Patriots no match for Red Raiders
By Chad Garner
Staff Writer

FITCHBURG -- On paper, the football game between Fitchburg
High and North Middlesex Regional looked to be a mismatch,
and on the field it became reality.

The undefeated Red Raiders, who are currently ranked third
in the state, proved that there wasn't going to be a letdown
against the winless Patriots as senior running back Frank
McDonald controlled the offense, with 200 yards rushing on
18 carries and four touchdowns, lifting the Red Raiders to a
convincing 40-7 win Friday night at Crocker Field.

"I think with this group they are always ready to play. I
don't care who we're playing, they don't know what a letdown
is and every game is important to them," said Fitchburg
coach Ray Cosenza. "It's a great win. We're 7-0, undefeated
in our league and we're just real pleased with the effort
our kids are giving every week. This was a good win for our
program. To be undefeated at this time, it feels real good."

The Red Raiders opened the game with a bit of trickery as
Fitchburg kicker Ryan Logan recovered his own on-sides kick
at the Patriots 44. It didn't take long for the well-oiled
Red Raider offense to score. McDonald took the first three
carries for 24 yards, and after senior quarterback Jason
Twomley was stuffed by a wall of Patriot defenders, McDonald
executed a perfect halfback toss pass -- connecting with
wide receiver Jon Shea who went full-extension to haul down
the 22-yard reception. From the 4, McDonald busted through
the right side of the line for the touchdown, and added the
two-point conversion run to give the Red Raiders a 8-0 lead
with 7:56 remaining in the first quarter.

The North Middlesex (0-7) offense was forced to punt on a
three-and-out series, and the Red Raiders went right back to
work at their own 46. Twomley brought the ball to the
Patriot 49 on a five-yard draw play, and McDonald did the
rest. The senior tailback took a pitch right from Twomley
and juked two defenders en route to a 49-yard TD run. Logan
added the extra point, giving the Red Raiders a 15-0 lead
with 4:48 left in the first.

The Patriot offense, led by quarterback Allen Morais,
brought the ball down to the Red Raider 30 via a nifty
flee-flicker pass to wide receiver Matt Watson for a gain of
23. But the drive would end as Morais threw an ill-advised
pass that was picked off by defensive back Corey Nass.

The Patriots stuffed the Red Raiders on a fake punt at their
own 33 on the next possession of the game, but the Pats gave
the ball right back to the Red Raiders as safety Twomley
intercepted Morais and rumbled to the Fitchburg 36.

The Pats hung tough, however. Patriots defensive end Doug
Murphy gave the visitors a big boost with a fumble recovery
at the Patriot 49, but the offensive couldn't break down the
aggressive Red Raider defense.

The Red Raiders, running out of the two-minute drill,
punched up another touchdown as Twomley (3-for-4, 74 yards
passing, TD) found a wide open Nass over the middle for a
59-yard TD with one minute remaining for the 21-0 halftime
lead.

"In my opinion (Fitchburg) is the best team in the
state. Their record is a test to it and the way they play,"
said North Middlesex coach Pat Haverty. "They are a real
good football team ... they are a great football team. They
played a great game. They just have a lot of good weapons
and their weapons were firing real well."

Fitchburg opened up the second half with a four-play,
49-yard drive, capped off by a McDonald 43-yard TD
run. Logan added the extra point for a 28-0 lead.

"We knew it was easy to have a letdown this game, but we
pretty much all got together and went out and played one of
the best games we've played all year," said McDonald. "All
that I had to do was makes cuts when I got into the
secondary. The line did a great job tonight on the right
side and the left side. All I had to do was make a cut on
the corner on the free safety and I was in for a touchdown
every play."

The Patriots' woes continued as Twomley recorded his second
pick of the game, and the Red Raiders' offense kept up the
pressure. McDonald, on a toss left, scampered 20 yards for
his fourth touchdown of the game with five minutes left in
the third quarter.

With 6:51 left in the fourth quarter, the Red Raiders were
staked to a 40-0 lead as B.J. Fitz took a pitch from
quarterback Brian Bouvier 13 yards for the Red Raiders'
final touchdown of the contest.

The Patriots' lone score came with 2:03 remaining in the
game. Running back Matt Donovan (10 carries for 74 yards)
carried the ball six times for 58 yards, bringing the ball
to the Red Raider six. From there, backup quarterback Mark
Sullivan rolled left for a six-yard TD run. Ryan Guilfoyle
added the extra point for the 40-7 final. 
 Fitchburg
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