Newtown High School’s football team never led, but hung close throughout its Class LL state playoff visit to top-seeded Shelton, in a 35-28 semifinal-round loss, on December 7. The fourth-seeded Nighthawks gave the Southern Connecticut Conference champion Gaels, who also reached a state title game a year ago, a rare challenge before succumbing to the home team’s potent offense. Penalties and some bad breaks, including turnovers, also cost the Nighthawks.

The Hawks, who overcame a late two-touchdown deficit to edge Glastonbury in the quarterfinals, tried to battle back from a 35-21 hole in the fourth quarter against Shelton. Newtown’s Ethan Carpenter had a five-yard touchdown reception with 4:26 remaining, but the Gaels moved the chains and ran out the final minutes of the game, converting a pair of crucial third down plays in the process.

“I couldn’t be prouder of how the kids battled. We were in it the whole game,” Newtown Coach Steve George said.

After falling behind 7-0, the Hawks appeared to be on the verge of evening the score but Ben Mason, as he crossed the goal line, was ruled to have fumbled, and the Gaels recovered. Newtown got the ball back, on a Carpenter fumble recovery three plays later, at the Shelton 22 yard line. The Hawks cashed in when Mike Doyle rushed 12 yards for a score.

The Gaels went back in front for a 14-7 lead they carried into the second quarter. The teams traded turnovers – a total of six in the opening half alone – culminating with a Jared Pearson interception which led to Newtown quarterback Justin Dunn’s 37-yard scoring pass to Ben Mason to knot the score at 14 apiece midway through the second quarter.

Shelton reclaimed the lead, 21-14, at halftime, and scored the first points of the second half to extend the lead to a pair of TDs. Pearson’s apparent game-tying TD run, before Shelton’s fourth touchdown, was called back on a penalty. Then, a high snap on what would have been the first punt of the game for either team, gave the Gaels possession at the Newtown 25 yard line, setting up a TD for a 28-14 lead.

In the fourth quarter, Newtown twice cut two-TD deficits in half. Aided by a trio of Shelton penalties, and a clutch first-down run by Pearson on third down and 11 yards to go, the Hawks got back to within a touchdown. Dunn connected with Mason on a play fake, from five yards out, with 10:17 to play.

Shelton, just three plays later, again went up two scores before Carpenter’s late touchdown. Newtown’s final score was made possible, in part, because of a pair of key third-down conversions – one on a Hunter Cobb rush, and another on Carpenter’s reception on third and nine.

“It was an amazing game. We laid it all on the line,” Pearson said.

The Gaels will put their unbeaten mark on the line when they take on Darien in the championship game, on December 12. Despite coming up short, the season was an overall success for Nighthawks, who lost just once in the regular campaign.

“It’s been a privilege battling with all of the seniors,” said Pearson, adding that the final-year student-athletes have competed together for several years going back to their youth football days.

“What a great group of guys this was to coach,” George added.

Read more about the game and season in the December 11 print edition of The Bee.