Watertown High School’s football season started with promise, after a 2-0 start, but a five game losing streak meant no playoffs this year. However, the Raiders have a chance to finish the year on a winning note, and a with winning record, by beating their archrivals from Belmont on Thanksgiving.
Watertown hosts the Marauders at Victory Field, and will be looking for some payback after losing last year’s Thanksgiving clash. The game begins at 10:15 a.m.
LIVE UPDATES
4th Quarter
Final: Belmont 24, Watertown 14
41 secs left. Watertown can’t move the ball. Turns over on downs at own 35
1:50 left. Arno hits McHugh deep over the middle on 3rd and 10 for an 87 yard Touchdown. 24-14 Marauders
2:55 left. Sack on 3rd and 19 forces a Watertown punt. Belmont has it at it’s own 13
4:46 left. 22 yard pass to Andrade. Ball at Belmont 29
6:33 left. Belmont first down wiped out by penalty. Pass incomplete. Punt fair caught at Watertown 47
8:26 left. Watertown Touchdown on an 18 yard pass from Cook to Monroe. 17-14 Belmont
3rd Quarter
End of 3rd. Watertown moves ball to Belmont 40 with help of holding call in the secondary
1:30 left. Belmont field goal good. 17-7 Belmont
3:32 left. Raiders can’t move ball. Punt rolls back in wind for a 3 yard effort. Belmont at the Watertown 21
6:06 left. Belmont scores on a 4th and gil from the 4. Arno pass to Hubbard. 14-7 Marauders
8:19 left. Francis carried it to the Raider 11
9:19 left. Belmont converts a 3rd and 29 to Watertown 33
11:05 left. Belmont gets the ball at the 30. Francis runs to the 50
11:30 am. Second half about to begin
Halftime score 7-7
2nd Quarter
0 left. Pass knocked down at goal line. Halftime
14 secs left. Cook scrambled for 20 to Belmont 24
37 secs left. Watertown intercepted Arno. Returned to own 48
1:01 left. Long pass to Watertown 28
1:15 left. Belmont gets ball at own 24
1:52 left. Raiders start at own 46. Got first down but forced back into third and 23
2:25 left. 47 yard pass Arno to Stephens makes it 7-7
4:32 left. Three and out for Watertown. Belmont starts at its 36.
6:55 left. Belmont went for it 0n 4th and 3. Lost 2 yards. Watertown has it at its 45
8:53 left. Arno passes to Hubbard for 30 yards. Ball at 50
9:13 left. Long pass to Dolan gives Watertown a first and goal at the 4. Team lost 4 yards. Field goal no good.
Start of second, Watertown gets first down at Belmont 46 .
First Quarter
1:47 left. Sack on 3rd and 6 ends the Belmont drive at its 34. Punt returned to the Raider 43
5:56 left. Touchdown Watertown on a 35 yard pass Brennan Cook to Will Dolan. 7-0 Raiders
6:07 left – Raiders recover fumble at Belmont 35
6:12 left Three and out for Belmont. But Watertown roughs the punter. Ball at Marauder 36
8:08 left: Belmont interception in the endzone on 3rd and 25.
9:16 left:13 yard pass to Monroe gives Raiders first down at Belmont 15
Kickoff returned to 36. 25 yard run by Andrade on first play
10:15 am – Watertown wins the toss and will receive.
10:08 am – The big game starts in about 10 minutes
Watertown News will have live updates during Thursday’s game day. Return to this story to follow the action.
WHS’s Up & Down Season
The Raiders (5-5) routed their first two opponents, Arlington Catholic and Cambridge Ringe & Latin, and posted more than 40 points in each game. They led the third game, against Burlington, before starting quarterback Brennan Cook went down with an injury. Watertown ultimately lost 21-20.
Cook returned a few games later, but Watertown went winless in the Middlesex League and just missed the final spot in the MIAA Div. 5 North playoffs. In the non-playoff games, the Raiders rediscovered their winning ways again.
Watertown claimed a two-point win at Triton, then beat Hamilton-Wenham by a touchdown and returned from Weston with a 31-7 win.
Raiders’ Multiple Scoring Threats
So far in 2019, Cook has thrown nine touchdown strikes, and scored another two on the ground. His favorite target is receiver Will Dolan, who has six touchdown receptions.
The running backs have also found pay dirt, both on the ground and catching the ball. David Manoukian has three rushing and three receiving touchdowns. Mason Adrade ran for six scores, and caught two more.
The Raiders have also taken three kickoffs the distance. Karim Monroe has two of the touchdowns, and Andrade had the third.
Belmont’s Key Players
Belmont (5-4) xhas had a streaky season, too. The Marauders lost their first three games, before winning three straight and claiming a spot in the MIAA Div. 3 North playoffs. Belmont lost to top seed Danvers 41-7, but then its next two games.
Quarterback Avery Arno leads Belmont, but running back Chad Francis has provided much of the Marauders’ offense. He ran for more than 200 yards and scored three touchdowns against Woburn and Malden Catholic.
Zach Hubbard is Arno’s favorite target, and caught three TDs in the Woburn game.
Looking for Revenge
Last year, Watertown took a 20 point lead just over two minutes into the game at a frigid Harris Field. Belmont responded with 33 unanswered points to win the Thanksgiving game.
The win snapped the Raiders’ six game winning streak over their rivals.
Watertown leads the all-time series against Belmont 48-44-5.