Clutch third- and fourth-down conversions, big-yardage plays, and interceptions added up to a hard-fought 42-28 win for the Newtown High School football team over visiting Shelton, at Blue & Gold Stadium, on October 18.

Newtown jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead as quarterback Ryan Schoffstall connected with Jayden Taylor for a 70-yard scoring strike just 1:02 into the game and threw an 83-yard touchdown pass to Will McManus with 7:51 to go in the 12-minute opening quarter.

The Gaels responded with a TD only to see the Nighthawks answer back on a Schoffstall to Cole Stockwell touchdown passing play from 17 yards out with 43 seconds to go in the opening quarter. Stockwell caught a short pass and made multiple defenders miss on his move along the left sideline and inside the pylon for a 21-7 lead heading to the second.

Newtown built on its lead following Graham Spencer's interception on the first play of the second. A clutch third-down catch by James Hartigan, accompanied by a personal foul penalty on Shelton brought the ball to the Gael 13. A quarterback sack pushed NHS back to the 20 and Newtown faced fourth and 17 but came through when Schoffstall hit Hartigan for a 20-yard scoring strike to make it 28-7.

Joey Terry came away with an interception of a ball deflected by Justyn Gonzalez as the NHS defense thwarted a Gael drive and the Nighthawks took over at their own 43.

The Gaels got a stop and marched down the field to score and pull back to within a pair of TDs with 2:08 left before halftime only to see the Hawks again respond.

A roughing the passer penalty assisted Newtown's late-half drive which culminated with a Schoffstall to Taylor TD play from nine yards out just 39 seconds before the break. It was 35-14 at the half.

Shelton scored early in the third quarter and trailed 35-21 going to the fourth. The NHS offense was contained in the third but even when the Hawks punted things went their way. On a punt the ball went off a Shelton player helmet and was recovered by Nick Pavia late in the third. Newtown did not capitalize but moved the ball deep into Shelton territory before turning the ball over on downs early in the fourth.

Shelton moved the chains on a big third-down completion and, soon thereafter, pulled to within a score, making it 35-28 with 9:44 to go.

Shelton's defense continued to play well and had Newtown in a fourth and ten situation only to see the Hawks come away with another big-time play. Hartigan had a first-down reception to keep the drive going. A hard count on third and two drew the Gaels offside and set the Hawks up with first and goal at the five.

NHS cashed in on third and goal from two yards out when Pavia took a direct snap and rushed up the middle, behind the strong blocking of the offensive line, for a two-TD advantage with 5:31 left.

The Gaels were not done yet as the visitors drove into Newtown territory only to see Caden Cuomo come up with a win-sealing INT with 1:21 showing in the scoreboard clock.

"We made big plays in big situations," Newtown Coach Dan Farina said.

The Hawks improved to 6-0 and Shelton slipped to a deceptive 0-6; the Gaels have taken on some tough squads to begin the year.

"They're a really good football team. They're well-coached, they're tough kids," Farina said. "They've had a gauntlet of a schedule. We knew this would be tough.

"We took their best punch and ended up pulling it out," Newtown's coach added.

Farina was pleased with the play of Schoffstall who hung in there to complete passes under pressure and also scrambled to find open receivers, as well as the play of the offensive line.

Stockwell stepped up in the absence of Ayden Paulos, who was injured the game before. Stockwell, described by his coach as a jack of all trades player, learned a lot about the running back position and responsibilities this past week and ... ran with it.

This game was the 2,000th called by NHS Public Address Announcer Jason "J" Edwards in his 25 years at Newtown High.