Watertown Stuns Lynnfield With Dramatic Comeback

It was freezing cold, with a bitter wind, but with three minutes to play Friday night in Lynnfield, Pioneer fans weren't complaining. That's because their team had a 34-24 lead following Tyler Murphy's 30-yard touchdown run and what's the worst that can happen in three minutes.

But MIAA playoff games are 44 minutes, not 41, and visiting Watertown did the unthinkable, scoring two touchdowns in less than three minutes to win the Division 5 North title, 38-34. For the second time in three years the No. 6 seeded Raiders ended Lynnfield's season early. Watertown (6-4) will face South champion Dennis-Yarmouth at a neutral site next weekend in the Division 5 state semifinals. The winner of that game advances to the Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium.

"I told the kids the same thing I tell them every week and every year," said Watertown coach John Cacace of his message to his team with three minutes to play. "You never give up until the final whistle. I said it right after they scored that touchdown. I said it isn't over until the zeroes are on the clock."

Following Murphy's score, Watertown took over on their own 44 with 2:50 to play. That's when Nick McDermott began the Raiders comeback. The junior quarterback hit Conor Kennelly for three straight passes and suddenly Watertown was at Lynnfield's 13-yard line with 1:31 to play. McDermott then targeted John Korte for an 8-yard completion, then hit Korte again, this time for a 5-yard touchdown. Kennelly's extra point cut Lynnfield's lead to 34-31 with less than a minute to play.

Watertown went for the onside kick and Korte was the hero again, recovering the ball at Lynnfield's 49-yard line. McDermott went to work again. After two incomplete passes he hit Kennelly for 37 yards down to Lynnfield's 12-yard line. There was 37.6 seconds left and following penalties on each team, McDermott hit Korte again, this time for 6 yards, putting the ball at the 6-yard line with 17.7 seconds to play. On the next play McDermott rolled right and beat Lynnfield's defense to the end zone, the Raiders second touchdown in the last three minutes. Kennelly's kick made it 38-34 with 11 seconds to play and when the Raiders stopped Lynnfield's Nick Kinnon on the kick off it was game over.

"We've had some good ones, but that may be the best of all time," said Cacace.

And it also may have been the most frustrating loss ever for the Pioneers.

The game started with Watertown going on a 15-play, 41-yard drive and taking a 3-0 lead on Kennelly's 37-yard field goal into the wind. Lynnfield (8-2) responded when Matt Mortellite completed a 37-yard touchdown pass to John Lee and Kinnon's extra point gave the Pioneers a 7-3 lead after one quarter.

Watertown controlled the second quarter, getting touchdowns from a McDermott to Yoseph Hamad 29-yard hook-up and a 2-yard run by Mange Camara. Murphy scored his first touchdown of the night for Lynnfield but Watertown held a 17-14 lead at the half.

The third quarter was a good one for Lynnfield with Mortellite hitting Jason Ndansi for a 44-yard touchdown and Anthony Murphy scoring on a 5-yard run. Watertown came back with a 19-yard McDermott to Kennelly pass that left the score 28-24 Lynnfield after three.

The fourth quarter was uneventful until Murphy's 30-yard run gave Lynnfield its 34-24 lead. With three minutes to go, the lead seemed safe.