REDDING — Facing host Joel Barlow High School's triple option offense the Newtown football team's defense rose to the occasion and the Nighthawk offense, and special teams, did the rest.

In a battle of birds the Nighthawks defeated the Falcons 34-7 on a chilly November 15 night. With the win Newtown improved to 9-0 and Barlow dropped to 4-5.

Ayden Paulos had a six-yard touchdown run to open the scoring and the Hawks carried a 7-0 lead into the second quarter. Newtown found the end zone two more times in the second quarter for a 21-0 halftime advantage. Quarterback Ryan Schoffstall scored on a 16-yard run and the QB connected with Emmet Regan on a 23-yard score.

Barlow put its only points on the board with 7:25 to play in the third quarter only to see the Hawks respond 16 seconds later on a Grady Marks 75-yard kickoff return. Newtown's two-point try failed and the score stood at 27-7 and remained that way heading to the fourth.

Schoffstall shook off a trio of interceptions with help from his defense and added to the lead with an eight-yard TD pass to Paulos.

Barlow's use of the triple option kept the Newtown defenders on full alert not knowing which of three players would carry the ball at any given time.

"They do a really good job running it. We were going crazy all week trying to prepare for it," Newtown Coach Dan Farina said.

Evidently practice nearly makes perfect as the Hawk D limited the Falcons' ability to move the ball most of the night.

Up next for Newtown is a visit to Masuk of Monroe for the annual Thanksgiving Eve contest Wednesday, November 13 at 6 pm.