SHELTON — The host Shelton High School football team was all but stymied by Newtown’s defense in the second half, allowing the Nighthawks to rally for a late lead. But two touchdowns in 23 seconds, one on a 32 yard fumble return, helped the Gaels come away with a wild 31-28 victory on October 29.

This was a huge game in the Class LL state rankings. Shelton improved to 6-1 and is ranked third in the state. Coming in, Newtown was seeded seventh, but dropping to 4-3 overall sent the Nighthawks out of playoff positioning and to 14th in Class LL.

Seemingly every time either team had momentum a big play, penalty, or turnover abruptly swung things in the other direction in this interconference clash between the South-West Conference’s Nighthawks and Southern Connecticut Conference’s Gaels.

Shelton capitalized on turnovers, including one that led to points in the first half. A trio of field goals Christiano Rosa, including a 43-yarder, helped the Gaels to a 17-7 halftime lead. Both teams scored a first-half touchdown. Newtown quarterback Dylan Magazu connected with Eric Gray on a 30 yard scoring play. Shelton had a TD and two point conversion.

That score held through three quarters of play. Then the craziness began with one big or strange play after another in the final 12 minutes.

Newtown missed a field goal try early in the fourth but a roughing the kicker penalty gave the Hawks renewed hope, and a first down. Newtown capitalized with Magazu completing a four yard TD pass to J.J. Haddick to bring the Nighthawks within 17-14 with 11:09 to play.

Just over a minute later, the Gaels thought they had answered but a near touchdown was ruled a fumble, recovered in the end zone by Newtown’s Jack Chappa for a touchback and change of possession with 9:51 remaining.

Magazu threw a screen pass to Caleb Smith who broke free on a 56 yard catch and run to paydirt for a 21-17 Nighthawk lead with 6:58 to go.

Shelton reclaimed the lead with 3:19 left when quarterback Michael Kinik passed to John DeCamps for a 44 yard TD and a 28-24 Shelton edge.

Moments later, Shelton’s Jacob Giard forced a fumble by stripping the ball from Magazu from behind. Matthew Lockavitch scooped and returned the ball 32 yards for a ten-point lead.

Newtown responded in a hurry with Magazu finding Gray down the left sideline for a 74 yard scoring strike, bringing the Hawks back to within three with 2:03 left.

Newtown’s defense nearly held but Shelton came up with a first down near midfield on fourth and inches with about a minute and a half left, allowing the Gaels to run out the clock.

“We fought. We made a lot of mistakes. They capitalized off our mistakes,” Newtown Coach Bobby Pattison said. “Our kids fought — they were in it til the end.”

The Hawks’ playoff hopes took a big hit due to both mental and game play miscues Pattison said, but Newtown has to look forward, he emphasized.

“We just have to focus on tomorrow and next week,” the coach said.

NHS visits Weston on Friday, November 5 for a 7 pm contest.

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