Newtown High School Football Team Blanks New Fairfield 37-0, Keeps Winning

By Andy Hutchison

Generally, when a team is labeled for “playing only one half of a game” it’s a knock on the performance, but in the case of the Newtown High School football team it has become a way of not embarrassing opposing teams. The Nighthawks built yet another big halftime lead before putting it in cruise control in a lopsided victory over winless New Fairfield last Friday.

The Nighthawks built a 21-0 lead through the first 12 minutes of play and held a 34-0 halftime advantage en route to a 37-0 win, the team’s fifth straight triumph and first shutout of the campaign. Newtown is 5-1 (unbeaten in South-West Conference play at 5-0) and New Fairfield dropped to 0-6.

Already leading 7-0 after a Tory Deakin two-yard touchdown run, the Nighthawks used a little trickery to work toward building on their lead. On a fake punt, running back Kyle O’Connor took the snap and scrambled 13 yards for a first down to the New Fairfield 27-yard-line. Quarterback Jake DeVellis then tossed a short pass to Kurt Nacewicz, who turned it into a 14-yard TD reception when he broke through a few would-be tacklers and dove to the goal line — narrowly breaking the plane for six points.

Newtown attempted an onside kick but the ball went out of bounds, setting New Fairfield up with great field position, at midfield. The visiting Rebels, however, were forced to punt and Mike Lago blocked the kick to give Newtown possession at midfield. DeVellis proceeded to toss a short pass to Nacewicz, who sprinted most of the 44 yards on the play to the end zone for a 21-0 lead. Brett LeBlanc made a key block to set up Nacewicz’s second touchdown of the night.

In the second quarter it was more of the same. LeBlanc blocked a punt and Newtown recovered at the New Fairfield 34. On fourth-and-seven at the 31, DeVellis could not find any open receivers, but used his legs to gain 12 yards and keep the chains moving. NHS converted another fourth down and eventually scored again when O’Connor ran the ball in from seven yards out for a 27-0 cushion with 4:50 to play before the half. Kicker Rory Noonan, who made his first three kicks, had his fourth blocked, but little else went wrong for Newtown. DeVellis connected with O’Connor for a 24-yard score for a 34-0 advantage. Noonan tacked on a 24-yard field goal in the third to cap the scoring.

O’Connor had 76 rushing yards and Nacewicz compiled 75 receiving yards to lead the Hawks. DeVellis was 11-for-17 passing for 139 yards and three touchdowns. The quarterback also scrambled for 51 yards. Fullback Brian Kuruc had 43 yards on the ground. Ralph Sergiovanni, John Fracker, Ed White, Sean Devaney and Noonan also contributed to Newtown’s rushing attack. On defense, a number of Newtowners stood out as always. Cornerback Kyle McNamara picked off a pass and Mike Lago, Keith McGrath, Deakin and Kris Arndt combined for 17.5 of the team’s 34 tackles.

The Nighthawks have outscored their last three opponents a collective 116-14 despite easing up in the third and fourth quarters.

The Hawks will look to carry their winning ways through a pair of road games (at Notre Dame-Fairfield this Saturday at 3 pm and at Stratford on November 1, also at 3 pm) before the homecoming game, Friday, November 7, at 7 pm when Brookfield visits.