Connor Dullinger
The Newtown High School football team lost in the CIAC quarterfinal round 21-20 to #7 Shelton in the quarterfinals of the CIAC Class L football playoffs on November 29. The game marked the third time since 2015 that Newtown and Shelton have met in the state playoffs. Newtown entered as the #2 seed.
With under a minute left in the game, Newtown missed a potential game-winning field goal.
Despite the loss, Newtown completed a successful season. After failing to win the SWC in 2021 the Newtown Football Team won the SWC Championship this year after defeating Masuk 46-12 in a competitive rivalry matchup at Panther Stadium on Thanksgiving Eve.
The Nighthawks finished the regular season 9-1, only losing to Greenwich High School 34-14 during the first game of the season. Greenwich went on to play in the Class L State Championship against Fairfield Prep.
Some notable victories are a 30-20 win over the previously unbeaten Joel Barlow Falcons at Blue and Gold Stadium, and a 48-12 victory over the New Milford High Green Wave also at home.
The Nighthawks were led by a strong core of seniors including captain Caleb Smith, who finished the season with 712 rushing yards and 7 rushing touchdowns. Co-captain Dylan Magazu finished the season with 384 yards and 4 touchdowns through the air as well as 927 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground. All purpose player Andrew Swierbut was also instrumental in getting Newtown back to the state tournament. Swierbut returned kicks, played defensive back, was a wide receiver and handled the kicking duties for Newtown.
Head Coach Bobby Pattison reflected on the season.
“Newtown Football had another successful year. We finished the season 9-2 with 5 wins over state playoff teams. We won the SWC championship and made the state playoffs. I am proud of our seniors who led us back to a league championship and the state playoffs. They helped build the foundation for future success,” Pattison said.
Swierbut also reflected on the successes of the football program this year.
“We set goals for the season and we accomplished a lot even though it didn't end the way we wanted it to,” Swierbut said. “We won the SWC Championship again after a down year last year. We brought a winning mentality back to the program.”
The 2022-2023 Nighthawk Football Team had a very successful season, and the Nighthawks look to continue this success next year led by key junior players Andrew Grenier, Jayden Cordova, and JJ Haddick.