EIGHTH GRADE

Newtown 24, Ridgefield 0

 

Kyle Vignone rushed for 300 yards and scored three touchdowns as the eighth-grade squad blanked Ridgefield, 24-0.

In a highly anticipated match up between two undefeated teams, the Newtown offense erupted with three touchdowns and the defense continued its aggressive play as it shut down a Ridgefield offense that had averaged 28 points a game.

But the game got off to an ominous start when Newtown fumbled the opening kickoff deep in its own territory. As the home crowd grew quiet, the defense – unaffected – raced out onto the field and drove Ridgefield backwards on three consecutive plays before finishing off with a big sack by Rory Noonan on fourth and long.

Then Ryan Korth came up with drive ending interception on the next possession.

 Early in the second quarter Vignone raced 80 yards for his first score – and the first against Ridgefield this season – to give the Nighthawks an 8-0 lead before the half.

Midway through the third quarter, Vignone broke off tackle and scampered 34 yards to notch his second score of the game to put Newtown ahead, 16-0. Ridgefield quickly drove deep into Newtown territory but Brian Kilmurray hurried the QB twice as Ridgefield went to the air and the locals took possession when the defense foiled a fourth down conversion attempt.

Two plays later, Vignone took the handoff and made some nifty moves before racing 85 yards for his third touchdown of the day to put the locals ahead, 24-0.

Throughout the game, the aggressive play of Sean Devaney, Max Nacewicz, Rob Franzino, Matt Datin, Eric McCabe, Nick Dinelli, Fischer, Noonan and Vignone made moving the ball very difficult for Ridgefield.

The first place Nighthawks take their 3-0 record on the road when they travel to Norwalk to face off against the Titans, this Sunday.

SIXTH GRADE

Ridgefield 19, Newtown 18

Danny Hebert scored a pair of touchdowns and Jack Kearney added another, but in an exciting back ’n’ forth game, the sixth graders came up on the short end of a 19-18 score.

Hebert first scored on a 75-yard interception return to tie the score at 6-6. After Ridgefield scored on a long run, the Nighthawks engineered a long drive highlighted by a 20-yard sweep by Patrick Capozziello and a 23-yard completion from Hebert to JP Kitzmiller.   Kearney took it in the last nine yards for the score.

In the second half Newtown took the lead on a 40-yard TD run by Hebert and the locals had another good chance to score and take the lead, but ran out of time at the end of the game.

On defense the Nighthawks were led by the outstanding play of James Marusi, Phillip Reynolds, Christian Barrett and Justin DeVellis.

The Hawks will travel to Norwalk to take on the Raiders  on Saturday at 10 am.

FIFTH GRADE

Ridgefield 12, Newtown 6

Julian Dunn scored on a six-yard run but Ridgefield rallied from a 6-0 deficit to down the fifth-grade team.

Newtown took the opening kickoff, but went four and out and lost the ball on downs. But Ridgefield fumbled on its second play from scrimmage with Patrick Afriyie recovering for the locals on the Newtown 45.

The teams traded series until the second quarter when Chase Wurtz broke a 20-yard run around the right end to take the ball down to the Ridgefield 20. Newtown, aided by a five yard Ridgefield offsides penalty, punched it in six plays later on a four-yard blast by Dunn.

Ridgefield struck back quickly, though, returning the ensuing kick off 70 yards up the middle for a touchdown to tie the score at 6-6.

Newtown took the kickoff and was able to drive to the Ridgefield 38, but then stalled. Dunn pinned Ridgefield down on its own seven with a nice 31-yard punt and Ridgefield ran three plays from scrimmage before fumbling to end the first half.

After trading series, Ridgefield busted loose on a 60-yard touchdown run to take a 12-6 lead. Newtown went four and out to end the third quarter, then Ridgefield was able to hold the ball the entire fourth quarter to end the game.

The locals will battle the Norwalk Dolphins this weekend.

FOURTH GRADE

Newtown 35, Bethel 6

Colton Smith scored three touchdowns, rushing for 94 yards on just three carries, as the fourth grade team pounded Bethel, 35-6.

Jaret DeVellis lit up the crowd when he started things off with a 90-yard touchdown blast straight up the middle. Troy Frangione continued to lead the young Nighthawks at the quarterback position with impressive leadership, tossing two TD passes for nearly 60 yards on the day. Nick Lotrecchiano, never one to be left out, picked out one of those Frangione passes and danced his way to 40-yard touchdown. as well.

Finally, Bubba Condon at the fullback position punched in four of the five PATs to close out the Nighthawk scoring attack.

Many new stars continue to emerge on the Nighthawk defense. Nick Rubino stepped in at middle linebacker and served up six solo tackles while Harry Duffy, Logan Walsh, Colton Moroney, Jonathan Sherman, Aiden Petershack, Matt Perun, Joe Santella, and Shane Quimby all pounded the Bethel offense for most of the game.

Finally, a bone crushing goal line stand anchored by Jake Lambert, Max Rucinski and Steven Grasso held Bethel for four straight plays at the five without giving up the score.

A great balance of talent both offensively and defensively should have the now 3-0 Nighthawks feeling great as they travel to Monroe this Saturday to do battle with Aspetuck.

79ER GOLD

Newtown 21, Hudson Valley 0

Mike Doyle rambled in from 60 yards out and Trevor Lopez scampered in from 40 yards out as the 79er Gold blanked the Hudson Valley Maroon, 21-0. Quarterback Matt Maturo, on a keeper, also scored to lead Newtown.

Matt Elias (who forced a fumble which Julian Dunn recovered) and Lopez sparkled on defense, helping control Hudson Valley’s outside threat while Ryan Shaw, Nick Samuelson and Scotty Bauer dominated the inside and gave up little running room. Samuelson also recorded two sacks to keep the Hudson Valley passing attack grounded.

Mike Dutsar, James Leuci, Mike Roche, Jason Hebner and Owen Richards anchored a strong offensive line that allowed Maturo to hit Doyle with a 15-yard pass early in the game and then broke open the holes for the three rushing touchdowns.

79ER BLUE

Newtown 31, Bethel 0

The Newtown Big Blue scored on their first five possession in a 31-0 rout of Bethel.

Ethan Carpenter scored on runs of 50 and 22 yards to power the offense as Devin Luzietti, Adam Robertson and Jared Pearson also scored touchdowns.

The offensive line – led by Andrew “Little Sven” Svanda, Gregory Harrison and Gordon Walsh – opened the holes for the rushing attack. Meanwhile, the defense was led by crushing tackles from Jeremy Salaris, Mitchell Savoca, Luzietti and Charlie Fletcher which served to often stuff the Bethel backs for no gains.

Carpenter scored the opener on a 50-yard QB keeper and once the locals got the ball back, the strong blocking of Scott Gregson and Bryan Kiley allowed Luzietti to score and put the 79ers ahead, 12-0. Geoffrey Santore bulled his way in for the extra point.

From there, Thomas Adessi, Cooper Buonocore and Nicholas Lametto powered the defense and only allowed Bethel three offensive plays. Adam Robertson and Santore got the offense moving right away and this time it was Robertson’s turn to score as he took a hand off and went the distance.

On the fourth offensive possession, Brian Raab had some nifty carries to get within reach of another score and with seconds left before the half Carpenter scored a 22 yard sweep, following the blocks of Steven Senf, Nicholas Rohrbacher and Shawn McCarthy.

It didn’t take the offense long to get the ball back due to the hard hitting of Anthony Falbo, Austin LeBlanc and Colin McCafferty on defense. Then, late in the third quarter with Newtown ahead 25-0, Pearson took a hand off and went 50 yards for the final score of the afternoon.

The Big Blue will hit the road to battle Hudson Valley in New York this weekend.