BCAT News

The Burlington Red Devils football team stands at an impressive 3-0 for the season after a massive 41-24 win over Cambridge Rindge & Latin on the evening of September 27. 

With both defensive lines holding strong in the first quarter, neither offensive could get any points on the board. At the start of the second quarter, the Cambridge Falcons got the first points as quarterback Dante Howard found wide receiver Jordel Sanchez for a 5-yard touchdown reception. With a failed point attempted, the score was 6-0. Things got even worse for the Devils when they fumbled the ball and the Falcons recovered with another 5-yard touchdown from Howard to Sanchez, bringing the score to 12-0. Burlington blocked the point after attempt.

Burlington didn’t let the Falcons’ 12-point lead get in their heads. Ryan Ellis caught a 52-yard reception, then senior quarterback Anthony Gerrior took things into his own hands — literally — by keeping the ball for a 6-yard touchdown with a successful extra point. The score was 12-7 going into halftime.

To start the second half, the Devils special teams came in clutch with two fumble recoveries on the kickoff return. One lead to a 26-yard touchdown reception to wide receiver Ryan Brooks, which made the score 14-12 after the extra point. In the second, running back J.T. Doherty scored for the Devils on the ground for 1-yard touchdown, bringing the score 21-12 after the point-after attempt.

With the Falcons back of offense, momentum shifted in the Devils’ favor when defensive back Drew Garvey punched the ball out of Cambridge’s grasp and Burlington brought in another touchdown, this one a 27-yard pass from Gerrior to Brooks. The score was 28-12 after the extra point.

The Devils’ lead was widening, but the Falcons didn’t give up yet. Toward the end of the third quarter, Howard threw a 33-yard touchdown to wide receive Natnael Gizachew, bringing the score to 28-18 after a failed two-point conversion attempt.

With Burlington ahead going into the fourth, the Falcons rushed Gerrior forcing him to throw an interception. The Falcons were backed up in their own end zone. Their center hiked the ball, but Howard missed the snap and the Devils recovered the ball, bringing the score to an 34-18 with the fumble recovery touchdown and a failed PAT.

Each team scored one more touchdown in a flurry of points at the end of the game. Howard threw a 7-yard touchdown reception to Sanchez, bringing the score to 34-24, but the Devils had the last laugh. Doherty ran down the field for a 71-yard touchdown, making the final score 41-24.

The game was a real victory for the Burlington team and another sign that this year’s crew is performing well as a team even early in the season. But the real work is just beginning. The Middlesex Freedom League games are about to begin. Burlington will be on the road against Wakefield on Friday, October 4 at 6 p.m.