Belmont High’s Fenway Football Dream Dashed By Watertown, 21-7, In Centennial Clash

Photo: Fenway Park was the setting for the centennial clash between Belmont and Watertown

There was only one appropriate location to play the centennial game in the long Belmont/Watertown football rivalry. And in the Boston area, that would be historic Fenway Park.

While Marauders would fall in the game, 21-7, on a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns by Watertown’s running back William McHugh, the event was a once in a lifetime experience for the teams and fans who ventured into Boston’s Back Bay on the day before Thanksgiving.

Photo: Brandon Fitts

With only passing clouds and temperatures in the high 40s, the pregame atmosphere was loud and joyous, with teens and kids banding about the “lyric little bandbox of a ballpark,” with the Belmont High marching band performing the greatest hits. The Belmont and Watertown police departments joined in a combined color guard, as did the chorus’ from the high schools to sing the National Anthem. A highly successful pregame event hosted by Belmont Police Chief James McIssacs raised funds for the Junior Marauders, the middle school football program where most of the high school players get their start in the sport.

Photo: Brandon Fitts

The hundreds of fans filled nearly the entire Red Sox side stands, with the Watertown contingency making up most of the spectators. But with everyone preparing for the long Thanksgiving holiday and the accompanying meal, the supporters and students from both schools were in good spirits for the 100th meeting between the border rivals.

It was a game that, by appearance and talent, Belmont (4-6) held the advantage: larger offensive and defensive lines led by junior Max Cornelius and senior Asa Rosenmeier, an all-star running back in junior Adrien Gurung, and three quick receivers – seniors Ben William and Chris Cogliano and junior Brian Logan – that towered over the defensive backs covering them.

Photo: Brandon Fitts

While Watertown (7-4) had suffered four consecutive losses in their final five games, two of the Raider’s losses were to Super Bowl-bound opponents – Stoneham and Wakefield – and its run-centric offense had McHugh and Payton Andrade, the Raiders’ go-to backs who were the ground forces along with senior QB Johnny Cacace, the son of Watertown’s Head Coach John Cacace.

Watertown started the game with a promising drive – which included converting a fourth down near midfield – before a sack and a near interception forced a fourth and 15 from the Belmont 31, which the Raiders failed to make with six minutes on the clock. Belmont’s first time with the ball saw junior QB Jayden Arno find junior Bryce Hubbard to the Watertown 25, only to be negated by a false start.

Photo: Brandon Fitts

After receiving a punt, Watertown started from its 31 and drove the field on its second six-minute-plus drive, scoring when the Watertown’s coaches son, Cacace, rounded the right corner and carried a Belmont defender nine yards into the end zone with 6:31 left.

Belmont would have its own impressive drive, including converting its own fourth down. A series of runs brought the ball to the six-yard line with a first down but only 39 seconds remaining. And it appeared that Belmont had squandered its chance as time ran out when Arno ran out of bounds on the 5-yard line. But a late hit personal foul on Watertown gave Belmont one final play in the half at the 1-yard line with zeros on the clock.

When Belmont needed a short conversion throughout the season, they placed Rosenmeier, the 6’5”, 300 lb USA Rugby U18 National team player and the anchor of the Belmont offense/defense lines, in the backfield and dared the other team to stop him. The outcome was a given as Rosenmeier barreled over center into the end zone to knot the score at seven at halftime.

The third quarter saw Belmont’s defense start on the right foot, halting Watertown with a sack. Belmont could only advance the ball five yards, and a short punt had Watertown starting at their 44 midway through the quarter. Watertown then would go on a grinding, time-consuming drive where the Raiders’ gained big chunks of territory on each attempt. It appeared Belmont had finally stopped the Raiders’ with Watertown facing a fourth and three yards to go from the Belmont 11 when the quarter ended.

Rather than attempt a field goal, Watertown’s McHugh swept around the right side to the Belmont two-yard line. McHugh scored on his second attempt to give the Raiders’ a 14-7 lead. Belmont faced a third and one at its 45 when G. broke a 20-yard romp up the middle to bring the ball to the 35. But unlike Watertown’s success on fourth down, Belmont could not convert a fourth and three yards from the 29-yard line with six minutes remaining. The Marauders’ defense immediately stiffened, putting Watertown into a second down and 14. But a ten-yard pickup and two yards on third down had Watertown facing a fourth down and one yard at its own 47-yard line with two minutes remaining on the clock.

But once again, Watertown could not be stopped on fourth down. With the clock winding down, Belmont could hope for a quick stop, but McHugh would take the next play up the gut of the Marauder defense and sprint untouched 55 yards into the end zone with 1:41 remaining. An interception sealed the game, and the celebration began on the Watertown side while Belmont sat near the Green Monster to discuss the game.

Watertown currently leads the series, 50-45-5. Belmont will need to wait 366 days before it gets a chance to begin a winning streak as the game returns to Thanksgiving day, next year at Victory Field in Watertown.

Belmont, Watertown, 100: Turkey Day Rivalry Is A Day Early As Centennial Clash Takes Place At Fenway Park

Photo: Belmont High School football captains

The Thanksgiving Day football rivalry between the Marauders of Belmont High School and the Raiders of Watertown High is being played a day early, on Wednesday, Nov. 23 and not at Belmont’s Harris Field as it was scheduled.

But that’s OK for players and fans considering where its being held: historic Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. The change in plans have to do with the nature of the game; the teams are playing the centennial game in the long-storied competition. First meeting in 1921, Watertown leads the series 49-45-5. The game was cancelled twice, in 1940 due to a snowstorm, and in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This is not the first time a Belmont High squad played at Fenway as the ‘Polly’ Harris-managed baseball team won the state championship defeating Turner Falls in the spring of 1941.

The teams come into the game, the teams have been on losing streaks. After starting the season at 5-0, Watertown (6-4) have come home 1-4 having beaten the last opponent, Brighton High, 37-22. It should be mentioned that two of the losses were to teams – Stoneham and Wakefield – playing in state championships finals next week.

For Belmont (4-5), it’s been feast or famine: the Marauders have been a scoring juggernaut against teams of equal or lower ability but found it difficult to stop, and score against, the more polished squads. In its last game, the Marauders scored first but was shut out for the rest of the game to fall to Waltham, 21-7.

Because the match will be a “home” game, the Belmont High School Marching Band will perform the National Anthem and at half time.

Tickets are still on sale online – the only way to obtain tickets. Belmont Media Center will be broadcasting the game live on all BMC channels.

Belmont High Football Falls Short In Woburn, Miss Playoffs At 4-4; Hosting Waltham Saturday 3 PM

Photo: Junior WR Brian Logan scores Belmont High’s lone touchdown in a 28-6 loss to host Woburn on Friday, Oct. 28.

Belmont High Football needed a win and a little – really a lot – of help to move up four spots in the MIAA Division 2 power rankings to reach a playoff spot as they came on the field at Woburn under the Friday Night Lights as they took on the host Tanners.

When they left the field, they got neither.

Five Woburn interceptions – three in their end zone – and an inability to take advantage of a rare size and height advantage saw the Marauders drop to 4-4 for the regular season after losing 28-6 in Woo-town, missing the playoffs since their last visit to the post-season in 2019.

Belmont will be relegated to playing up to three games against other non-playoff D2 teams before meeting Watertown for the centennial of their Thanksgiving game played this year at Fenway Park on Wednesday, Nov. 23.

Belmont took the game to the Tanners in the first half, producing two time-consuming drives in each quarter as junior RB Adrien Gurung and junior QB Jaylan Arno took off for first down, producing runs and the tall receiving corp of seniors Ben Williams and Chris Cogliano and junior Brian Logan kept the Woburn D-backs occupied.

But each drive would end with an interception of Arno, the first taken away in the end zone by Woburn’s Marc Cutone, the first of three for the night by the junior defensive back and wide receiver. The Tanners would make Belmont pay dearly as they scored touchdowns on each quarter’s turnover. Belmont came close to putting points on the scoreboard at the end of the half, only to see a long pass intercepted in the end zone with no time on the clock.

Woburn effectively put the game to rest after scoring on a long pass midway in the third quarter, while Belmont’s next drive ended with Cutone’s third takeaway. The Tanners would finish the third with a 60-yard run to push the score to 28-0.

Belmont’s few highlights happened in the fourth quarter as the defense stripped the ball for a fumble and scored as Logan took a slant pass from Arno in the red zone for the TD with four minutes left.

Belmont will host neighbors Waltham on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 3 p.m.

Belmont High Football Back Over .500 Dismantling Arlington, 37-6; Woburn Contest Could Determine Playoff Berth

Photo: Belmont High senior receiver Chris Cogliano shows that he came down with the catch from QB Jayden Arno to score a touchdown against Arlington in the Marauders’ 38-7 victory on Oct. 21.

When a football team is ahead by 30 points in the fourth quarter in Massachusetts, the officials will let the clock run without stopping as it usually does when a player goes out of bounds or a pass is incomplete as the outcome is fairly certain. For many seasons, the Belmont High School football squad has been on the wrong end of that situation.

But not this past Friday, Oct. 21.

Against visiting Arlington High, the score board read “Belmont 38, Arlington 7” with 8 minutes on the clock after the Marauders score 37 unanswered points and recorded its third consecutive win, creeping closer to a Division 2 playoff spot. That pre-season goal will be determined against the 4-3 Woburn High Tanners on the final Friday in October.

Belmont stands at 4-3, having beating Winchester, 32-30, and dominating Lexington, 35-20, during its three game win streak.

Belmont High senior lineman Asa Rosenmeier (77) helps junior Ryan Halloran (54) bring down Arlington’s Kayden Mills for the loss.

“This victory is what this week [of practice] was about; no excuses, just results,” said Belmont second year Head Coach Brian McCray to his team after the game.

“We’re working hard and trying to be the best we possibly can and it’s really paying off because we’ve gotten better as the season goes on,” he said.

The game at Harris Field didn’t start out brilliantly as Belmont’s initial drive of the game was halted on an interception which the Tanners quickly drove in for a touchdown. The Marauders’ then marched down to the Woburn goal line only to lose the ball on the fumble. Belmont defense – which has over the three games has been growing in stature – forced a three and out and then a muffed exchange between center and punter resulting in a safety.

Belmont would take the lead as quarterback Jayden Arno and fellow junior, running back Adrien Gurung, scoring on runs of 15 yards in the subsequent drives, giving the Marauders a 16-7 half time edge.

It appeared the Spy Ponders would close the deficit early in the third quarter as they drove to the Belmont 16 yard line when Gurung striped Arlington’s Kayden Mills of the ball and recovered it on the 23. On the very next play, Gurung scampered down the right sideline for an 84 yard TD at the 10 minute mark.

Belmont High running back Adrien Gurung coming off the right side of the line against Arlington.

Belmont’s defense bailed out the team after a fumbled punt midway through the quarter when junior Ryan Halloran intercepted a Mills pass. Less than two minutes later, senior receiver Chris Cogliano out battled the Arlington safety to grab Arno’s pass to up the score to 30-7. Cogliano would score at the eight minute mark after Gurung solo run of more than 40 yards set up the Marauders. And the home crowd was treated to 6’4”, 300 lbs. lineman Asa Rosenmeier – one of best young rugby players in the country – lining up in the backfield and scoring the two-point conversion.

McCray said next week’s away game against an always strong Woburn team will give his team a chance to make the playoffs.

“Our offense and defensive lines have been improving each week and will have a big impact this coming week,” he said.

Belmont March 99 Yds In Final Minute For Winning TD As Arno Leads Marauders Over Winchester, 32-30

Photo: Ninety-nine yards later: Belmont High senior Chris Cogliano scores the winning touchdown with less than 20 seconds remaining in the game as Belmont drives the length of the field to beat Winchester, 32-30.

Down by 4 with 2:49 remaining in the contest, Belmont High School’s offense took the field facing the most daunting of asks: drive the length of the football field, 99 yards, to win the game. At the helm for the Marauders’ was junior QB Jayden Arno who, when he came on the field, wasn’t thinking about 100 yards he needed to win it.

“Honestly, on the sideline, all what we were trying to do is get to the 10 yard line to give us some room,” he said.

Arno had been finding his experienced receiver corps throughout the game under the Friday Night Lights at Harris Field. And one of them, senior Chris Cogliano, would prove to be the perfect partnership in the final two minutes.

After an eight-yard carry by junior RB Adrien Gurung gave Arno that breathing room he was hoping for, the two-year starter came out winging it, finding Cogliano on the slant to the 30. But a sack and two incomplete passes had the Marauders facing a fourth down and 10 from the 30 with 54 seconds remaining. Once again. Arno found Cogliano over the middle to the 46 yard line. On second and 10 from the 46, Arno was flushed from the pocket and took off down the left side and scooted to the 33 yard line with 32 seconds remaining.

On the next play, Arno found Cogliano on the right sideline in between two defenders. The senior evaded the inside defender and pushed the deep safety to the side before tip-toeing into the end zone with 15 seconds remaining. The point after touchdown was blocked leaving Winchester only two down but with not many options remaining.

Yet a short kickoff and a strong run back set up Winchester’s outstanding kicker Kieran Corr with a do-able 44 yard attempt with 4 seconds remaining. But while it had the distance, Corr’s kick got caught up in the swirling wind and drifted left.

“That was pretty special because we came together during that drive; the line, receivers, blockers. We didn’t get down on ourselves when they scored twice [in a minute]. We had a great week of practice and knew we had it in us to win the game,” said Arno, who finished the game going 15 for 25 and 263 yards through the air.

After a quick three and out to start the game, Belmont’s defense was to stop Winchester in the red zone where Corr kicked a field goal for an early 3-0 lead. Belmont would finally strike midway in the second after a long drive Arno dove in from the one to give the Marauders a 7-3 lead.

Head coach Brian McCray’s team stands at 2-3 with a visit to Lexington (2-3) under the lights on Friday, Oct. 14 at 6 p.m.

Winchester would benefit from a pass interference and a hitting a defenseless player to bring the ball to the Belmont 2 where QB/RB Jack Centurelli plunged two yards on the right side for the TD and the lead, 10-7 with three minutes remaining. Belmont could come right back as Arno found Cogliano and senior WR Ben Williams on passes to push the ball to the one where Arno would crash through with one minute remaining in the half for the 14-10 lead.

Belmont would travel through the air on its first drive of the second, calumniating four minutes into the half with an Arno to junior WR Brian Logan along the back of the end zone. Winchester would creep closer with its own drive to cut the lead to 20-16 on Centurelli’s second rushing TD with two minutes remaining in the third.

In the first drive of the fourth quarter, Arno would find Logan on a third and long taking the ball from Belmont’s 32 to Winchester’s 32 then completing a 20 yard completion to Logan before Gurung took the ball then waited, and waited … and waited before exploding up the middle for a 13 yard TD and a 26-16 lead. With nine minutes left, it appeared Belmont would cruise to its second win when Winchester quickly marched down the field when Centurelli found junior Ryan Doucette for the touchdown with 8:03 on the clock and the score 26-23.

Winchester’s kicker Corr was an important factor in getting the ball right back by sending a towering kick with a spin that simply bounced off the Belmont returner and was recovered on the Belmont 12. Centurelli found Jack Costello in the back of the end zone and within 62 seconds, a safe looking lead with now a four point deficit, 30-26, with 7:01 to play.

While Belmont was able to convert one fourth down play, they lost the ball on downs with 4:09 left. But Belmont’s defense stood tall and forced Winchester to punt with under three minutes to play. Then Corr sent a perfect punt that died on the one yard line.

And that’s when the Marauders’ produced the drive of the game.

“This does a lot for team confidence with the comeback,” said Arno. “It will definitely give us a boost of confidence going on the road next week.”

Belmont High Football Opens Season With Emphatic Win Over Cambridge, 43-24

Photo: Belmont High senior WR Chris Cogliano on his way to the first of two TDs in the Marauders’ 43-24 opening win vs. Cambridge R&L

Where the offensive and defensive lines put their stamp on the game, Belmont High’s football laid down a marker for the season with a solid victory over Cambridge Rindge and Latin, 43-24, in the 2022 opener held under the Friday night lights, Sept. 9, at Harris Field.

“This year, it’s ‘No excuses, just results,” said Belmont’s second-year Head Coach Brian McCray, whose team comes out of the gates at 1-0.

“We practice hard every day and we’ll take that into the games. There are no starters, just guys playing football and we are going to play as many guys as we possibly can.”

Junior QB Jayden Arno showed greater confidence running the offense with a full pre-season under his belt, revealing a nice touch on mid-level passes and the ability to scamper when needed.

“I worked so hard this offseason, and it showed today,” said Arno after the win. “I came out here with no pressure on me because I know I had a good team, and I trusted everyone.”

The night was highlighted by the play of the offensive/defensive lines anchored by senior Asa Rosenmeier. A member of USA Rugby’s U18 national team, Rosenmeier’s size (listed at 6’4″ and 315 pounds) and quickness made him a menace on D and a presence in the running game and in pass protection. Joined by juniors Max Cornelius, Nate Moss and Harry Carlson and sophomore center Dan Martin, the Marauders’ demonstrated they will be a handful for most Middlesex League teams.

Along with showing a growing maturity running the team, Arno has the benefit of a string of offensive weapons at his disposal. In the backfield are returning starters junior Adrien Gurung and senior Jake Cornelius while the receiving corp is loaded with tall talent made up of seniors Ben William (6’2″) and Chris Cogliano (6’3″) and junior Brian Logan (6’5″).

Belmont’s first offensive series started on the ground with four straight running plays before Arno connected with William and junior Austin Lassiter to place the Marauders into the red zone before Gurung punched it in from 2 yards out for the opening TD mid-way through the first quarter. The score also brought Belmont’s first penalty of the season, an unsportsman-like call on Rosenmeier for a “Gronk”-like spiking of the ball as if the six points needed punctuation.

After the Falcon’s first drive effectively ended when Max Cornelius sacked the Cambridge QB, Belmont next score came on the first play when Gurung broke three tackles as he sprinted 84 yards for the Marauders’ second TD in the quarter. While known for his work on the lines, Rosenmeier got to show his running skills, lining up in the backfield (likely scaring a few facing him across the line) and scoring on the two-point conversion. Not that carrying the ball into the end zone is foreign to him, as Rosenmeier scored Belmont’s first try in the MIAA rugby championship game.

Cambridge came back with a great score of their, a 40-yard pitch and stretch, to cut the lead to 14-6. Belmont returned the favor when after a heavy dose of Jake Cornelius, Arno found Cogliano downfield and with a timely block from William took the ball 45 yards to the end zone to reup the lead to 22-6 after Lassiter passed to junior Bryce Hubbard. While Cambridge came close to cutting the lead in the final seconds of the half, the Marauders made a stance, halting the Falcons’ progress at the 2 on four plays.

After both teams spent much of the third grinding up the middle of the field, Arno called his own number to up the score to 29-6 before finding Cogliano again early in the fourth quarter for a strike down the right sideline to effectively end the game at 35-12. Cambridge scored twice as Belmont began pulling starters, allowing junior QB Isais Arce-Villon to march down the team downfield (with some outstanding passes) before handing off to junior Jayden Rodriquez to end the drive with a TD.

Next for Belmont will be a Thursday game, Sept. 15, at Harris Field against Wakefield, a Warriors team that laid it on the Marauders last season by a 41-7 tally.

“Wakefield is a big game for us because we honestly because we haven’t beat them in six years. So we want this game,” said McCray.

Turkey Day In Boston! Fenway Park To Host Centennial Belmont/Watertown Thanksgiving Rivalry Game

Photo: Action between Belmont and Watertown on Thanksgiving Day.

The 2022 Belmont/Watertown Thanksgiving Day football game is always going to be extra special as it will be the centennial match between the school from the bordering towns. And the game just got that much more special as it was revealed Friday, Aug. 19, the rivalry game will take place in one of the great shires of sports, Fenway Park.

The word got out on the game during an interview on Twitter between Belmont Head Coach Brian McCray and New England Football Journal. Asked about his goals for the 2022 season, McCray said “obviously one of our big goals is we play Watertown at Fenway [Park] for our Thanksgiving Day game.” The game was mentioned on a second Journal interview with a Belmont player.

On the field where the Babe, Teddy Baseball, Yaz, and Big Papi stood, the Marauders and the Raiders will play in the shadow of the Green Monster likely on Wednesday, Nov. 23 as part of a high school doubleheader. There will be another set of games on Tuesday, Nov. 22. Last year, tickets were $20 for both games of the with luxury seats available for $40.

Last year, Winchester and Woburn of the Middlesex League played at Fenway with Woburn taking home a late 26-22 victory.

Marauders Steamrolled In Turkey Day Game Vs Watertown

Photo: Belmont’s Tyler Arno (7), Kevin Logan (8) and Chris Cogliano (1) swarm tackles Watertown’s Mason Andrade who was the Marauders’ nemeisis all game long as Belmont fell to host Watertown, 25-0, on Thanksgiving.

The cool steely gray skies over Victory Field in Watertown was the apt dower backdrop for the Belmont High Marauder Football team as host Watertown High Raiders took control early and won the 99th edition of the Thanksgiving game in the border rivalry, 25-0, snapping Belmont’s two-game Turkey Day win streak.

For first-year head coach Brian McCray, the season which started out with a promising 4-2 record ended with five losses as the competition improved which his Marauders couldn’t match.

“Over the season, it’s been up and down like a roller coaster,” McCray told the team after the game. “Obviously we didn’t get what we wanted at the end of the year. We battled as hard as we could over the whole season. It just felt like we didn’t have enough to change the game to our advantage.”

Mason Andrade, the Raiders’ senior running back who better resembles a linebacker in stature and physicality, claimed the man of the match with a pair of power touchdowns. Running behind an offensive line that held the height and size advantage over the Marauders – especially after Belmont defensive stalwart Jake Cornelius left with an injury – Andrade was a force running downhill almost entirely down the right side for most of the game, gobbling up yards and moving the sticks.

While the Marauders D did have a number of big-time stops against Andrade including his attempt of a two-point conversion in the second quarter, Belmont had a hard time consistently containing the Raiders’ offense: for every stop by the Marauders, Watertown would have two to three plays of four yards or greater. And when Belmont did halt Watertown in the red zone, the Raiders brought out sophomore kicker Rafael Magalhaes who nailed field goals of 23 and 24 yards.

On the other side of the ball, it was a rough day for Marauder sophomore QB Jayden Arno whose quarterback option runs didn’t fool the Raiders, at times resulting in the young signal-caller being slammed into the turf. Despite some success through the air – a very good pitch and catch with senior wideout Logan – the Marauders’ offense could not generate a sustained drive in any of the four quarters.

When the Marauders did cross midfield in the first quarter with a first down on the Raiders 44-yard line – a result of a 10-yard pass and catch to senior Brian Lasseter – a bad snap equaled a loss of 13 yards which effectively ended the drive.

One of the highlights for Belmont supporters was witnessing the final field performance from the Marauder marching band, a guest of the Watertown athletic department.

Despite the less than the satisfying end of the campaign, McCray does see a lot of upside coming next year, noting the return of his quarterback and promising running back (sophomore Adrien Gurung) most of the offensive and defensive lines and many of the linebackers. He also pointed to many younger players – who played on successful junior varsity and freshmen teams – who were slotted into varsity games due to injuries and gave them valuable game experience.

“I think it’s going to be a very bright future. Come see us next year,” said McCray.

Belmont High Defense In The Spotlight As Football Overpowers Lexington, 14-3; SpyPonders Await

Photo: Belmont High Jr. Asa Rosenmeier in action vs. Lextington

Belmont High’s defense coordinator Dave Pereira had seen enough.

With 6:35 left in the second quarter, Belmont called a time out. While being up 14-0 on a pair of first quarter touchdowns, the Belmont defense had just allowed Lexington High’s run oriented offense to convert a third and long and a fourth down play on their side of the 50 and had just picked up 12 yards to Belmont’s 31 on a handoff that looked stopped dead at the line of scrimmage.

Whether it was to convey his considerable displeasure at the performance of his charges during the series – it was – or to encourage the team to step up the intensity it showed during the previous times on the field – less so – Pereira was providing a good, old timey tongue lashing to get his point across. “Do your jobs” was the sentiment from the long-time leader of the defense 11.

And Pereira’s “urging” worked. After stuffing three consecutive runs, Belmont’s sophomore defensive stalwart Max Cornelius sacked the Minuteman quarterback for a ten yard loss on fourth down which sent the Marauders’ DC out on the pitch, this time with loving praise for his men.

The defense would proceed to stop Lexington twice inside the Belmont 10 yard line in the third quarter as the Marauders’ took down the Minutemen, 14-3, under the Friday Night Lights of Harris Field. Belmont is now staring at a 4-2 record with a trip to bordering Arlington on Friday, Oct. 22 to take on the SpyPonders for a chance to climb up the MIAA Power Rankings and closer to a playoff spot.

“That was the most complete game of defense we’ve played in a long, long time,” Pereira told the team after the game. “The secondary was locked on the way through, linebackers were aggressive and the defensive line except for a couple of times … didn’t fly up field!”

“The defense played a hell of a game, recovering a fumble, you guys came through,” said first year Head Coach Brian McCray, pointing to the two times Lexington entered the red zone inside Belmont’s 20 yard line.

“What I saw last year and at the beginning of this year, you would have folded and have given up the touchdowns. You guys are maturing as defensive football players and that’s what we’ll need to be when we face the bigger teams,” said McCray.

The game’s keystone in the defense’s arch was senior defensive back John Dolan, who hung over the Minutemen receivers like a grandmother’s winter drapes while providing birddog pursuit on running plays. As Lexington was driving downfield to answer Belmont’s opening TD, number 11 torpedoed into the Minutemen backfield to not break up or destroy the attempted sweep, but obliterated the play for a six yard loss leading to a subsequent punt.

“This defense has been showing up all year which I have to give a lot to the coaching,” said Dolan. “In practice we are replicating [the opponents] offense. So I knew exactly what to expect whey they pass and run.”

When asked if the Marauders should be respected for its defense, Dolan nodded. “I mean, we love defense. I love defense. I know all my boys do also.”

“Honestly, without Johnny Dolan, I don’t know if we could do this,” said Pereira. “That kid has worked for years to get here, paid his dues and it’s his time and he’s playing great.”

Belmont did enough early to give the Marauders enough of a cushion to take home the victory. On Belmont’s first possession of the game, sophomore quarterback Jayden Arno found this brother, senior wide receiver Tyler, all alone on a busted coverage and the siblings played throw and catch for the easiest 56 yard touchdown of the season. The second time the Marauders handled the ball, it took them three plays to travel 70 yards with sophomore running back Adrien Gurung taking it the final 20 yards on a stop and go burst over the right hand side to give Belmont a 14-0 lead at the 3:48 mark of the first quarter.

Unlike the previous week when Belmont piled on 41 points against Winchester, this game saw Jayden Arno play more like a 15 year old as his passes were just off the mark, including over throwing two wide open receiver that each would have gone for certain 6s.

But the Belmont defense would take the two touchdown advantage and keep it under wraps with a solid demonstration of containment football. When Lexington ventured to the Belmont five yard line in the eighth minute of the third quarter, the defensive front four did not allow the Minutemen a yard over three plays. On fourth down, senior Zach Moss pressured the quarterback into an intentional grounding and senior Gordon Lasseter defended the subsequent end zone pass to prevent a score.

The Minutemen were right back knocking at the door with a third down and five at Belmont’s nine yard line when that man Dolan tackled the Lexington running back for a three yard loss, resulting in the Minutemen scoring their only points of the night with a field goal at 2:42 left in the quarter.

For the rest of the third and through most of the fourth, Belmont set forth to eat as much time as they could with Gurung doing the grunt work of running into the middle of the offensive line time and time again. It was just a matter of running out those final 15 odd minutes to secure the “W”.

After the game as he greeted parents, Pereira said the program has been working for years “to get to this point.”

“Actually, I don’t do that much, it’s the kids and they’re awesome,” he said, calling out Moss for quarterbacking the defense and Cornelius who he called “amazing.”

“He’s never played football before and here he is. He comes out and learns and he’s becoming a leader with this team,” said one very proud coach.

Rookie QB Leads Belmont High Football Over Winchester, 41-14, As Lexington Looms

Photo: Belmont High senior RB Gordon Lassiter on his way scoring the Marauders’ second TD vs Winchester on Friday night.

It was suppose to be the year sophomore Jayden Arno would learn the quarterback position behind senior Ryan Broderick, getting a few snaps under center during practice, playing on the JV and watching from the sidelines on Friday night.

Fast forward to Oct. 21 when Broderick injured his non-throwing arm against a strong Reading team and Arno was thrown in against an undefeated Rockets defense. While he was under pressure on nearly every play, Arno did show a willingness to take a shot down field and tuck the ball and run mopping up in the 34-0 loss.

So the expectations for a 15-year-old starting his first varsity game were guarded at best as the Marauders traveled to Winchester for a match up under the Friday Night Lights.

But as the clock hit triple zeros 48 minutes after it started, Arno – who was one of the youngest players on the field – led the Marauders to a dominate 41-14 victory over Winchester, upping Belmont’s record to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the Middlesex League Liberty Division.

Showing the maturity of a quarterback who had been in charge for a while, Arno threw for three touchdowns, ran for an another and had no interceptions in a game that Belmont never trailed and where the defense allowed a single scoring drive.

”I felt good going out there and playing, coming into the game wanting to win,” said Arno. “The [practice] week went off [well] and I was running with the first offense which really helped,” he said. What also helped, Arno noted, is that he’s been playing football “my entire life” as well as learning the game from his brothers: Tyler, a senior defensive back and wide receiver, and Avery, a two-year varsity starting Marauder quarterback who also threw for three touchdowns in his inaugural varsity game as a junior vs. Milton in 2018.

For Marauder first year Head Coach Brian McCray, a week after being beat up by Reading, “we really wanted to come out this week and just give it our all. We had a couple of people banged up and a lot of guys stepped up this week and they did an unbelievable job,” point out out both Arno and junior Ben Williams who would score his first touchdown on Arno’s and the teams final score.

Belmont started the night’s scoring thanks to the defense as junior Chris Cogliano stepped in front of a Winchester pass to scamper 33 yards to give the Marauders a 6-0 lead mid-way through the first quarter. After a dominate defensive stance highlighted by a key third down stop by sophomore lineman Max Cornelius, Arno – who was making the most of a series of swing passes on the drive – found senior Gordon Lassiter in the flats and it was a race 26 yards to the end zone that Lassiter won to make the score 13-0 at the end of the first.

Arno than showed his arm as Cogliano took a pass between two defenders and raced 61 yards to the house and a 20-6 lead at the 7:40 mark of the second. Winchester responded on the next play as the Marauder kick off squad believed they saw Derek Gianci go out of bounds. But the referee didn’t see it that way and Gianci took it to the house to cut the lead to 20-7. Arno nearly got the TD back when he found senior Kevin Logan on a 26 yard strike to the Winchester 6 as time ran out in the half.

Winchester took the kick off and benefiting from a pass interference call marched the ball in for a score via Gianci two yard third down plunge to cut the lead to 20-14 at 7:38 remaining in the third. But from there Belmont would score three consecutive TD: a three yard rush from sophomore Adrien Gurung, a 10 yard designed quarterback run by Arno and a bullet from 10 yards out from Arno to Williams.

Next up for Belmont is Lexington (1-3) on Friday, Oct. 15 under the lights at Harris Field at 6 p.m. with an opportunity to move closer to securing a playoff slot.

“It’s just a great opportunity for us against a great team,” said McCray. “We’re gonna play one play at a time, one game at a time.”