UPDATE: The Pomperaug game date has been changed from October 11 to Thursday, October 10 at 7 pm.

Newtown High School’s football team is looking to qualify for the Class L State Playoffs and the Nighthawks will have their work cut out to get there.

“We have a pretty strong schedule but that’s what it’s all about,” said Coach Dan Farina, adding that the players will have to rise to the occasion in the regular slate to get into the postseason mix. “The toughest thing is you have to get there. We’ve got to be really focused week in and week out.”

With the usual crossover games not to mention facing the best the South-West Conference has to offer, the Nighthawks should have some good tests this fall and things get challenging right out of the gate.

“We definitely have our hands full with that week one matchup,” said Farina, whose team opens the regular slate with a rare Saturday afternoon tilt, a visit to Stamford of the FCIAC at 1 pm.

Stamford is a well-coached, Class LL State Playoff-qualifying squad, Farina said. The home opener is Friday, September 20, when always-tough New Fairfield visits at 7 pm. Crossover opponents Southington (which fell to eventual Class LL champion Staples of Westport in the semifinals), and Shelton (which Newtown edged by a point in last year’s Class L quarters) are also on the schedule. SWC foes Bunnell of Stratford and Masuk of Monroe (both Class MM state playoff qualifiers in 2023), and two-time Class SS State Champion Joel Barlow of Redding are also on the slate. Additionally, NHS will take on New Milford, which two years ago was a Class L state playoff qualifier, as well as Pomperaug of Southbury and Stratford.

Most games kick off at 7 pm with a couple exceptions. In addition to that 1 pm game the annual Thanksgiving Eve clash with Masuk takes place November 27 (in Monroe) at 6 pm. The home game against Pomperaug, originally scheduled for Friday, October 11 at 4 pm has been moved to Thursday, October 10 at 7 pm.

As far as how the Nighthawks will work their way through this schedule, they have some experience at the skill positions as well as on the offensive and defensive lines but some of their biggest strengths may be found with intangibles.

“I think one of our strengths is our grit, our toughness,” Farina said.

Keys to success include players paying attention to details, including assignments, and correcting mistakes as the season moves along, the coach anticipates. The coach added that this applies to everybody from two-year starters to sophomores just getting their feet wet at the varsity level, and those in-between.

A long summer full of workouts, camps, and clinics, has helped create chemistry in the program. “We’ve got to lean on each other and feed off the bond this team has developed,” Farina added.

The team is led by captains: wide receiver/defensive back Jayden Taylor, wide receiver James Hartigan, defensive end C.J. St. Louis, center Marco D’Amico, and running back/defensive back Ayden Paulos.

One of the holes to be filled following last year’s graduating class is at the quarterback position. QBs Ryan Schoffstall and Marcus Gerace, both of whom saw some playing time off the bench last fall, were vying for playing time during the preseason.

Others who will help guide the Hawks are defensive back Justyn Gonzalez, defensive back/running back/wide receiver Cole Stockwell, defensive back/wide receiver Grady Marks, guard Drew Gagnon, defensive end/running back Nick Pavia, wide receivers Will McManus and Emmet Regan; and offensive linemen Owen Marshall, Mack Foss, and Jack Dunford.

Since reaching the state semis last winter, following a brief break, the players have been lifting weights and ramping up the workouts over the summer months. “We haven’t really stopped,” Farina said.

But soon things really get started with game action.

“We’re really looking forward to it. The guys are working hard, our coaches are working around the clock, kids are lifting and running,” Farina said. “The kids are having fun. It’s great as a coach getting to watch them do what they love to do.”

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