BCAT News

Burlington was back on home turf against the Stoneham Spartans Friday, but the Red Devils failed to stop the Spartans’ strong running game and lost 41-32.

Stoneham junior and running back Dylan Posey scored the first touchdown after a seven-play drive on the team’s first possession, with a failed two-point conversion bringing the score to 6-0. After Burlington failed to score on their first possession, Stoneham took time off the clock with a 10-play drive from the 38-yard line, with another touchdown and successful two-point conversion bringing the score to 14-0.

The Devils quickly shortened the Spartans’ lead as senior captain and running back Joey Poland ran a 14-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 14-7 after an additional point going into the second quarter.

After a three-and-out from the Spartans, it only took the Devils four plays to even the score: junior and quarterback Anthony Gerrior threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to junior and wide receiver Charlie Hanafin, tying the game up at 14-14 after a successful extra point. Stoneham got two more touchdowns before the end of the first half, bringing the score 26-14.

It was a disappointing series of events for Burlington, but they didn’t stop fighting. Poland ran a 24-yard touchdown in the beginning of the third quarter, bringing the score to 26-20 after a failed attempt at an extra point. Stoneham then chewed time off the click with a 10-play drive that resulted in no points until their special team punted back to the Devils. Burlington then ran a six-play drive until their special teams kicked to the Spartans. Stoneham then fumbled the ball, but it was recovered by the Devils’ sophomore lineman Matthew Conte, giving Burlington a great field position at the 31-yard line.

Entering the fourth quarter, Poland knotted up the score at 26-all by running a 2-yard touchdown after a six-play drive. the Devils could have taken the lead with an extra point, but were blocked. The tie was short-lived: Spartans senior and quarterback Matthew Tran threw a 58-yard touchdown to his receiver, giving the Stoneham team a lead of 34-26 after the two-point conversion.

Soon enough, though, the Devils were closing the gap, with Gerrior throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass to Hanafin: The score was 34-32 Stoneham after a failed 2-point conversion.

Stoneham ran down the clock again, with a six-play possession leading to another touchdown and successful extra point, bringing the score to 41-32.

With the game nearing its end, the Devils needed more than a touchdown if they were going to get ahead. The Devils ran a four-play drive, but Gerrior’s first interception of the game came too late, as the Spartans’ defense ended the Devil’s chances of pulling out a win.

It was Burlington’s third loss of the season: Their record stands at 4-3 going into the last game of the regular season. They will visit the 1-4 Watertown Red Raiders on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at Victory Field.