MONROE — A field goal block and long return that led to a touchdown shifted the momentum and propelled Newtown High School's football team to a 35-18 win at Masuk High in the annual Thanksgiving Eve clash.

The Nighthawks finish the regular season unbeaten with a record as sweet as pumpkin pie, a 10-0 mark, and will have a Class L quarterfinal-round playoff home game on Tuesday, December 3; kickoff is set for 6:30 pm against an opponent to be determined.

The Hawks are the second ranked team behind only Naugatuck and awaiting the outcome of the Turkey Day clash between No. 3 New Canaan and No. 4 Darien to find out their final ranking.

Against Masuk the Nighthawks scored first on a Nick Pavia four-yard run after Pavia took a direct snap. The touchdown was set up by a big Ryan Schoffstall to James Hartigan completion. Newtown led 7-0 after one quarter of play.

Two plays after the Panthers turned the ball over on downs at their own 34 yard line Schoffstall hooked up with Ryan McManus on a 34-yard scoring strike for a 14-0 lead less than a minute into the second quarter.

Luke Longo blocked a punt, scooped the ball and scored to get the Panthers on the board and make it 14-6 with 7:43 to go before the half. The extra point kick was stuffed.

Masuk seemingly had the momentum following a defensive stand and field goal try that would have cut the deficit to five. Jackson Zylick's 34-yard attempt was blocked by Newtown's Graham Spencer and Caden Cuomo gobbled up the loose pigskin and ran it all the way to the Masuk four yard line.

That set up Pavia's three-yard score, on another direct snap, for a 21-6 lead just 1:10 before halftime.

"That was big momentum for us — to punch it in right there was huge," said Newtown Coach Dan Farina, adding that the Hawks practice blocking kicks and going the other way with the ball just in the event this situation presents itself.

The Panthers tried to get themselves right back into the game on the opening drive of the second half and marched all the way down to the Nighthawk 22 yard line but were stopped a yard short on fourth and two.

Newtown put together an impressive drive that did not result in any points but took time off the clock. A 24-yard Paulos run and key third and 23 completion from Schoffstall to Hartigan setting up fourth and one, enabled the Hawks to gain some traction. Pavia took the next snap and barged forward to gain two yards and move the chains. Then came another pivotal third down play as Schoffstall completed a ten-yard pass to Hartigan on third and five, bringing the ball to the 19. Paulos then rushed nine yards to the ten before the drive stalled and the Hawks turned the ball over on downs. It remained 21-6 through three quarters of play.

But Newtown's defense did not allow Masuk's offense to get anything going as Kieran Garrity intercepted a pass on the first play of the fourth quarter. The Hawks took over at the Masuk 25 and, after losing a yard, got it back along with a whole lot more as Schoffstall threw to Hartigan for a 26-yard TD and a 28-6 lead with 10:58 left.

Joey Terry intercepted a pass at the Newtown 34 just 54 seconds later. A long run by Paulos flipped the field and set up the Hawks at the Masuk 33. Facing fourth and eight at the Panther 31 the Nighthawks kept the drive alive as Schoffstall threw a pass down the right sideline and McManus made a sliding catch just before going out of bounds. First down at the Masuk nine.

Paulos rushed to the one yard line then punched it on on the next play, and the Nighthawks were suddenly pouring it on like gravy, pushing the Nighthawk lead to 35-6 with 6:16 left. Henri Quirk had a late-game quarterback sack.

Masuk quarterback Cole Henderson threw a pair of late TD passes to Shane Walker. Masuk went for two after both scores and was stopped. The Panthers recovered an onside kick but Grady Marks plucked a pass with 1:41 to play.