OK, so who outside of Waterbury Career Academy football and its supporters would have believed this first-year varsity program would be over .500 seven games into the season?
Go on, raise your hands. OK, now put them back down.
There couldn’t have been too many people who thought the Spartans would have much success. The NVL can be tough to navigate, but the first-year program has surpassed expectations.
Believe it or not, WCA has had success. Not only that, the Spartans are over .500 with three games left in the season. WCA came from behind to beat Derby 26-14 in a sloppy game on a sloppy Municipal Stadium turf tonight.
With the win, the Spartans improve to 4-3.
The first half was a struggle for both teams. As PA announcer Bryan P. Baker put it on Twitter, there were more fumbles (7) than touchdowns (3) as Derby took a 14-6 lead into the half.
WCA’s lone first half touchdown came on an 82-yard run by Josiah Rivers, not an easy feat in the slick conditions.
A Rivers touchdown run late in the third quarter, this one from 32 yards out, brought the Spartans to within 14-12. A two-point conversion tied the game at 14.
WCA went ahead for good a little over midway through the fourth quarter on a five-yard run by Kyren Petteway. The Spartans added another score in the waning seconds for the final margin of victory.
WCA is 4-3. Repeat, WCA is 4-3. The Spartans own wins over Wilby, Crosby, Sacred Heart/Kaynor Tech and Derby.
WCA’s last three games of the season — all on the road — are Watertown, Naugatuck and Gilbert/Northwestern.
Touchdown information via the Twitter account of PA announcer Bryan P. Baker. Thanks as always Bryan!
