Red Raiders win second straight
By Chad Garner Staff Writer 

FITCHBURG -- If you talked to Fitchburg High football coach
Ray Cosenza a month ago, he wasn't in the best of moods
after his team was in the midst of a four-game losing
streak.

But how times have changed.

Fitchburg made it two straight victories as freshman running
back William Earley and senior fullback Norman Cole each
scored fourth quarter touchdowns to erase a 7-7 stalemate,
and senior linebacker Aaron Storm picked off a pass and
recovered a fumble in the Red Raiders' 21-9 Homecoming
victory over Oakmont Regional Friday night at Crocker Field.

"I don't know what it is. We came out and played a great
first quarter, then we didn't do well and (Oakmont) played a
great second quarter," said an elated Cosenza. "But the
second half we did the things we had to do. We're definitely
getting better. We still do some things that I shake my
head, but we are definitely getting better. Our kids are
working hard and they are coming together. I'm very happy
with the way they've not given up. It's a big win for us."

Earley led the attack with 123 yards on 16 carries and two
touchdowns, and Cole rumbled for 112 yards and one TD on 11
carries. Cole also hauled in two passes for 78 yards.

With the game knotted at 7-all to start the fourth quarter,
Fitchburg (3-5) took command via the deadly 1-2 punch in the
backfield -- Earley and Cole.

Senior quarterback Brian Bouvier (2-of-7 passing, 78 yards,
INT) connected with Cole on a 42-yard screen pass to bring
the ball down to the 24. Earley took the next two carries
for 9 yards, and Cole bulldozed his way off right tackle for
another 10 to bring the ball down to the 5. From the 5, Cole
busted through the line and carried an Oakmont (3-5)
defender into the end zone for a 5-yard TD run. Earley added
the 2-point run, giving the Red Raiders a 15-7 lead with
9:45 left.

"Earley was banged up a little bit and didn't start. But
when we got him in there boy he runs hard," said
Cosenza. "Norman I thought had a great game both running the
football and blocking."

The Red Raider defense delivered on the Spartans' next
possession. Senior Dustin Belland (8 carries, 62 yards, TD),
who started in place of injured QB Mike Catlin, rolled right
and was intercepted by linebacker Storm at the 38.

After Bouvier was sacked by senior Mike Bleakley, who led
the defense with at least 15 tackles on the evening, Earley
took a toss right, cut to the far sideline and raced 41
yards to paydirt. Ryan Logan's kick sailed wide, but the Red
Raiders had a comfortable 21-7 lead with 8 minutes left.

Oakmont used five plays to drive down the Fitchburg 2, keyed
by two runs of 25 yards by junior Mike Chartrand (10
carries, 53 yards), but Storm stepped up once again and
pounced on fumble to squash the Spartans' drive.

"I thought the key was that we had two huge turnovers by
Aaron Storm -- an interception and a fumble recovery," said
Cosenza. "That was the key because on the fumble recovery
they were driving to score. We needed that because anything
could have happened after that."

Oakmont cut its deficit to 21-9 on a safety, but Fitchburg
put the finishing touches on the victory via a Steve Marella
interception. Belland's pass was initially deflected by a
leaping Earley, but the ball fluttered into Marella's hands
for the game-ending INT.

The Spartan defense dominated the opening quarter, as junior
Brian Comeau picked off a Bouvier pass and returned the ball
down to the Red Raider 15 to end the first quarter.

Oakmont's chance to score would sail wide left, as Chris
Vallee's 28-yard field goal attempt went wide left to keep
the game scoreless.

Fitchburg answered on a 3-play, 80-yard drive. Cole busted
off right tackle for a 62-yard run, and after a fumbled
snap, Earley took an option left 25 yards for the TD. Ryan
Logan added the extra point for a 7-0 lead with 8:41 left
until halftime.

"Earley just keeping developing confidence and he's running
well," said Oakmont coach Phil Curtin. "And Norman Cole does
a great job, and their line does a great job. It was a good,
physical game for the fans and the rivalry. They just made a
lot more bigger plays in the second half."

Oakmont countered on a 5-play, 61-yard drive. The Spartans
went to a bit of trickery as Chartrand lined up under
center, pitched the ball to Belland in the backfield, and
Belland dropped back and connected with Chartrand for a
23-yard gain. Belland capped off the drive when he went off
right tackle untouched on a QB keeper for a 35-yard TD run.

Oakmont, who forced the Red Raiders into three turnovers in
the first half, added two more late in the second quarter on
a Josh Briggs fumble recovery and Comeau's second INT of the
game.

The Red Raiders had 322 yards of total offense, 201 in the
deciding second half, and the Spartans recorded 161 yards of
offense but only 60 in the second half.

"Every win we get we'll take. It feels good," said
Cosenza. "I'm proud of our kids and I'm proud of our staff."

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