Watertown Rapids and Watertown Red & Black Updates
WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – The Watertown Rapids hosted Boonville at Toyota Field on Friday night, while the Watertown Red & Black were on the road for a rematch with the Syracuse Strong in Gridiron Developmental Football League action.
Watertown Rapids vs. Boonville
In the PGCBL action at Toyota Field, the Rapids took an early lead against Boonville. Owen Parliment’s double down the third base line allowed Nick Locurto to score, making it 1-0. Quinten Perilli then got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, bringing in David McCann and extending the lead to 2-0. Gaetan Grandelli followed with a groundout to 2nd, allowing Parliment to cross the plate and making it 3-0 Rapids. Pranav Sundar later dropped a base hit into left field, scoring both Nick Mazzotta and Perilli, bringing the score to 5-0. However, Boonville came back to beat Watertown with a final score of 11-5.
Watertown Red & Black vs. Syracuse Strong
The Watertown Red & Black hit the road for a rematch with the Syracuse Strong, aiming to avenge their previous loss. Coach George Ashcraft is confident in his team’s ability to play a full 60 minutes of football and believes they can secure a victory. Offensive Coordinator Jerry Levine emphasizes the importance of establishing a running game and keeping the Syracuse Strong’s defense honest. The offense has been performing well in recent games, scoring a total of 112 points, but Levine acknowledges the challenge posed by the defending national champions.
Red & Black’s Improvement and Expectations
Despite the team’s progress and recent successes, Coach Ashcraft recognizes the formidable opponent they face. The Syracuse Strong, a highly-experienced team and defending national champions, will test the Red & Black’s skills. Levine highlights the need for effective pass plays, making use of the team’s athletes, and acknowledges that the offensive line may face some challenges. The Red & Black aims for their third straight league win and believes they are currently playing their best football of the season, with the contest against the Syracuse Strong marking the halfway point of the league season.
Upcoming Match Details
The Watertown Red & Black’s game against the Syracuse Strong will take place at Henninger High School with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
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