FHS fends off charging Wildcats
By Corey Peter Goodman Sports Editor
FITCHBURG -- At midfield, one team was celebrating. While at the goal line, another team was sobbing. And this was just about two hours after a stirring musical memorial to those who perished in this week's terrorist attacks. To say Friday night's football game between Gardner and Fitchburg evoked a wide range of emotions would be a serious understatement. Still, in the 44 minutes of grinding action, both teams took minds off international turmoil and reminded fans why North Central Mass. is such a special place on Friday nights in the fall. Behind the inspirational play of freshman tailback William Earley and a last-second defensive stop, Fitchburg outlasted Gardner, 19-14, in a battle worth every penny. "This was a great high school football game," Fitchburg coach Ray Cosenza said. That was another understatement. Gardner, which was looking for its first win as was Fitchburg, took over the ball with 3:42 left on its own 15-yard line, trailing, 19-14. Two minutes later, the Wildcats -- behind an outstanding trio of running backs -- marched down to the Fitchburg 11. But that's when the Red Raiders decided to play defense. On first down, Fitchburg's Aaron Storm stopped Gardner back Mike Francoeur in the backfield. After an incomplete pass on second down, Gardner tried a double reverse on third down, but Fitchburg's B.J. Fitz didn't bite, stopping Matt Kendrick for no gain. On the deciding fourth down and goal from the Fitchburg 12, Gardner quarterback Pete Gamache fired a strike to David Hulette in the flat. Hulette turned and lofted a pass that slipped through Kendrick's hands in the end zone. "I told the kids, 'a game is not won or lost on one play,'" said Gardner coach Walt Dubzinski. "We could've folded, but we didn't. I'm very proud." Fitchburg (1-1) almost clinched the victory late in the third quarter into the fourth when it chewed up 8:30 on a 17-play drive deep into Gardner territory. But the Red Raiders didn't put up points, stalling at the 15. "We certainly made it interesting," Cosenza said. The excitement late still didn't take away from the freshman debut of Earley, who dazzled fans with his bursts of speed and ability to make defenders miss. Earley finished with 91 yards on 16 carries. "He's going to be a special player," Cosenza said. "Mentally, he's so tough as a freshman. He doesn't get bothered by anything." On the Red Raiders' first drive in the second half -- after going into halftime down 14-13 -- Earley led the team downfield. Earley had four carries for 30 yards, capping the drive on a 3-yard plunge with 6:14 left. But Earley proved that he isn't just one-dimensional. With 3:56 left in the first quarter, Earley got the call on a halfback option pass and threw a perfect strike 55 yards downfield to Ryan Davenport, who juggled the ball before hauling it in for the game's first score. "That was some pass," said Cosenza. But the Wildcats seemed unfazed. Francoeur scored on a 19-yard run on the WIldcats' next drive. And, after Fitchburg QB Ryan Logan answered back on an 11-yard keeper, Gardner headed into halftime on top on the strength of a 10-play, 42-yard scoring drive. The drive was precipitated by a strange sequence of events. Gardner was forced to punt on the previous drive, but the snap sailed over his head. Still Jamie White recovered in time to get his punt off to Davenport, who fumbled it back over to the Wildcats. Gardner then promptly drove downfield, scoring on Gamache's 1-yard sneak. "It's an 0-2 start, but we've got something to build on now," Dubzinski said. Cosenza said his team needed the victory to jumpstart the season after a 28-0 loss last Saturday at Xaverian. "We needed to go out and do this tonight. We needed some confidence after last week," he said. "But this was a great game either way. Both teams stepped up when their backs were against the wall. "It wasn't a well-played game technically," he added. "But it was a fun game to watch."
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