TRUMBULL — Down two touchdowns and shut out through the first half of play, Newtown High School's football team certainly was not out. In a battle of birds, the Nighthawks fought back for a 21-14 win over the host Trumbull Eagles behind stellar defense and some key plays on offense on September 22.

Ayden Paulos got the Nighthawks on the board with the help of a push from the offensive line when he scored on a five-yard run with 6:43 left in the third quarter.

After the Hawk defense forced a punt Newtown went 68 yards in 13 plays in just 2:56 to tie the score. The hurry up offense capped its drive with J,J. Haddick taking a direct snap and scoring from two yards out and finding the end zone with 41 seconds to go in the third.

The game-tying drive featured a Jayden Cordova to Paulos screen pass that went for a 20-yard gain, setting up first and goal from the four yard line. Ryan Zaniewski's second of three extra points knotted the score.

Newtown's defense forced a fourth quarter punt and the Hawks took over at their own 30. Multiple Haddick rushes and a pass interference call helped move the ball down to the 15. Cordova made his way into the end zone on a QB keeper from nine yards out, and the Hawks had the lead with 7:28 left.

The Eagles went backwards on an Evan Nikolis quarterback sack, and Bryan Reyes had a juggling act interception with 4:57 left. Reyes returned the ball 30 or so yards into Trumbull territory but a penalty on the play pushed the Hawks back to midfield. They chewed a few minutes off the clock and punted with less than two minutes to go.

The Eagles took over at their own nine and went the wrong way to start the last drive when Nikolis, Dylan Macey, and Haddick combined on a QB sack back at the one yard line. The Eagles moved the ball to the 41 but Jack Chappa busted through Trumbull's offensive line for a sack at the 32 yard line. Trumbull ran one more play and never threatened to get the score even.

The Nighthawks improved to 3-0 and are scheduled to visit Stratford Friday, September 29 at 7 pm.