FAIRFIELD — Offense, defense, special teams — you name it — Newtown High School's football team had game-changing plays from throughout its lineup in a 55-22 win over Notre Dame Prep at Sacred Heart University on November 14.

The offensive line did its job and Nighthawk quarterback Marcus Gerace threw touchdown passes to Grady Marks from 15 yards out, Travis Rekos on a nine-yarder, and Emmet Regan on an eight yard play.

Nick Pavia and Justyn Gonzalez each rushed into the end zone from a yard out, with a 60-plus kick return by Gonzalez setting up his own score. Cole Stockwell had TD rushes of one and 45 yards. Jake Roszman booted a 27-yard field goal.

Pavia recovered the ball on Spencer Maddox's onside kick. Regan had a big punt and roll to back the Lancers up to their own three yard line setting up a safety when Kieran Garrity and Caden Cuomo combined on a tackle in the end zone. Gerace connected with Luke Gagnon on a two-point conversion. Luke Stewart and Travis Rekos had key receptions and picked up yards after their catches.

"We scored in a lot of different ways," Nighthawk Coach Dan Farina said. "I think we played well top to bottom."

The defense was strong highlighted by not only the safety but back-to-back quarterback sacks by Aaden Calle and Henri Quirk.

Newtown built a 41-6 halftime lead and coasted to victory with running clock for much of the second half.

Newtown jumped out to a 21-0 lead on TDs by Marks, Pavia, and Rekos, and held a 21-6 edge after one quarter with the Lancers getting on the scoreboard on a kick return for a touchdown late in a penalty-filled, slow-moving opening period.

"We still have some things to work on," said Farina, referring to Notre Dame's special teams score and a few more penalties then the coach would like to see.

The Hawks' offense along with its defensive and special teams play more than made up for any shortcomings. Regan's TD reception pushed the lead to 28-6. A solid punt return by Stockwell coupled with a Lancer penalty gave the Hawks possession at the Notre Dame 38 and a shifty run by Stockwell got the ball down to the 15 yard line setting up Roszman's field goal.

After Pavia's onside kick recovery the Lancers held and Regan booted a punt that bounced to the shadows of the Notre Dame end zone leading to the safety with 1:28 left in the opening half. Gonzalez broke several tackles on the ensuing kick return and, two plays later, punched it in as the Hawks built a commanding 35-point lead with 37 seconds left before the break.

"It feels great. We come in every day and work hard. It feels good to put points on the board and get some dubs," Gerace said Newtown winning it's seventh contest in nine thus thus far.

Newtown will host Masuk of Monroe Thanksgiving Eve, November 26, at 6 pm. The team is looking for win number eight and, ideally, three more after that with the state playoffs around the corner.

"That's been our goal from day one," Farina said. "We've played hard for nine games now but that's not what it's all about."

"I think these guys are the best. We can definitely make some noise. We work hard every day," said Gerace, adding that the Hawks focus on the opponent in front of them and figure out a way to earn a win game by game.

Farina said the Nighthawks have to do their best to give themselves a chance at a state title. Newtown is among the top teams in Class L and vying for a quarterfinal-round home game, potentially also a semifinal home contest. As of late on the evening of November 14 Newtown was ranked third behind only unbeaten New Canaan, which defeated the Hawks in Newtown on opening night after beating NHS in last year's state semis on the way to a title, along with Cheshire.

"We have to do the things we control to hopefully keep going," the coach said.