Three for the win Raiders trounce Devils 28-6
By Chad Garner
Staff Writer


FITCHBURG -- The Fitchburg High football team isn't only a
three-man show with Jason Twomley, Frank McDonald and Norman
Cole.

The Red Raiders' secret weapon for most of the season has
been senior wide receiver and cornerback Tim Keenan, and he
proved his worth in the 117th overall meeting and 95th on
Thanksgiving between archrivals Fitchburg High and
Leominster High.

With the Red Raiders leading by only seven with 8:19
remaining in the third quarter, Fitchburg High's unsung hero
Keenan stepped up and hauled in a 73-yard TD pass from
Twomley, kick-starting the Red Raiders' 21-point second half
surge en route to a 28-6 Thanksgiving Day victory in front
of an estimated 6,700 fans at Crocker Field.

"It was a great high school football game and we just
couldn't be happier right now," said Fitchburg coach Ray
Cosenza, whose team will bring its unblemished 11-0 record
into the Super Bowl against Western Mass. champion
Springfield Central, 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 at Worcester
State College.

"That catch was a key play, I think it was a third-down
play. We had the first down and then he gives a great effort
and scores. He played tremendous all day. What can you say?
He's done that all year, and you're right, he goes
unnoticed."

The Red Raiders, who committed two first-half turnovers,
made a few minor adjustments at halftime that immediately
paid dividends. On the opening drive of the third quarter,
the Red Raiders used a 6-play, 84-yard drive to claim a 14-0
lead.

With the ball sitting at the Red Raider 27-yard line, senior
quarterback Twomley connected with wide receiver Keenan on a
quick out on the near sidelines. Keenan, after slipping one
tackle along the sidelines, raced past the entire Blue Devil
secondary for a 73-yard TD reception.

"We call it a counter-boot. (The Blue Devils) key Franky
(McDonald) on the counter and he's going the other way,"
explained Keenan of his momentum-turning TD catch. "I do a
slant and an out. Twomley rolls out and normally on that
play I get behind the kid, but they had them back because
they knew I had a lot of big plays this year on that same
play. So I was in front of the kid. The ball was a little
soft because of the wind. I caught the ball, the kid hit me
in my right shoulder, I spun over to the left, looked around
and Joe Henrie was right there. I cut off of him and there
was nothing but open field, and I just gave it my all to the
end zone."

Leominster coach John Dubzinski also agreed that the turning
point of the game was Twomley's quick pass to Keenan, but
was quick to point out how hard his team played despite the
underdog billing.

"The big play of the game was when they threw the ball down
to Keenan to make it 14-0," he said. "They had a couple of
shots at him, but we didn't make the play. I thought we
played a great first half even though we had three
turnovers. Our kids never quit. I'm really proud of the
kids, they played great. Fitchburg's a great team, they have
all the ingredients of a great team and I wish them the best
of luck next Saturday in the Super Bowl."

After the Blue Devils (6-4) failed on a fourth-down pass
attempt on their next possession, the Red Raiders stunned
the Leominster faithful as Twomley broke off a long TD
run. On fourth down from the Leominster 43, Twomley (13
carries, 104 yards, TD) called his own number on a
quarterback keeper up the middle. After breaking a gang
tackle at the line of scrimmage, Twomley showcased his
exceptional speed in the secondary on a 43-yard TD run with
11:50 left in the fourth quarter.

With Leominster trailing 22-0, the Blue Devils broke up the
shutout as senior Joe Henrie caught the initial kickoff and
jaunted 79 yards for the kickoff-return touchdown. Henrie,
who fielded the kick at the 21, followed a wall of blockers
to the middle of the field, eluding a Twomley diving tackle
and heading into the end zone to cut the deficit to 22-6
with 11:31 left in the game.

But the Red Raiders answered on their next possession,
however. Junior fullback Cole (13 carries, 83 yards, TD)
capped off a 7-play, 73-yard drive with an 18-yard TD run
off right tackle, behind the bone-crushing block of Tim
Caron en route to the 22-point victory.

I think (Leominster's) defense was a factor. A few minor
adjustments we made paid off and our backs are tough -- all
three of them. The line played a lot better in the second
half. I think our kids are in such great shape that we wore
them down a little bit and our backs finished plays off,"
said Cosenza.

Leominster's sophomore running back Kevin L'ecuyer (19
carries, 80 yards) broke down the tenacious Red Raider
defense (152 total yards allowed) with a 12-yard run on the
second play of the game, but the Blue Devils fumbled on the
next play and Fitchburg's Steve Marella pounced on the loose
ball.

The Red Raiders turned the ball over on downs on their first
possession, and the Blue Devils, backed by L'ecuyer's 21
yards on three carries, brought the ball to the Red Raider
46. Unfortunately, the drive stalled as L'ecuyer fumbled and
Josh Raboin recovered at the Fitchburg 45.

The turnover-filled first quarter continued as McDonald
coughed up the ball, recovered by Leominster's Jack Reed.
Leominster, after stalling on its next set of downs,
immediately snatched the ball away via a fumble recovery by
James Giadone on a fumbled snap by Twomley.

"The defense played great," said Dubzinski. "We got a little
worn down as the game went on. Fitchburg's offensive line is
very good and they started wearing us down a little bit at
the end of the third period and into the fourth period.
That's the most points we've given up all year in a game. I
thought both teams played great. I thought it was a great
high school football game and my hats are off to Fitchburg,
but my kids played great too and I'm very, very proud of
them."

But true to form, the Red Raiders regained control of the
ball as Keenan (2 INTs) picked off Leominster quarterback
Jim Malone and returned the ball 30 yards down to the
Leominster 40.

After a shaky first quarter, the Red Raiders settled down
and scored the first points of the game with 7:39 left in
the half. Six straight rushing plays from Cole, Twomley and
McDonald brought the ball to the 18. On third-and-1, Twomley
optioned left and pitched to McDonald (27 carries, 160
yards, TD), who tip-toed down the near sidelines and plunged
into the left corner of the end zone for the 18-yard TD.
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