Fitchburg trying to build on slim lead in seasonal matchup
By Rick Eggleston
Sentinel and Enterprise Staff Writer


Go ahead, ask Fitchburg and Leominster fans their favorite
holiday.

The Fourth of July? No way.  Halloween? Getting warmer!
Christmas? Go back one more that  right,
Thanksgiving.

Ah yes, Thanksgiving. A day for turkey, stuffing, pumpkin
pie and one of the oldest and best football traditions
around. No, not the NFL's Detroit Lions game on TV,
we're talking strictly high school here.

Fitchburg-Leominster, that is. 

If there's anything that can get more heated than a
20-pound bird roasting in a 400-degree oven, than it's
the Red Raiders-Blue Devils football rivalry which spans
back 117 years now.

One-hundred seventeen years of in-your-face football
that's sqeemingly become more intense with each and every
passing year. And though all the hub-bub and hype that goes
along with the game may sound like a whole lot of baloney to
the players and coaches lucky enough to compete in it, one
thing remains certain - they never, ever forget it.

How come? Because every single contest, every single year is
different -  it's that simple.

"I've found that with this game nothing else
matters," said Fitchburg coach Ray Cosenza, who will
lead his 12th team into battle, 10 Thanksgiving mornings
against the Blue Devils at Crocker Field. "This is the
Fitchburg-Leominster football game, and that's
it. Nothing else really matters. It definitely superceeds
any ramifications that may go along with the game. We've
played in the past where Super Bowls were on the line, but
that was secondary to the fact that this was the
Fitchburg-Leominster game -  nothing matches the
intensity, the excitment and the importance of a
Fitchburg-Leominster game."

When it comes to this rivalry, no statement rings truer. 

The Red Raiders would be wise to leave their awesome 10-0
record at the front gate, but then again they already know
that.  And though the Blue Devils themselves enter the game
with a respectable 7-3 mark, both teams might as well be
0-0.

"With the amount of tradition that comes along with games
like this, both teams just want to win so badly and you know
the kids are going to play their best," said
Leominster coach John Dubzinski, who will lead his 15th team
onto the Turkey Day gridiron. It's unlike any of the
regular season games - it's a great game for both
teams."

A great game that is sure to produce its share of awesome
feats and memorable moments.

But first for the tale of the tape. 

Unbeaten and sitting atop of the Central Mass. football poll
since the first week of the season, Division 1 Super
Bowl-bound Fitchburg has flourished this season, earning the
respect of teams both locally and statewide. "Wins over
Eastern Mass.  strengths Brockton and Xaverian proved that
much, but what really took the cake," said Cosenza, "happened
within the Raiders very division with a huge win over
St. John's-Shrewsbury."

"St. John's was probably the biggest because we were
down at halftime and we had to come out and play a hard
second half," said Cosenza. "I thought the way
St. John’s was playing, that was our toughest game. It
proved to be in order to win the (Division 1)
championship."

Not to be overlooked, however, was the Raider's win on
the road over what turned out to be a potent Milford
squad. That being said, the Raiders are a team that knows
good fortune and taking nothing for granted both play very
important roles in an undefeated season.

Then, of course, there are the players. 

"We have three legitimate running weapons that when
they're in the game at the same time, provide us an
opportunity to force other teams to defend the whole
field," said Cosenza, of senior super backs Jason
Twomley and Frank McDonald, and junior Norman Cole. "We
don't take any real chances, we work our strengths -
we're a run-orientated team. Jason gives us a running
threat that is as good as any we've ever had at that
position, and then there's McDonald. ... The 'X'
factor so-to-speak, has been Norman Cole. Besides being a
great blocker, he's been able to catch and run the
football. ... We feel our game is won or lost up
front."

Therein lies the key to Fitchburg's success on offense
- its line.

With center Tim Caron, tackles Anthony Fanelli and Sean Roy
and guards Marcus DiNatale and Josh Raboin, it's no
wonder the Fitchburg running attack has thrived this
season. With tricky Twomley a constant threat with the
option, and Cole and McDonald doing most of the
ball-carrying, the Raiders have also had their share of
success airing it out to the likes of receivers senior tight
end Jimmy Alexander and senior wideout Tim Keenan.

"We know we're going to have to play a great game -
(Fitchburg) has a tremendous amount of weapons to choose
from with Cole, McDonald and Twomley running the ball. You
can't key in on one," said Dubzinski. "They can
throw the ball, too, and one of the things that impresses me
most is their offensive line - they do a great job of
pass-blocking, and defensively they're a solid team. They
don't give up many big plays."

According to Cosenza, defensively is where it all begins for
his team.

"I think our defense gets overlooked because of what our
offense has done. But there's no question, to have a
successful season it all starts on defense," said
Cosenza, whose vaunted squad limited opposing clubs to just
over 100 points this season. "I think the most was 17
points to St. John’s. When your defense plays that well,
you're going to have some success."

Again, with Twomley, Cole and McDonald the catalyst for such
success on defense, Cosenza and the Raiders have relied on
the efforts of several others in literally crushing the
opposition.  Defensive tackles Tim Roy and Ernie King, and
DiNatale at nose guard have all been outstanding up front
this season, while big defensive end Mike Thomas has had
some huge games. Then there's been the sudden emergence
of sophomore Steve Marella at linebacker, while fellow
backer Tom Foote and guard Aaron Storm have contributed
weekly.

"We play a with team concept, and the kids have done a
good job executing week after week," said
Cosenza. "With (Marella) at linebacker, it's allowed
us to rest the starters and given us some depth there. A lot
of kids have stepped up and given tremendous contributions
this season."

Talk about contributions, and you can also be talking about
what Leominster has pulled off as a team this season -
equal time on offense with the football, and a total team
defense that's had its hand in already shutting down at
least one Super Bowl-bound team.

To date, Eastern Mass. force Whitman-Hanson's lone loss
of the season came to the Blue Devils back in September. Who
knew the Panthers would go on to win eight straight games
for a EMass Division 2 Super Bowl berth?

"That just goes to show you that (Leominster) is capable
of knocking off any team," warned Cosenza. "You
look at their losses, and they were against three good
football teams."

Shrewsbury, St. John's and Milford to be exact, but
don't think for a second the Devils' season was a wash
- not by any means.  After all, they may just be getting
started, and would like nothing more than to once again even
the rivalry's overall mark of 54-53-9, in favor of
Fitchburg. This, while the Devils also hope to cease seven
straight years of futility against the mighty Raiders.

"Defensively against their offense we have to contain
their two quarterbacks with the option," noted
Cosenza of Leominster's alternating senior QBs, Jim
Malone and Joe Henrie. "It's been an interesting
concept that's worked for them and they take it one step
further in that they don't alternate series, they
alternate plays, and it's worked for them. ... It's
paid dividends for (Leominster), and I think it's very
dangerous. Both run very well and they throw well, so
it's been a great thing for them."

Indeed, the Devils have left more than a few teams
scratching their heads this season with their unique tactic
at quarterback.

According to Dubzinski, it's taken special kind of
athletes like Henrie and Malone in order for him to become
comfortable with such a scheme.

"We weren't sure if it was going to work in the
beginning, you have to have some real team-orientated kids
that don't care about their stats, and they turned a
negative into positive for this team," noted
Dubzinski. "They're two very talented
athletes."

Likewise, talent has obviously been passed from one family
member to another with the surge of Leominster sophomore
Kevin L'ecuyer at running back for the Blue
Devils. L'ecuyer's father, Rick, was a one-time star
for the Devils at the same position, and is who Kevin has
been compared to on a regular basis this season, cutting
with the football to rack up several yards and touchdowns.

"Halfway through the season we started playing him a bit
more," said Dubzinski. "We knew he was going to be
a good player. He's responded, and has very good
speed."

When the Raiders don't have Malone, Henrie or L'ecuyer
to worry about, there'll be senior backs Alex Algarin and
Ed Sanchez to try and stop. Senior tight end Shaun Booth has
caught his share of clutch catches for the Devils, as well
as wideouts Jose Navarro and Dayne Williams. Meanwhile, the
offensive line has improved steadily every game behind
starters Chris Carlin, Mark Chiurri, Jack Reed, Mike DiLillo
and Pat Halligan.

But it's on defense where the Devils have gotten most of
their due in the form of wins this season.

"I think we've allowed only 94 points in 10 games, and
we have three shutouts," said
Dubzinski. "Defensively, we've done a good job every
game."

Tackles senior Steve Comerford, Reed and junior Ken Norton
have led the burst off the line, racking up their share of
sacks for the Devils, and quick linebackers Sanchez,
sophomore Jim Giadone and junior end Pat Moran have had
equally as productive stints.  
 
Fitchburg
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