Faced with a halftime deficit for the first time this season, and held scoreless through two quarters for that matter, Newtown High School’s football team turned things around in its clash with rival Masuk of Monroe on November 25. The host Nighthawks overcame a 7-0 hole to roll to a 28-7 triumph at Blue & Gold Stadium and carries an unbeaten mark into the Class LL state playoffs, which are scheduled to start on December 6.

Backup quarterback Justin Dunn was forced into action when starter Jacob Burden went down with a shoulder injury midway through the second quarter. Dunn connected with his older brother, Julian, for a game-tying score on a 16-yard strike with 9:11 to play in the third quarter. Another Dunn to Dunn connection, this one from ten yards out, gave the Hawks the lead, 14-7 with 6:32 left in the third. Julian Dunn stands alone as Connecticut’s all time receiving touchdown leader with 49. Dunn had tied the previous mark with his 47th in the South-West Conference championship game victory over Brookfield a week earlier.

Nick Rubino’s one-yard scoring run, set up by several strong Hunter Cobb carries, extended the lead to a pair of scores early in the fourth. Ethan Carpenter added a 39-yard punt return for a TD. Carpenter also made several outstanding plays on defense, including some pass breakups.

The state playoff seedings are slated to be announced on Sunday, November 30. Read more about the Masuk game and state playoff preview in the December 5 print edition of The Bee.