The North Haven football team started the season 0-3. Two weeks later, the Nighthawks are on a two-game winning streak, and they won Friday night in a big way.
North Haven beat Notre Dame-West Haven 42-7 on Friday, Oct. 9, at Veterans Memorial Field in West Haven, scoring 35 unanswered points after the game was tied 7-7 in the first quarter. The win came a week after a 24-point performance in a victory at Berlin on Oct. 2 and moved North Haven to 2-3.
Hartline’s four touchdowns
Sophomore Avery Hartline ran for 167 yards and four touchdowns, according to Hearst Connecticut Media’s game story. He scored on runs of 27, 3, 2 and 1 yards. Nick Masto added 115 rushing yards and an 8-yard touchdown run, and Gavin Halovatch opened the scoring on a 4-yard run less than two minutes into the game.
The defense set that first score up. Eli Reynolds intercepted a pass to give North Haven the ball at the Notre Dame 15, the first of his two interceptions on the night. Reynolds also kicked all six extra points. A pass from Brett White to Giovanni Bimonte set up Hartline’s 3-yard touchdown with 4.3 seconds left in the first half for a 21-7 lead.
North Haven gained more than 400 yards and held Notre Dame to just over 100. In the second and third quarters, the Nighthawks outgained the Green Knights 300-41 and outscored them 28-0.
What the coach said
“Our problems early on were really in confidence, dealing with adversity, finishing, showing up ready, and all those mistakes are youth mistakes,” coach Anthony Sagnella told Hearst. “Little by little, we’re learning how to play this game the right way.”
He said the difference was up front. “It was obvious to me, and I think everybody else, we started to take control of the line, and that’s an important thing,” Sagnella said. “When you do that, you control the clock and you kind of control your destiny.”
Hartline gave the credit to the offensive line and the defense. “They did a great job,” he said of the line. “They opened up the holes for me.” Of the young defense, he said: “We have a lot of sophomores. They fly around and get to the ball. They’re hungry and we get after it.”
Scoring summary
- First quarter: NH, Gavin Halovatch 4 run (Eli Reynolds kick). NDWH, Eli Johnson 5 pass from Wyatt Verrillo (Christian Medina-Romano kick).
- Second quarter: NH, Avery Hartline 27 run (Reynolds kick). NH, Hartline 3 run (Reynolds kick).
- Third quarter: NH, Hartline 2 run (Reynolds kick). NH, Nick Masto 8 run (Reynolds kick).
- Fourth quarter: NH, Hartline 1 run (Reynolds kick).
What’s next
North Haven has a bye week before its next game. According to MaxPreps, the Nighthawks play Fairfield Prep on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m. Check the CIAC or the North Haven High School athletics schedule for any changes.
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