Newtown High School Football Team Falls To Shelton In Opener

By Andy Hutchison

SHELTON — Expectations among the Newtown High School football team members were high coming into the season. Then came a 28-7 season-opening loss under a mostly light, steady rain at Shelton last Friday night. Nevertheless, the Nighthawks remain optimistic — after all, this was only one game and take away a few bad bounces and it may have had a different ending — but realize there is room for improvement.

The season began with Shelton scoring the first points on a touchdown on the opening kickoff return. Shelton extended its lead to 14-0 in the first quarter on a double pass play before Newtown’s defense dug its heels in and gave the offense a chance to forge a comeback. The Nighthawks had trouble moving the ball but got a spark on a trick play — a fake punt. Punter/backup quarterback Charlie Lobosco completed a 25-or-so-yard pass to a sliding Kyle McNamara to the Shelton 32. The Nighthawks cashed in when quarterback Jake DeVellis hit Kurt Nacewicz with a 10-yard strike in the end zone on third-and-goal. It was 14-7 at the half and the local gridders had the momentum on their side.

In the third quarter, however, Shelton regained its two-touchdown cushion on a controversial play. Derek Leszczynski scooped up a fumble and ran it into the end zone from 33 yards out for a 21-7 lead. It appeared the ball was fumbled forward and, thus, the play should have been blown dead but the score stood. In the fourth quarter, Newtown was driving and threatening to again slice the deficit in half, but DeVellis’ pass into the end zone was deflected and picked off, setting up the final Shelton score and killing Newtown’s chances. Just before the game-sealing interception, Newtown thought it had pulled to within a single score but had a touchdown waved off on a holding penalty with 4:49 to play.

“It’s frustrating because you work so hard and plays like that happen,” DeVellis said.

“We take away a couple of those big plays and all of a sudden it’s a ballgame,” NHS Head Coach Steve George added.

“It was really frustrating — that’s the game right there,” he said of the TD being called back.

The coach was pleased with his team’s defensive effort which, for the most part, kept Shelton in check throughout the evening.

“I’m very proud of the way my defense played,” George said. “We’ve got to focus on getting better. Our passing attack has to get better, our screen passing, and mostly our rushing game,” George said.

Newtown will try to maintain its defensive stinginess and get the offense in gear in game number two, at New Milford on Friday night.

“We’ve got to punch the ball in when we get near the end zone,” DeVellis said.

“We’ve got to capitalize on our opportunities,” Nacewicz added.