WESTIN MCNEILLY was an efficient 10-for-15 for 136 yards and a touchdown against Watertown on Friday night. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)
By DAN PAWLOWSKI
WATERTOWN — Defense wins football games.
Wakefield’s defense proved that in a dominant effort on Friday night in Watertown, surrendering just 44 yards from scrimmage while racking up 3 sacks, 4 tackles for loss and an interception, shutting out the Raiders 30-0 to earn their second win of the season.
“The focal point all week was that we wanted to exert ourselves physically, especially on defense,” said head coach John Rafferty. “They certainly responded.”
The offense also had plenty to be proud of in this one as the Warriors racked up 327 yards, led by sophomore Jaden Fullerton who had 153 rushing yards and 3 TD’s. Sophomore QB Westin McNeilly was 10-for-15 for 136 yards and a touchdown.
Even still, it was the defense who set the tone after Wakefield turned it over on downs on the first possession of the game.
Watertown moved the chains once on their opening drive. It was the last time they would do so until the end of the first half with Wakefield already comfortably ahead 27-0.
On that first drive, Wakefield got a stop on 4th and 2 with the Raiders on the Warrior 13-yard line. The Warriors then went 87 yards on 12 plays, ending with a 2-yard Fullerton touchdown with just 40 seconds left in the first quarter.
That was all the points the defense needed in this one. Senior Zach Courtright and junior Luciano Rossetti each had a sack on Watertown’s next two possessions to push the Raiders back and the offense capitalized on the momentum in-between as McNeilly found senior Jackson Fitzpatrick on the first play of their third drive for a 32-yard TD in one-on-one coverage down the left sideline to make it 14-0 early in the 2nd quarter.
“The offense was dynamic, we moved the ball well. It was a good job by all,” said Rafferty.
Meanwhile, The defense continuously set the offense up with great field position –something which happened when they forced another three-and-out, returning the ball to McNeilly for the 4th drive on the Watertown 45. Fullerton rushed for 41 yards on 4 carries on this possession, his physical running and Wakefield’s equally dominant line too much for the Raider defense to handle as the Warriors went up 21-0 in the blink of an eye.
Senior Luke Dixon was all over the field for Wakefield from his outside linebacker spot. He led the team in tackles with 9 to go along with a sack, a tackle-for-loss and an interception which closed the first half.
“Dixon played really well and Fullerton certainly ran it well,” said Rafferty. “It was a great effort by both of them.”
Dixon stuffed a run attempt for no gain after Wakefield made it 21-0 and sophomore Damien Hunt followed with a 5-yard tackle-for-loss to set Watertown back again and force yet another punt. Hunt also added a sack in the second half.
With three minutes to go in the half, Wakefield went to work on putting this one away at the break. The two biggest plays of the drive were an 18-yard connection from McNeilly to senior captain John Fitzgerald and a 22-yard TD run by Fullerton to give him the first half hat trick.
Dixon made a huge hit to snuff out a screen pass on Watertown’s next drive and he finished it off with his pick on a long pass attempt that fell short.
Junior Carter Jefferson booted a 26-yard field goal on Wakefield’s first drive of the 3rd quarter and the Warriors largely kept it on the ground in the second half, aside from a few good passes from McNeilly to junior Will Forbes who led Wakefield in receiving with 4 catches for 54 yards. The officials ran the clock in the final quarter and the Warriors took home a convincing win that they hope carries over into next week’s matchup with Wilmington.
“We want to rise up again,” said Rafferty. “This was a big step for us and we’re up, kind of like breathing fresh air again. We just want to play good football next week and keep it going from there.”
Wakefield (2-4) hosts Wilmington (0-6) this Friday night, 6 p.m. at Landrigan Field.
