MONROE, CT — Masuk High’s football team will look to put its 46-12 regular season-ending loss to visiting Newtown in the rear view mirror as the Panthers turn their attention to the Class MM state playoffs.
The Panthers trailed just 13-12 at halftime before the Nighthawks cashed in with five second-half touchdowns, all off turnovers, to pull away on Wednesday night.
Newtown jumped out to a 13-0 lead after one quarter of play. Masuk, known for its late-game comebacks, worked its magic in the second quarter when quarterback Dylan Jackson connected with Rob Klein on a pair of touchdown passes before halftime.
The first was a 31-yard play just eight seconds into the second quarter and the second was a 69-yard play.
“We made a good push in the first half. It got exciting there,” Masuk Coach Steve Christy said.
Newtown scored twice in the third and added on in the fourth. The visitors started every second-half drive with great field position thanks to a combination of fumbles and interceptions.
“You can’t turn the ball over that many times,” Christy said, adding, “we’ll try to flush this one as fast as we can.”
Newtown went 9-1 and was unbeaten in the SWC; the Hawks qualify for the Class L state playoffs. Masuk went 7-3 and will await the outcome of Thanksgiving Day games to get its state postseason seeding and matchup.
