Kevin Whipkey hit Tim Byrne on a 20-yard scoring pass and – with Casey Kirch adding the extra point – put Newtown ahead, 7-0, in its junior varsity football game with Bunnell on Saturday morning.

But the lead didn’t hold.

The Bulldogs rallied from the early deficit and pinned a 34-21 defeat on the Nighthawks.

Bunnell scored on a 50-yard run to narrow the gap and then scored on a long drive to take a 14-7 lead. Newtown soon tied the score, however, as quarterback Matt Deluca moved the team effectively downfield before handing off to Whipkey on the option. Whipkey tossed a 20-yard aerial to Simon Censabella, who was stopped at the one.

Whipkey powered in from there to help the ‘Hawks tie the score, 14-14.

The teams traded the ball back and forth, but Bunnell took the lead when it recovered a fumble deep in Newtown territory and took it into the end zone for the touchdown. Down 20-14, the Nighthawks took the lead back as Whipkey took the kick 32 yards to the Bunnell 48 and moments later took a pitch from Deluca and raced 41 yards for the touchdown.

With Kirch’s extra point, the ‘Hawks were on top, 21-20.

But a 28-yard touchdown run put Bunnell ahead, 28-21. And on the last play of the game, the ‘Dogs padded the score with a 21-yard touchdown run.

The jayvees will host New Milford on Saturday, October 6, at 10:30 am.