They say defense wins championships. On Thanksgiving Eve, it was Newtown High School's D that helped ensure, if there is a pinnacle game for the Hawks, that the road to a state title will begin on their home turf. The Nighthawks defeated host Masuk of Monroe 17-2 to clinch a first-round state playoff game.

Newtown also secured the South-West Conference season championship and the team concluded the regular season a perfect 10-0. The postseason begins on Tuesday, December 3, and it appears the Nighthawks will be either the Class LL state playoff's No. 2 or 3 seed and host a game at Blue & Gold Stadium. The seedings and matchups hinge on Thanksgiving day outcomes.

Masuk saw its Class L state playoffs dashed as the Panthers finish up 6-4.

Both teams were especially strong defensively and the game was scoreless at the half.

Newtown broke the ice on Luke Hannan's one-yard touchdown run with 9:38 to go in the third quarter. A clutch fourth-down completion by Brandon Lombardo to Jack Zingaro set up the score.

An errant snap by the Nighthawks, deep in their own territory, resulted in a safety when Masuk's Colin Meropoulos sacked Nighthawk platoon quarterback Jack Street in the end zone with 5:03 to go in the third.

Masuk's defense accounted for its only points as Newtown clamped down when the Panthers had the ball.

In the fourth quarter, Hannan broke through the line for a big gain and Street connected with Jack Zingaro, who made a diving reception, setting up Devin O'Connell's 21-yard field goal.

Will Swierbut's one-handed leaping interception in Masuk territory late in the fourth set up Jared Dunn's two-yard leap that broke the goal line with 1:25 left.

Patrick Boyle had a pair of fumble recoveries for the Nighthawks.

Defense was outstanding. Their offense scores a lot of points over there," Newtown Coach Bobby Pattison said of the Panthers, who tallied 40 or more points in four straight games coming into this matchup.

Both teams held the other to its lowest-scoring point total of the fall.

Newtown's previous low was 21, in back to back games against nonconference teams Fairfield Prep and West Haven, back in September.

"They've learned how to win the tough games so I'm proud of them," Pattison said.

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