STRATFORD — Both times the host Bunnell Bulldogs cut into Newtown High School’s lead, the Nighthawks responded with key touchdowns to lock down a 28-14 win in South-West Conference football action on October 21. Bunnell recognized Breast Cancer Awareness Month and players wore special pink uniforms for the game.

After stymieing the Bulldogs through three quarters, the Nighthawks finally surrendered a touchdown with 9:43 left in regulation, and Bunnell’s score sliced the deficit in half to make it a 14-7 game.

Not for long.

Caleb Smith returned the ensuing kickoff 84 yards, breaking multiple tackles up the middle, and answered the Bulldog TD only 13 seconds later.

Bunnell hung around and had a pair of crucial fourth down conversions on the next drive, the second resulting in a touchdown and again making it a one-possession contest. It was 21-14 with 4:14 left. A roughing the passer penalty against Newtown had set up first and goal at the eight yard line.

The Nighthawks got a 33-yard Andrew Swierbut TD run with 2:00 to go and the defense took care of the rest.

Newtown built a 14-0 lead on a pair of quarterback Dylan Magazu rushing scores, one from 16 yards out in the second quarter for the only score of the opening half, and the other on a one-yard run.

Magazu’s second touchdown capped a seven-play drive highlighted by a Magazu 13-yard rugby scrum-like carry to move the chains.

The Hawks looked to build on that two-TD lead in the third and tried a little trickery facing a third and 24 at the Bunnell 27 yard line. Magazu lined up as a receiver and ran to the end zone where the Bulldogs intercepted a pass from backup QB Jayden Cordova.

Last week, the Hawks had a Jayden to Jayden TD with Cordova connecting with Jayden Taylor in a win over New Milford. This time around, Newtown’s QB to QB attempt was foiled.

Although it was a turnover, all things considered not such a bad result for Newtown; the Hawks effectively gained seven yards as the Bulldogs took over at the 20 following the touchback. The play was almost like a punt in the end.

Smith’s kick return for a TD was a huge momentum stopper.

“I expect every game to make a big play on special teams, whether it’s on a punt return or kick return,” said Newtown Coach Bobby Pattison, noting that both Smith and Swierbut are outstanding return players. “Any time those guys touch the ball on special teams they can take it to the house.”

Swierbut had a nice punt return of about 40 yards to set up the Hawks at the Bunnell 16 on that drive that culminated with the INT. Swierbut fielded a well-placed punt directed away from him and near the sideline; he made some nice tackle-eluding moves to set up the offense before the Hawks went backwards on a fumble they were fortunate enough to recover.

“I’m happy with the result. I just feel like we need to improve the execution,” Pattison said.

Minus some penalties and fourth down conversions allowed, Pattison was pleased with the defensive effort, led by Mark Sokk. “He’s all over the field. He does it all for us,” the coach said.

Newtown’s defensive line put pressure on the Bulldogs throughout out the night.

The Hawk defense will have a unique challenge in its next test, when Joel Barlow of Redding visits NHS Friday, October 28, at 7 pm.

“Joel Barlow runs the triple option — they do it extremely well,” Pattison noted. “It’s going to be a significant task for our defense to go and stop them.”

Newtown will have to figure a way to simulate the triple option in practice to as the Hawks (5-1 overall) look to win their sixth in a row and knock Barlow from the unbeaten ranks. The Falcons, coming off a 47-13 win over New Fairfield, have put up 34 or more points in each of their six wins.

“It was a good win — it was just sloppy,” Pattison said of the Bunnell game. “We need to play better if we’re going to beat a team like Joel Barlow next week.”

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.