Charlie Breitrose
Watertown junior quarterback ran for two touchdowns in the 35-20 victory over Burlington.
The Watertown High School football team used an explosive running attack to roll over Burlington 35-20 on Thursday night at Victory Field.
After scoring frequently through the air in its first three games, the Raiders turned to the ground game in a rare Thursday night contest. All five touchdowns came off running plays.
Watertown junior running back Mange Camara opened the fourth quarter with a 65-yard scoring sprint. The touchdown was his third of the game.
The Raiders started the second half well when junior Brett Sutherland returned a short kickoff for 26 yards. On the first play from scrimmage, Camara reversed field on a pitch and ran for a 44-yard score seconds into the third quarter.
On the next possession Watertown junior quarterback Nick McDermott kept a long drive alive with a 3 yard run on fourth-and-2 from the Burlington 17. Then he scored on a 15-yard keeper to give the Raiders a 14-point lead with 3:22 left in the third quarter.
Charlie Breitrose
Junior running back Mange Camara, here about to make a tackle in punt coverage, excelled on offense against Burlington with three touchdown runs.
Burlington sophomore quarterback Khyle Pena’s third touchdown toss, a 39-yard strike to junior Jake Doherty, was just a consolation. Their two-point conversion failed, making it 35-20 with 6:39 left in the game.
While Watertown raced away with the victory, the outcome of the game was anything but certain at half time. Watertown darted out of the gate, taking a 14-0 lead midway though the first quarter, but on the stroke of halftime Burlington tied the score.
On the Raiders’ first drive of the game, Camara cut upfield on a sweep and ran for a 40-yard touchdown with 8:11 left in the first quarter. The next time Watertown got the ball, McDermott called his own number and ran for a 48-yard score at 6:53 in the first.
Charlie Breitrose
Watertown senior defensive end Ben Landry harasses Burlington quarterback Khyle Pena.
Burlington’s longest drive of the first quarter was stopped on fourth-and-goal from the Raiders’ 7 with 2:29 left in the first. After both teams struggled to move the ball, Pena threw a 53-yard touchdown strike to sophomore receiver Ryan O’Halloran with 1:45 left in the first.
The Red Devils got the ball back with just over half a minute left in the half. Pena found O’Halloran for a 54-yard completion on the first play. After a sack, Pena spiked the ball with less than a second left and then he found O’Halloran for a 15 yard completion and Burlington’s second touchdown, knotting the score at 14 at halftime.
Watertown improves to 3-1 overall, and 1-1 in the Middlesex League. The Raiders take on Wilmington at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 6 at Victory Field before hitting the road for two straight games.
Charlie Breitrose
Watertown senior receiver John Korte moves the ball upfield on a kickoff return against Burlington.