If things play out as they did last fall, this year's season-opening game could ultimately prove to be the Newtown High School football team's most challenging game until the postseason.

That's because the Nighthawks open against visiting New Fairfield, not only the lone team to defeat them in the regular season a year ago, but the only opponent Newtown didn't dismantle with a 30- or 40-something-point outburst.

New Fairfield, in fact, held the otherwise potent Nighthawks to a touchdown in a 13-7 win on a bitterly, freezing cold night last November, ending a long run of regular-season triumphs that dated back to the 2011 slate. The Hawks are excited to have home field advantage for this matchup in particular, yes, but they'd be thrilled to be home to begin the season no matter who lines up on the other side of the ball.

"It's nice to have a home opener," said Newtown Coach Steve George, adding that his team hasn't opened at home in a number of years - not since 2010 to be exact.

The players have been working hard throughout the offseason and are looking forward to the first snap of the campaign, under the lights, in front of the home crowd at Blue & Gold Stadium, the coach adds. The Rebels visit on Friday, September 9, for a 7 pm start.

"They're a good team, they're well-coached, and they've got some good players," George said.

This game kicks off what the Nighthawks hope is the start of the week-by-week path back to the state playoffs.

They edged Glastonbury in the Class LL state playoff quarterfinals before falling to top-seeded and eventual runner-up Shelton in the semis a season ago.

Newtown lost roughly half of its starters on both sides of the ball - this includes some two-way players - meaning, not unlike most seasons, the team brings back some experience and will also have to lean on the emergence of newcomers as well.

Captains on this year's team are running back Hunter Cobb, linebackers Tom Long, Ben Mason, and Cormac Roe, and offensive lineman Seth Willis.

Other key returnees include quarterback Justin Dunn and receiver/defensive back Matt Bucci.

Newtown's secondary is especially young, so the defense that held opponents to single digits or shut them out six times a year ago will have to develop quickly to repeat that success.

It remains to be seen if New Fairfield will provide the stiffest regular-season competition again this fall, but George doesn't look past the next opponent on the schedule throughout the slate.

The Nighthawks have proven to be a challenge for every opponent that encounters them throughout the years, and win, lose, or draw, George expects that trend to continue.

"We'll be competitive," the coach said.

Among the games to circle on the schedule are the annual Boot Game against New Milford which, this year, will be on the road, on September 30, beginning at 7 pm; a rare afternoon game when the Hawks visit Notre Dame-Fairfield on November 5, starting at 3 pm; and the annual Thanksgiving Eve clash with Masuk of Monroe, set for November 23 at Blue & Gold Stadium, starting under the lights at 7.