Charlie Breitrose
The Raiders celebrate after beating Belmont in the 2016 Thanksgiving game. Their coach, John Cacace, called them one of the best teams in Watertown history.
Basking in the glow of another Thanksgiving Day win over Belmont, Watertown High School football coach John Cacace heaped praise on his team.
This year’s Raiders accomplished a lot, Cacace noted, finishing 9-2 winning a share of the Middlesex League Freedom Division title and went to the Div. 3 North Section Final.
“This is one of the best teams in Watertown history,” Cacace said. “In 2014, we went 9-2 in 2014 we didn’t make the playoff run these guys did: sectional finalist, middlesex league champs. This is one of the all time great seasons for Watertown.
Asked if this was the best team during his time as Watertown’s coach, Cacace said he borrowed a practice of Michigan Football Coach Jim Harbaugh.
“I don’t like to compare teams,” Cacace said. “This is a great team in Watertown history.”
Runners Compete Against the Best in the Northeast
Three Watertown runners closed out a successful season by traveling to the Big Apple to take on some of the best runners in the region.
The trio ran in the Footlocker Northeast Regional Cross Country Championships, held in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx which features the fastest runners from the six New England states, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
Junior Emily Koufos ran in the seeded girls race, and her time of 19:44.3 in the 5K race put her in 48th place in the meet.
Senior James Piccirilli came in 71st in the seeded boys race. He ran a time of 17:06.1.
Junior Elizabeth Powderly competed in the Junior-Senior race, and ran a time of 21:27.1. She came in 25th place.