Newtown High School’s football team – Ben Mason specifically – feasted on host Masuk of Monroe for a 40-8 triumph in the annual Thanksgiving Eve battle, on November 25. Mason scored five of the visiting team’s six touchdowns. With the win, the Nighthawks improved to 9-1 and it appears have earned a Class LL state playoff quarterfinal round home game (seedings will be announced on Friday, November 27). Masuk finishes the season with a mark of 6-4.

Mason scored on a 49-yard run to get things started less than three minutes into the game. The Nighthawks immediately got the ball back when the Panthers didn’t get to it on the ensuing kickoff, a short kick, recovered by Newtown’s Mike Doyle at the Masuk 21 yard line. Although penalties sent Newtown backwards, a Ryan Kost 44-yard punt pinned the Panthers back at their own one yard line, and the Nighthawk defense stuffed Masuk’s running game, forcing a punt from its own end zone. The Hawks capitalized on good field position when Mason had a 24-yard catch and run for another score.

Mark Hall intercepted a pass setting up Mason’s four-yard run for a score, helping Newtown to a 20-0 cushion after one quarter of play.

Mason leaped over the defense from one yard out, on fourth and goal, as the Hawks extended the lead to 27-0 midway through the second quarter. After Mike Doyle’s ten-yard run into the paint, Newtown carried a 34-0 lead into halftime. Mason added another TD run, a two-yard score.

Andrew Svanda had several strong carries as the Nighthawks chewed up the clock.