Fitchburg shows heart
By Ross Edwards
Article Launched:11/06/2006 08:50:37 AM EST

FITCHBURG -- On Friday night at Crocker Field, the Red
Raiders displayed the composure of champions.

After falling behind early to Marlborough, after blowing a
fourth-quarter lead against the Division 1A title holders
and even after staring down what would have been the most
crushing loss of the season, the Fitchburg football team
showed exactly what it's made of.

With only seven seconds remaining, fullback Matt Fraticelli
broke the goal line to propel the Red Raiders to victory
over the Panthers, 48-41.

"It's been a year since we've won on Crocker Field," said
Fitchburg (4-5, 1-2 Division 1) coach Ray Cosenza. "That
usually doesn't happen. We haven't played well here and we
said that to our kids before the game. I'm happy for the
kids, I really am. It's been a tough year in a lot of ways
and I am just thrilled for them."

The defense showed up fashionably late for the Red Raiders,
as heavily favored Marlborough built a 20-6 lead through the
first quarter.

Fitchburg dug in though, failing to surrender an offensive
score the rest of the half and putting up 26 points of its
own in the second stanza to go into the break leading 32-27.

Fitchburg took over the contest in the second half, as the
Raiders' offensive line absolutely abused the smaller
Marlborough defenders, allowing running backs Jon Gomez (187
rushing yards, TD) and Matt Fraticelli (96 rushing yards,
three total TDs) to put up eye-popping numbers.

Quarterback Jeremy Kimber (56 rushing yards, two rushing
TDs, 152 passing yards, two passing TDs) got into the act as
well, as Fitchburg continued to roll.

The home team looked ready to wrap up the contest late in
the fourth quarter.

With only one yard to paydirt and a two-touchdown lead,
Kimber drove forward on a quarterback sneak.

Amid the scrum at the goal line, the ball popped free and
suddenly the Panthers' Ryan MacQuarrie was galloping
unhindered 99 yards the other way for the touchdown. One
2-point conversion later, Marlborough had pulled off the
unbelievable comeback, as Crocker Field sat in stunned
silence.

There was no quit on the field, though. The Red Raiders got
right back down to business, bullying the Marlborough
defensive line and setting up Fraticelli's game-winning
2-yard dive with only seconds remaining.

"For us to go and score like that after what happened down
at the goal line, it just, and I say it all the time, shows
the character of this group," said Cosenza. "48-41, I can't
even believe that score ... We're psyched. Hey, that's two
in a row. It's been a while for us. I'm really psyched for
our kids."

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