The annual Watertown-Belmont Thanksgiving Day football game, a tradition dating to 1921, carried extra weight this year as Belmont searched for its first victory. Both teams entered the holiday matchup after difficult seasons; Watertown came in at 3-7, while Belmont hoped to avoid a winless campaign.
Belmont opened with strong defensive energy, forcing Watertown into a penalty-filled first drive that ended with a punt. But the Marauders’ offense failed to gain a yard on its first possession.
After another Watertown three-and-out, Belmont finally found rhythm on the ground. Casey Regan powered the offense with three straight first downs, and Patrick MacKinnon added another. Regan capped the 80-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter. Belmont attempted a two-point conversion but came up short, settling for a 6-0 lead.
Watertown answered when Joe Wilson returned the ensuing kickoff to the Belmont 45, and backs Gabe Olivera and Jayden Pineda moved the Raiders into scoring range. Pineda broke down the left sideline for a 22-yard touchdown, and Wilson converted the extra point to give Watertown a 7-6 lead at halftime.
The second half opened with miscues on special teams. Belmont’s Kellan Jones recovered a dropped punt, but the Marauder offense failed to gain any yardage and saw its next punt blocked by Watertown. The Raiders capitalized with a series of first downs, including a 35-yard rush from Pineda. Pineda finished the drive with a four-yard touchdown, and Wilson’s kick extended the lead to 14-6.
Belmont finally connected through the air with nine minutes remaining, as tight end Ronan Kelleher hauled in a 14-yard pass from Regan. Amir Mollineau followed with a 22-yard run, and Regan broke free for a 35-yard touchdown to pull the Marauders within two, 14-12. Watertown’s defense delivered a crucial stop on the two-point conversion, deflecting a pass to preserve the lead.
That was as close as Belmont came. Watertown responded with a steady, clock-eating drive led by Pineda and Olivera, covering 60 yards on the ground. Olivera punched in a four-yard touchdown, and Wilson remained perfect with the extra point. Belmont’s final possession ended with an unsuccessful Hail Mary, and Watertown ran out the final seconds of a 21-12 victory.
Despite the loss and the winless season, Belmont found bright spots. Sophomore tight end Trey Clark and freshman Kelleher provided strong blocking, and linebacker James Melanson delivered several key tackles to keep the Marauders in the game.
