Watertown and Belmont will renew their football rivalry for the 101st time on Thanksgiving at Victory Field.
After a special 100th edition in 2022 played at Fenway Park, where Watertown won 21-7, in 2023 the annual Thanksgiving game returns to Watertown 10 a.m. on Thursday. Return to this post for live updates from the game!
LIVE UPDATES
Fourth Quarter
Final: Belmont 47, Watertown 0
0:00 – Pizzutocatches it at the 6. Pass falls incomplete in the end zone on last play
1:15 left- Lucas Pizzuto catches pass at Belmont 16
2:24 left – Shorter gets first down at 4th and 3 from the 49
Shorter at QB for 1 snap and back to Gnai
8:29 left – Holway catches pass from Arno for TD. Extra point no good. Belmont leads 47-0
11:35 left – Belmont intercepted a third down pass. A personal foul against Watertown moves it to the Watertown 13
Third Quarter
End of 3rd, Belmont 41, Watertown 0
1:15 left – Gnai Concannon-Garvin in at QB for Watertown. Shorter runs for 25 on 3rd and 22
3:35 left – Rodriguez scores on a run. Belmont up 41-0
3:56 left – First and goal at the 1 for Belmont.
5:20 left -Watertown stops Belmont on 3rd at the Raider 45. Go for it and Logan takes it 23 yards to the Watertown 22
10:44 left – Asa Logan at QB now for Raiders. Shorter at RB
11:40 left – Arno runs for 51 yard TD. Then scrambles for 2 point conversion. 34-0 Marauders
11:56 left – Belmont recovers onside kick at own 49.
Second Quarter
Halftime, Belmont 26, Watertown 0
0:07 left – Ball dropped in end zone. Watertown takes over
0:14 left – Watertown stops Belmont for a 5 years loss on 3rd and 5.
0:53 left – Gurung takes screen for 57 yards to Watertown 15
1:07 left – Drive stalls. Watertown punts. Belmont starts at own 27
2:30 left – Watertown driving after putting in power running formation. At Belmont 40
5:20 left – Gurung runs for 51 yard touchdown. Belmont up 26-0
7:09 left – Drive went backwards after a holding penalty and a sack. Watertown punts from own 36. Belmont starts at own 41
9:37 left – Onside kick received by Raiders at own 49
9:40 left – 50 yard TD pass Arno to Brain Logan. 2 point conversion stopped. 19-0 Belmont
9:50 left – Hubbard intercepts ball at midfield
11:09 left – Raiders draw Belmont offsides on 4th and 1
First Quarter
End of quarter, Belmont 13, Watertown 0
1:45 left – Watertown gets ball on their own 32 after a pass interference call
2:45 left – Adrien Gurung runs for a 62 yard TD. Extra point fails after bad snap. 13-0 Belmont
4:35 left – Belmont takes over at own 24 after stopping Raiders on 4th and 2
7:16 left – 22 yard pass from Shorter to Joseph Connors
8:35 left – Belmont tries onside kick. Watertown gets it. Starts at own 43
8:38 left – Jayden Arno throws to Bryce Hubbard who walks in for the score. 7-0 Marauders
8:48 left – Raiders go for it on 4th and 1. Lose 2. Belmont has it at the Watertown 35
11 mins left – Anthony Shorter runs for 13. Then 3 more
Watertown will receive the opening kickoff
Preview
The Raiders will seek to extend their winning streak over their rivals to three in a row, but face one of the more successful Marauders squads in recent years.
The teams have taken different roads to annual Turkey Day clash. The Raiders (3-7) struggled in the Middlesex League, losing all five games and will finish last in the Freedom Division. Meanwhile, the Marauders (5-4) will share the Liberty Division title after going 4-1 in Middlesex League play.
Natalie Nigito Photography
Watertown High School’s football team played on the Boston Red Sox home field in 2022 and defeated Belmont in the 100th edition of the annual rivalry game.
Recent form has flipped, however, with Watertown turning its season around in the non-playoff games, defeating Greater Lowell and Arlington Catholic, while Belmont earned a spot in the MIAA Div. 2 Tournament spot, where they lost 42-0 to Wellesley.
Early in the season, Watertown was powered by senior running back Anthony Shorter, who scored six rushing touchdowns. More recently, it has been the passing of junior quarterback Gnai Concannon-Garvin, who has thrown for five touchdowns in the last two games. Senior receiver Asa Logan has two rushing touchdowns and two receiving, while senior wide receiver Stephano Salvucci had two touchdown grabs in the last game.
The Marauders are led by long-time starting quarterback Jayden Arno, who is a threat to score through the air and on the ground. Senior running back Adrien Gurung leads the Belmont rushing attack. Some of Arno’s passing targets are seniors Brian Logan and Austin Lasseter and junior Billy Hendrickson.