Charlie Breitrose
Watertown junior quarterback threw the wining touchdown pass to senior John Korte in the Raiders’ 31-27 playoff victory over Swampscott on Saturday.
A long touchdown pass capped the win for the Watertown High School football team in the Div. 5 North Section quarterfinal at Swampscott on Saturday afternoon.
Watertown overcame a 14-point first half deficit and won the game over Swampscott, 31-27, in a contest that featured five lead changes.
The winning score came on an 86-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Nick McDermott to senior receiver John Korte.
The No. 6 seed Raiders then stopped a final minute effort by the third-seeded Big Blue to avoid the upset.
Watertown also got two touchdowns from senior co-captain Matt Muldrew. The running back scored on runs from 9 yards and 40 yards, according to the Boston Herald.
Junior running back Mange Camara opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 27 yard run. His 76 yards rushing second highest for Watertown to Muldrew’s 96 yards, according to the Salem News.
Senior Conner Kennelly added a field goal for Watertown and also intercepted Swampscott quarterback Colin Frary to stop a Big Blue drive late in the game.
The victory handed Swampscott its second loss of the season and was payback, of sorts, for Watertown which lost to Swampscott in 2014 when the Raiders were the No. 2 seed. It was also the third time Watertown has won a playoff opener on the road, and fourth road playoff victory.
The Raiders (4-4) take on No. 2 Somerville (6-2) in the Div. 5 North semifinal at Dilboy Stadium in Somerville on Friday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. The Highlanders defeated Triton 27-9 on Friday. In the other semifinal top-seeded Lynnfield hosts Newburyport.