You would have to go back in the archives all the way to 2001 in order to find the last time Newtown High School's football team didn't claim Boot Trophy bragging rights.

Thanks to a second-half field goal, interception and subsequent touchdown (Dan Mason's second of the game), in the November 3 battle with New Milford, the Nighthawks overcame a one-point halftime deficit and again hoisted The Boot with a 16-7 triumph over the Green Wave, at Blue & Gold Stadium.

The Nighthawks improved to 6-2 and the Wave fell to 3-5.

Mason's first-quarter TD run got the scoring started; the Green Wave blocked the extra point.

New Milford got into the end zone, tacked on the kick after, and carried a 7-6 lead into halftime.

Newtown has mostly-dominated this rivalry not only in terms of wins and losses, but the way in which the victories were earned - frequently in lopsided fashion - but the Wave made sure to make the Hawks work hard for the trophy this time around.

Ryan Kost booted a 33-yard field goal for a 9-7 Newtown advantage late in the third quarter.

Still, the Wave had a chance to claim a late lead.

Josh Dunn's interception thwarted New Milford's hopes of scoring and led to another Mason touchdown as the Hawk made it a two possession game.

Kost, Newtown's quarterback, completed 9 of 18 pass attempts for 84 yards. Riley Ward had two catches for 53 yards.

Mason rushed 15 times for 122 yards.

Matt Dubois intercepted a pass. Connor Hughes, Ryan Williams, and Kyle Good all recovered fumbles, and Shea Talbot forced a fumble.

Talbot compiled seven tackles, Dunn and Williams recorded six tackles each, and Joe Zeller and Jack Miller both added five tackles. Williams also had a QB sack.

Newtown is home on Friday, November 10, when Bunnell of Stratford, also 6-2, comes to Blue & Gold Stadium for a 7 pm kickoff.