks in the lead. This drive included a run of 25 yards by Spencer Teidemann and two receptions totaling 50 yards from Jackson Rolfe. The drive was finished off on a 29-yard bubble pass from quarterback James Gantert to Rolfe, who ran it in for the score behind a great block from Teague Oddo.

Defensive lineman Ryan Cascone and linebacker Knox Levy combined for 11 total tackles in the game, including seven tackles for loss. Linebackers Everett Worster and James Aurelia made key tackles throughout the day, while defensive linemen AJ Bernstein, Connor Maklyan, and Kaden Kling were strong against the Amity run. The defensive battle continued in the second half, with both Amity and Newtown successfully moving the ball down the field but unable to score again. Ben Pfalzgraf and Ira Biekert made key stops in the open field as time was winding down to secure the first Nighthawk win. The Nighthawks have Labor Day weekend off and return to action next weekend against the Wallingford Vikings at Lyman Hall.

Grade 4

Hawks 31, Pomperaug 0: The Newtown Nighthawks hosted the Pomperaug Warriors for the season opener at Blue & Gold Stadium on Sunday morning with both teams eager to kick off the season. The Newtown defense started the game strong, not allowing the Warriors to gain any yards and forcing a turnover on downs. On offense, Dean Macaluso’s five-yard run was quickly followed by a 40-yard run by Hugo Borgerding to score the Nighthawks’ first touchdown of the season.

Newtown’s defense continued to keep the pressure on, with big tackles from Theo Prunty in the backfield and a quarterback sack from Joey Bartolic to keep the Warriors behind the line of scrimmage once again. On offense, Macaluso had two successful runs for a combined 21 yards, and then Prunty made an impressive 40-yard run to score the Nighthawks’ second touchdown. Prunty quickly followed this up with a punt return for 50 yards to score the Hawks’ third touchdown of the game. Newtown’s defense remained strong, with a big tackle from Carson Edwards and Colin D’Amico in the backfield and another turnover on downs for Pomperaug. Prunty returned the punt with a 20-yard run, and a run for eight yards from Cian Donoghue secured the first down for Newtown to end the first half with the Nighthawks leading 18-0.

The Hawks’ offense opened the second half with a fumble that was recovered by the Warriors. Two big tackles from Borgerding kept the Warriors on their half of the field, and Soren Phillips made the tackle to stop the fourth down conversion attempt. Donoghue then made three successive runs, including a 40-yard dash, for the Nighthawks’ fourth touchdown of the game. The Newtown defense continued to stymie the Warriors’ offensive attempts and only allowed one first down throughout the day. On offense, Macaluso made another strong run for ten yards and set the stage for Logan Smaldone to run the ball into the end zone for the Nighthawks’ fifth and final touchdown. The run for the extra point was good, bringing the final score to 31-0. Newtown will enjoy a well-earned break with a bye next weekend, and will return to action in two weeks when it travels to Cheshire to take on the Rams.

Grade 5

Hawks 21, Pomperaug 0: The Newtown Hawks started the season with a defensive clinic, shutting out the visiting Pomperaug Warriors Sunday afternoon at Blue & Gold Stadium. The Newtown defense forced multiple fumbles, continually rushed the quarterback, and had multiple tackles for losses. Newtown had huge tackles throughout the game by linebackers Brayden Stumpf, Bryce Memoli, Tyler Deeb, Chris Tortora, and Brody Boshell. The Newtown defensive line was on attack all day with big plays by James Ragusa, Carter Christensen, and Brody Fritz.

Offensively, Newtown was led by Memoli, who ran for two touchdowns, and had one extra point run and a two-point kick. Stumpf barreled in for the third Hawks touchdown of the day in the fourth quarter, making it 21-0 Hawks after the extra two-point kick. Newtown had hard runs by Fabbi Reyes, Kellen Kowalczyk, Chris Tortora, and Brody Boshell. Tortora was a force all day under center for Newtown, orchestrating the Hawks' offense. Newtown's offense came together in its first game of the season as Dalton Dudeck and Finn Rangel laid big blocks, opening up lanes for the Newtown running backs. The offensive line with Richie Bartomioli under center, Jack Liberta, Lucas Preziosi, Sebastian Montaleza, and Roman Filipek held strong, allowing the running backs to find their running room.

Newtown has five new players this season, all of whom are making an immediate impact: On the line, Alex Kokenos and Dylan Golder, running back Jackson Dimeglio, and receivers/defensive backs Beckham Maslowski and Sharif Gordon.

Grade 6

Hawks 40, Wallingford 6: The Hawks put together a dominant performance from start to finish in their home opener, a game highlighted by big defensive plays, explosive runs, and a strong all-around team effort.

Newtown set the tone early on. Keegan Rosenschein delivered a big hit in the backfield before the offense moved the ball through the air, with Ethan Deming connecting with Maverick Levy for a first down. Joey Skura followed with a strong run. On the other side of the ball, Maddox Wilson and Rosenschein each recorded quarterback sacks to keep pressure on the Wallingford Vikings.

The Hawks opened the scoring with Rosenschein finding the end zone for a touchdown. The ensuing extra point attempt was unsuccessful. Defensively, the Hawks continued to control the game in the second quarter. Newtown's offense responded with a first-down run before DJ Macaluso scored a touchdown, extra point no good. The Vikings answered with a touchdown of their own, leaving the Hawks with a 20-6 lead at halftime.

The Hawks opened the second half with possession and quickly extended their advantage. Skura broke loose for a spectacular 55-yard touchdown run, with Wilson adding the extra point. Levy later completed a pass to Skura, helping the Hawks continue to move the ball effectively. Wilson added another quarterback sack before Baer Rangel came up with an interception to give the Hawks possession. Rosenschein capped the scoring with another touchdown, followed by an extra point from Levy, as the Hawks pulled away.

The win featured contributions throughout the lineup. Declan Kelly had a strong debut at center, helping anchor the Hawks' offense. Newtown's defensive and offensive lines also played an important role in the victory, with contributions from Mark Trester, Liam Calle, Daniel Springer, Hayes Bartel, Brendon Tito, Brody Conklin, Keaton Ervin, Luke Anderson, and Ryan Stott. With big plays on both sides of the ball, the Hawks turned in a stellar victory. They will travel to Cheshire on Sunday for an early morning game.

Grade 7

Hawks 7, Guilford 6: The Blue Nighthawks opened their season with a hard-fought win in a defensive duel with the Guilford Grizzlies. Newtown deferred the opening kick, and the defense set the tone early, with Brody Taylor pinning Guilford on its own 35 yard line to start. Tackles by Caden Kowalczyk (for loss), Jake Kennedy, and Gavin Penna forced a four and out on the Grizzlies' opening possession. Newtown's own opening possession would also go four and out after rushes by Taylor and Hudson Levy in the face of a formidable Guilford defensive front, foreshadowing the fight between the 40s that was to come.

Hits by Tucker Lowe (for loss), Austin Rekos, Cole Willinger, and Colin Doyle once again sent the Grizzlies' offense back to the sideline after four downs, with the Nighthawks' offense following suit to close out the first quarter after rushes by Doyle, Levy, Rekos, and a reception by Chase Pacuk from Levy. A crucial tackle by Taylor to start the second quarter, followed by hits from Doyle, Blake van Scotter, Chase Blank, and Cole Willinger contained the Guilford advance at midfield. Dynamic dashes by Doyle and Taylor, with a catch and run by Rekos from Levy, showed promise on Newtown's next series, only to come up short at midfield. The Grizzlies appeared to break the stalemate at centerfield after tackles by Penna, van Scotter, and Taylor, only to throw an interception to Doyle at the 15 after QB pressure from Andrew Ross. Now with momentum, Newtown methodically marched down the field in the closing minutes of the first half on runs by Lowe and Doyle along with receptions by Taylor, Willinger, and Lowe from Levy, only to come up short at the goal line, bringing to a close a scoreless first half.

The Nighthawks received to open the second half, however, the Grizzlies took possession shortly thereafter and looked to be contained after tackles by Kowalczyk and Penna, but then escaped for their sole score of the game (point after intercepted by Willinger) to go ahead 6-0. Newtown looked to bounce back with a score of its own on a drive lasting the rest of the third and into the fourth quarter on the legs of Taylor, Doyle, and Levy along with catches by Rekos, Willinger, and Pacuk (passes from Levy), only to come up empty handed. Not to be deterred, the Nighthawks' defense swarmed the Grizzlies thanks to a sack by Penna and tackle by Kennedy.

After another quick offensive series by the Nighthawks, Lowe came up with a forced fumble recovery at midfield, positioning Taylor for a 25-yard run that then set the table for a Levy to Lowe to touchdown pass (point after by Levy) to put Newtown ahead by a point. Guilford threatened in the waning minutes of the game, driving deep into Newtown territory in the face of withering hits by Taylor, Penna, Kennedy, Doyle, and Mario DiSanto, only to be intercepted in the end zone by Pacuk, leaving Levy to kneel it out for the win.

Grade 8

East Haven 35, Hawks 27: The Hawks battled hard in their back-and-forth season opener against the East Haven Yellow Jackets. The game was scoreless through the first quarter, with both defenses making key stops. East Haven broke the tie in the second quarter with a short rushing touchdown and a successful two-point conversion to take an 8-0 lead. Newtown struggled to sustain drives early, despite defensive highlights including fumble recoveries by Andrew Adams and Shane Lovett. East Haven extended its lead to 14-0, but Newtown responded with a big play when Zach Preziosi broke free for a 64-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 14-6 before halftime. The defense continued to make plays, led by Lovett’s first sack of the game and strong pressure on the quarterback. Newtown entered halftime trailing 14-6.

The second half featured a dramatic comeback. After forcing a turnover, Zach Preziosi scooped up an East Haven fumble and returned it for a touchdown. Nate Preziosi converted the extra point, tying the game with four minutes remaining in the third quarter. The defense continued to shine, with another sack from Lovett and a pass breakup by Liam Goulette. In the fourth quarter, East Haven regained momentum with a touchdown and extra point to take the lead. On their birthdays, the Preziosi twins answered back when Nate Preziosi connected with Zach Preziosi on a touchdown pass, as Zach fought through multiple defenders and raced down the sideline for the score. After an unsuccessful extra point, Newtown trailed by two points.

East Haven pulled away late with two more touchdowns to build a 35-19 lead, but Newtown never quit. Zach Preziosi capped off a standout performance with another long touchdown run of more than 40 yards, and a successful kick by Dylan Weiss brought the score to 35-27. Newtown recovered the ensuing kickoff with 33 seconds remaining, but was unable to complete the comeback. The Nighthawks take on Milford at Blue & Gold Stadium Sunday, September 6 at 3 pm.