THE WARRIORS run onto Landrigan Field before their game against Burlington on Friday night. Wakefield will be away from home for the next two weeks as they travel to Winchester on Thursday night and Watertown on Oct. 18. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)
By DAN PAWLOWSKI
WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield High football team fell to 1-3 on Friday night at Landrigan Field after the visiting Burlington Red Devils came away with a 20-7 victory.
Playing without their two starting running backs/linebackers — Myles Sanchez and Jaden Fullerton — in the second half, Wakefield battled back from a 14-0 halftime deficit, eventually making it 14-7 after a 43-yard touchdown run from Aiden Jones. In the end, the Red Devils increased their lead back to two possessions early in the 4th quarter and held on. Burlington moved to 4-0 with the win. They were ranked No. 6 in Div. 4 before the game. Wakefield was ranked No. 31.
“We weren’t able to sustain a complete effort, especially offensively, for four quarters,” said head coach John Rafferty. “We played well at times and showed signs of being able to compete in the second half, we just need to be more consistent.”
Rafferty pointed to field position as the common factor in Burlington’s early lead and eventual victory.
The Red Devils started the game with a bang, scoring a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage as QB Anthony Gerrior hit Ryan Ellis for 55-yards.
Wakefield went three-and-out on their first drive, a lack of success in moving the ball that continued throughout the first half. The Warriors only had 39 yards of offense to show through the first two quarters, not only affecting their point total but putting more pressure on the defense to stem the tide.
Burlington’s second possession, starting at their own 10-yard line, took 10 minutes off the clock and ended in Gerrior’s second TD pass of the day, this time from 6 yards out to Chris O’Divin, making it 14-0 early in the 2nd.
Wakefield went three-and-out on their second drive but the defense returned the favor with Zach Courtright first on the scene to pressure Gerrior on a 3rd down which resulted in a trip and a sack.
The Warriors couldn’t capitalize from midfield as QB Westin McNeilly was picked off on 2nd down.
Penalties pushed Burlington back on their next possession and they punted with four minutes remaining.
The Warriors were finally able to move the chains on their fourth drive on an 8-yard carry by Sanchez but were forced to punt for the third time with a minute left.
John Fitzgerald intercepted Gerrior on a chuck down the field but there wasn’t enough time for Wakefield to get a score, ending the half down 14-0.
Perhaps even more discouraging than the score was the loss of Sanchez and Fullerton who both sustained injuries in the second quarter and would be out for the rest of the night.
The “next man up” mantra heard throughout sports is all well and good, but as is often the case, Wakefield’s small numbers means injuries to their main rotation of players can be extra devastating.
“Often times, we don’t have a ‘next man up,’” said Rafferty. “But we did with Aiden and he ran the ball extremely well. It was great to see.”
On Wakefield’s first drive of the second half, Jones actually went backwards on his first carry. But then, McNeilly hit William Forbes for 25 yards down the left sideline. That perhaps opened up the defense, because on the next play, Jones found a hole and took off, showcasing his speed as he outran the entire Burlington secondary for a 43-yard TD, getting the Wakefield bench and the Red Sea student section going as the Warriors were right back in the game. Matthew Beaver had the key block on the edge of the stretch run and center Joe Shea moved well to pull and lead block for Jones who did the rest.
Burlington was able to move the ball a little on the next drive despite dominant play from defensive end Jackson Fitzpatrick who had a tackle for loss and later was held to set the Red Devils back. Damien Hunt got in on the action with a sack on 3rd down and Burlington went for it on 4th-and-17 but pressure from Fitzpatrick and Coby Esposito forced an incompletion.
Wakefield had the momentum down 7 with 3 minutes left in the 3rd but once again, couldn’t move the rock, a false start on 3rd-and-7 helping quell the drive as they punted again.
Burlington, with great field position on their own 47, capitalized this time as Gerrior finished a six-play scoring drive with a 13-yard keeper. Fitzgerald blocked the point after but the visitors took a 20-7 lead with 10 minutes to play.
Wakefield moved the ball to the Burlington 16 on a few good passes from McNeilly to Forbes, Beaver, Tommy DeFeo and Ian Christie, along with some more solid running by Jones, but they came up short on 4th-and-7 and Burlington was able to hold on for the win.
In the end, Wakefield was certainly discouraged after a great opportunity against a team so far ahead in the power rankings, but the Warriors proved they can compete.
“I realize we’re on the short end of the stick with three losses but we’ve been productive at times in each game, both offensively and defensively,” said Rafferty. “We just need more of a sustained effort and no lapses. Overall, the effort has been excellent and they’re capable of it, we just need four full quarters.”
The Warriors have a short week to get ready for 3-1 Winchester, who was ranked No. 5 in Div. 2 before their 42-0 victory over Belmont on Saturday.
Wakefield will travel to Knowlton Stadium on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m.
