Newtown High School's football team defeated New Milford 42-24 at Blue & Gold Stadium on a warm, 60-something November 5 night. With the win, the Nighthawks hang onto the Boot Trophy, given to the winner in this matchup each time they battle.

The Hawks have beaten the Green Wave 21 consecutive times dating back to 2001. With this outcome both teams stand at 5-3. NHS bumps New Milford from a ranking of eighth to 11th and the Hawks, in doing so, jump from ninth to eighth in the Class MM State standings. This is subject to change with many games to be played November 6 and 7.

The top eight teams qualify for the postseason; there are two games to go as the Nighthawks visit Brookfield on November 13 at 6:30 pm and Masuk of Monroe on Thanksgiving Eve, November 25, at 6.

Whether or not the Hawks can qualify for the state playoffs with a loss remains to be determined but the Hawks are focused on doing their part by winning and letting things take care of themselves.

"It was a big win for us," Newtown Coach Dan Farina said. "We've got to win out; we practice to win."

As for the victory over the Green Wave, the Hawks struck first and established a 21-0 lead. They never trailed but still have a lot to work on, Farina noted.

"I think we moved the ball really, really well, except we can't beat ourselves. We need to play a clean game," the coach said.

Newtown scored on its first possession. Luke Gagnon ran the ball in from a yard out on a touchdown set up by a 50-yard Jack Colonel to Cam Kullgren pass and catch connection. A two-point conversion put the Hawks up 8-0 less than two minutes into the game.

The score remained the same heading into the second quarter as a pass on fourth down and eight yards to go from the Green Wave 14 was broken up in the end zone late in the opening quarter.

Newtown again drove deep into New Milford territory only to see another drive stymied, this time on an interception.

The Hawk defense continued to make stands and on offense NHS faced fourth and four at the New Milford 29 yard line, another drive on the cusp of fizzling out when Colonel passed to Spencer Maddox for a long TD pass with just 2:55 left in the opening half. The two-point try failed but it was 14-0 Nighthawks.

Jeff Kitay recoved an onside kick at the Nighthawk 48 and NHS capitalized. After Newtown moved the ball four yards, across midfield, Colonel completed a 26-yard pass to Kullgren to the Green Wave 22. Colonel then kept the ball and bounced off would-be tacklers all the way down to the nine yard line. Three plays later Gagnon scored again and Caden Cuomo's extra point kick bounced off the left upright and through for a 21-0 Hawk lead with just 32 seconds showing on the scoreboard clock. NHS was in control, holding the Wave off the scoreboard and leading by a trio of scores at the half.

A New Milford fumble recovery led to its first score with 6:10 left in the third. Colonel threw an 18-yard TD pass to Kullgren to get the lead back to three scores with 3:33 to go in the quarter, but just seconds later New Milford answered again with a kick return for a TD which made it 28-14.

"That can't happen. We've got to get better," Farina said.

NHS was better the rest of the way. The Hawks recovered New Milford's onside kick at its own 47. A long pass completion from Colonel to Andrew Moran over the middle put the Hawks at the Wave 15 yard line. Colonel again connected with Moran for touchdown on the next play. It was 35-14 with one minute left in the third; that was the way things stood going into the fourth.

More strong defense was followed by another long Moran reception, this time along the right sideline, which set up Gagnon's eight-yard TD rush to cap the scoring with 6:32 to go. Cuomo had an interception late in regulation.

This was also Newtown's 15 For Life Foundation fundraiser game, bringing awareness to mental health. Graham Spencer served as ambassador and is doing his capstone project with 15 For Life. He had special sweatbands made for the team and 15 For Life's Jeff Kavovit spoke to the Nighthawks at the team's pasta dinner the night before the game.

Spencer has done work in support of 15 For Life with the NHS lacrosse program.

"It feels good to finally bring it to another sport," said Spencer, adding that he hopes the mission continues to catch on in more school programs throughout the country.

At halftime the Hawks recognized members of the first class of the NHS Hall of Fame. They will be celebrated at The Stone Barn at Whitney Farms Golf Course on Sunday, November 8.