79ers

Ansonia 13, Newtown Gold 7: On the first play from scrimmage, an Ansonia fumble was recovered by Jack Mulligan. The Nighthawks could not convert, however, after short runs by Nick Kalra and Jeffery Garrity. JP Iaropoli, Jack Mulligan, and Conner Haywood led the Nighthawk defense with multiple solo and combined tackles. The Ansonia defense also played tough with the biggest Newtown play from scrimmage a 15-yard run by Garrity for a first down. On first and goal from the four yard line, an Ansonia player ran left and was smothered by Jack Mulligan causing a fumble. An Ansonia player picked up the ball  amidst a sea of white Nighthawk jerseys and took it around the left end for a score with 4:11 left in the half.  Ansonia converted the extra point and added a TD for a 13-0 lead. On first and ten at the Newtown 40 yard line Iaropoli handed off to Garrity on a reverse. Garrity ducked inside over the left end, evaded a tackle, and outran three defenders for a 60-yard score. Iaropoli scampered off the right side to convert the extra point but Newtown got no closer.

Aspetuck 31, Newtown Blue 12: The Newtown 79ers Blue team started strong with a 25-yard kickoff return by Connor Moran which led to an eight-play offensive drive to the Aspetuck 4 yard line. Determined to score, the team stuck with their blocks, allowing Jarred Dunn to take a pitch to the left side where he outperformed several Aspetuck defenders to score the first TD of the season. The touchdown was made possible by the offensive line blocking of Chris Frascatore, Will Archiere, Matt Heinlein, Steve Sedensky, Brett Pierce, Kyle Good, and Jack Stenz. The team’s second score came from a perfectly executed play by the team’s offensive line, giving way for Shane Luzietti who ran 33 yards up the right sideline. The second touchdown was led by the blocking of Sean Thies, Trevor Merrick, and Sean O’Sullivan.

Grade 4

Nighthawks 20, Bridgeport Chargers 12: The Nighthawks rallied from a five-point halftime deficit to win their home opener. Game Captains were Garrity, McIntyre, Shugrue, and Albanesi. The scoreless first quarter was a battle of wills between the linemen. The game opened up in the second quarter with a reverse to Dubois for a TD. Legs pumping and with grim determination, Cross moved the pile for the extra point. Bridgeport responded with two long touchdown runs.  The defense stopped both extra point attempts behind the line. Trailing 12-7 at halftime, a revitalized Nighthawk squad came back for the second half. The Chargers received and, with five minutes left in the thirrd quarter, Dubois stripped the ball and ran it back for a TD and 13-12 Newtown lead. On their next drive, the Nighthawks again were on the move behind a long  QB Melillo to Garrity pass play. The fourth quarter started with a fourth and goal run by Garrity for the TD. Mason would not be denied the extra point for a 20-12 lead. Notable plays during the contest were made by Cotton, Norberg, Hannan, Paynter, Morrill, Tani, Albanesi, and Cascone. The Nighthawks host Southern Dutchess next.

Grade 5

Bridgeport Chargers 12, Newtown 0: In the first quarter, defensive players Ryan Williams and Michael Garner made plays to keep Bridgeport off the board. Shayle Gupta also contributed by recovering a fumble to end a Bridgeport drive. Bridgeport started the second quarter with a 70-yard play and capped the drive with a touchdown. Late in the second quarter, David Daria intercepted a Bridgeport pass. After each team fumbled to start the second half, Bridgeport made another big play that resulted in a touchdown. Late in the third quarter it looked like Newtown may score, when a 45-yard pass play from Ryan Kost to Joshua Dunn set up a first and goal, but the Bridgeport defense held. Bridgeport then took the ball 92 yards on one play to set up a first and goal. The drive ended when Gupta recovered his second fumble of the day. In the fourth quarter the Nighthawks were not able to capitalize on their last drive of the game, despite some strong running by Kost.

Grade 6

Nighthawks 19, Bridgeport Chargers 6: The Nighthawks followed two preseason wins with a victory over the Bridgeport Chargers in the opening game of the regular season. In the first quarter, with Adam Bell on the tackle, Jack Phelps recovered a fumble by the Chargers. In the second, despite tackles by Bobby Haskins, Ben Mason, and Joe Accousti, the Nighthawks allowed the Chargers their only touchdown, but Mitchell Savoca intercepted the pass to stop the extra point. After a 35-yard run by Nevin Zink, Ben Mason took the handoff for a touchdown. In the second half, Zink intercepted a pass and ran for the touchdown, then caught a pass from Patrick Conte for the extra point. Late in the third quarter, Zink passed to Steven Moccio for another Nighthawks touchdown. Tackles by Bell, Peter DeBona, Ryan Norton, and Jack Wellman kept the Chargers from scoring in the second half.

Grade 7

Bridgeport 14, Newtown 12: Newtown gave the defending CVL/New England champions (and No. 2 team in the country) all they could handle in a hard-fought contest that went down to the wire. Bridgeport opened with a 15-play, 85 yard touchdown drive and tacked on the extra point for a 7-0 lead. It looked like the young Hawks were in for a long day. However, the team members steadied themselves, made a defensive adjustment, and did not yield an offensive touchdown the rest of the day. Andrew Svanda recovered a fumble to end one drive, Nick Samuelson and Gordon Walsh combined on a sack to stall another drive, and Ryan Shaw made a big hit on a fourth down run inside the Newtown 10 yard line. Strong defensive plays were also turned in by Geoff Santore, John Delrossi, Matt Davis, Austin LeBlanc, Hunter Booker, and Peyton Manning. Trailing 7-0 at the half, Newtown took the second half kickoff and marched 51 yards in seven plays, culminating with Jared Pearson scoring on a 15-yard option run. The extra point kick (worth 2 points) just missed to the right (by inches). Key run blocking was provided on the drive by Jeremy Salaris and Brandon Hensel. After a Bridgeport fumble recovery in end zone early in the fourth quarter made the score 14-6, Newtown bounced right back with a 30-yard kick off return by Pearson that gave the Hawks the ball at the Bridgeport 30. Passes by Ethan Carpenter to Sam Duffy, and Michael Doyle to Devin Luzietti (who made a spectacular leaping grab with a defender draped all over him) gave Newtown a first down on the 13. Pearson then went off left tackle for the score. The tying extra point kick was blocked. With time winding down, Bridgeport was able to run out the clock for the victory.

Grade 8

Newtown 35, Monroe 0: Newtown traveled to Wolfe Park in Monroe this last weekend to take on their rivals, the Lions. Newtown picked up where it left off the previous week by scoring at will in the air, on the ground, and by foot, including a monster 36-yard field goal by Julian Dunn, with a lot of room to spare. On third and long, Troy Frangione dropped back on a play action and heaved the ball down field toward Colton Smith who made a spectacular catch while being hit as he received the ball. Smith managed to keep his balance and outraced the last defender for a 63-yard TD and the Nighthawks never looked back. Smith, Dunn, Nick Lotrecchiano, James Leuci, and Rat Rubino combined for 130 tough yards on the ground with Dunn adding a TD and Rubino running in for 2 TDs. Smith also hit Will Dalton on a 45-yard pass on fourth and long to give the Hawks a first down on the one yard line. On defense, the Nighthawks looked more dominating than ever as they held Monroe to less than 10 yards of total offense and no first downs. Tim Krapf and Jaret DeVellis blocked punts. Rubino led all defenders with 5.5 tackles, Griffin Davis had 4, and Eric Cascone 3. DeVellis was all over the field at the Hawk linebacker position, breaking up passes, adding 3 tackles, and causing the only fumble of the day and also recovering it. Dalton added an interception to seal the win. Other players making outstanding plays were Connor Roche who had a big tackle for a 2-yard loss and nearly a safety. Markus Elken, Frangione, Dalton, Shane Quimby, Tim Krapf, Leuci, Bug Santella, and Eric Street all had tackles on defense.