McDonald beefs up attack
Saturday, September 30, 2000 By Rich Garven Telegram & Gazette Staff
Fitchburg 20 St. John's 17 FITCHBURG-- In a bout that lived up to its prize-fight buildup, Frank McDonald delivered the knockout blow for Fitchburg High. McDonald put together two fabulous third-quarter touchdown runs in a four-minute span as the Red Raiders rallied for a 20-17 Division 1 victory over St. John's last night at chilly Crocker Field. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound McDonald finished with a game-high 103 yards on 18 carries. The senior tailback scored all of Fitchburg's points. "It was a real physical game, but Frank stepped it up tonight," Fitchburg fullback Norman Cole said. "All I did was block." The Red Raiders may have blocked St. John's Super Bowl hopes with the win. Fitchburg, ranked first in the T&G Top 10, is 4-0 -- overall and in league play -- and in control of its own destiny. The No. 2 Pioneers are 2-1 overall (1-1 league) and will need help to reach postseason play. The Pioneers hurt themselves with 10 penalties for 70 yards, but still had a chance to win or tie in the final two minutes. But sophomore quarterback Peter Wood's pass to James Abosi along the right sideline fell incomplete, leaving FHS to run out the clock. "Fitchburg did a great job," St. John's coach Tony Wood said. "They made some big plays. They've got a strong running game with two good backs." Trailing, 10-6, Fitchburg opened the second half with the ball at the SJ 40-yard line after McDonald returned the kickoff 35 yards. Five plays later, McDonald scored on a 29-yard jaunt that left even veteran Crocker Field denizens shaking their heads. McDonald went up the middle and appeared to be wrapped up by three tacklers -- Joe Fontecchio, Kevin Golden and Mike Magner -- before breaking free at the 20 and sprinting into the left corner of the end zone. McDonald then rushed right on a sweep for the two-point conversion to put Fitchburg up, 14-10, with 8:33 left in the third period. "That opening kickoff of the second half really set the tone," FHS coach Ray Cosenza said, "and then Frank McDonald just took the ball." St. John's went three-and-out, a holding penalty wiping out a possible first down, before Fitchburg got the ball back at the SJ 39. Four plays later, McDonald hit paydirt with another 29-yard TD dash. This time, he took a pitchout right, cut back left, hurdled a would-be tackler, and then dragged a Pioneer defender the last three yards into the end zone. Pat Murphy blocked the extra-point try, leaving Fitchburg with a 20-10 lead with 4:33 left in the third quarter. "There was a cutback angle every time," McDonald said. "They were over-pursuing to the right side, so the left side was wide open." McDonald, who has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of his first four games, credited his line. "Our line definitely stepped it up," he said. 'They're always good, but they rose up tonight." Center Tim Caron left the game with a knee injury late in the third quarter and didn't return. St. John's gave the ball right back once again and Fitchburg seemed poised to put the game away. However, McDonald fumbled at the SJ 40 on an option play, with Fontecchio pouncing on the ball. The Pioneers went to work quickly, needing just eight plays to cover 55 yards. Abosi (10 carries, 73 yards) capped the march when he went up the middle for three yards and the TD. A John Goss extra point made it 20-17 with 8:20 left. The Red Raiders then burned nearly five minutes off the clock, reaching the St. John's 33 before three successive penalties killed the drive. Jason Twomley's punt was nearly blocked by Abosi before St. John's took over at its own 20. Completions of 12 yards to Zack Dumas and 11 yards to Joe Okrah moved the ball to the 44. But on third and 1, Abosi was stuffed by Fitchburg's Marcus DiNatale, Tim Roy and Anthony Fanelli. Wood, with DiNatale in his face, then saw his pass for Abosi fall short, giving Fitchburg the ball and the game. It was a strange turn of events for the Pioneers, who led, 10-0, early in the second quarter. St. John's scored on the game's fifth play when Marrone went 55 yards down the right sideline, breaking tackles along the way. After a three-and-out by Fitchburg that included a McDonald fumble/ ecovery, St. John's went on offense again. The Pioneers almost had a Jeff Marrone halfback-option TD pass to Okrah (3 catches, 10 yards), but Twomley broke it up with a great play at the 1. The 13-play, 69-yard drive ended with a 34-yard Goss field goal, making it 10-0 six seconds into the second half. After an exchange of possessions, the Red Raiders scored with McDonald taking a pitchout right and bulling his way into the end zone from 5 yards out. A high snap killed the extra-point try. © 2000 Worcester Telegram & Gazette
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