Kimber pulls FHS to victory

By Chris Maza
Article Launched:10/28/2006 11:04:59 AM EDT

BOLTON -- Jeremy Kimber seems to be getting used to 
playing the hero. 

The junior quarterback took a bruised and battered Fitchburg
football team on his back and carried them to a much-needed
24-20 victory over Nashoba Regional Friday night.

Kimber scored virtually all of the Red Raiders' (3-5) points
in one form or another.

He completed a pass to tight end Tim Douglas for the
game-winning touchdown, rushed for two others and had his
hand in three two-point conversions.

"He was very big for us tonight," Fitchburg head coach Ray
Cosenza said. "He sees the field very well. He made some big
plays with his arm when we needed them and also did some
things on the ground."

The win was especially impressive for Fitchburg because of
the loss of some key players both on the offensive line and
on defense.

"This was a character win for us," Cosenza said. "We have
some injuries, but we had some guys really step up. They
work so hard in practice and it's great that they finally
get to enjoy it."

Fitchburg wasn't the only team battling injury. 

Nashoba's (3-6) standout fullback and linebacker, Cam Jones,
was sidelined with an ankle injury he sustained late in last
week's game, but Nick Baczkowski helped pick up the slack in
the backfield, scoring two touchdowns.

Eric Hvoslef, who is also nursing an injury, added a rushing
touchdown for the Chieftains.

"Offensively, I thought we executed well. Cam Jones didn't
play and without him it's tough, but I thought we had some
other guys play very well in his place," Nashoba head coach
John Beary said. "Eric's playing with ligament damage in his
thumb, so we tried to run more and he was able to create
some things with his legs."

The Raiders got on the board first on third-and-goal when
Kimber's second attempt at a 1-yard quarterback keeper up
the middle was good after getting stuffed on the first
try. He then hooked up with Orlando Anderson in the back of
the end zone to make the score 8-0.

The Chieftains answered with a little help from
Fitchburg. Mike Grenier was flagged for interference,
knocking over Bobby Lombardo from behind to give Nashoba a
first down on the Fitchburg 13. Two plays later, Baczkowski
burst through the middle for the 13-yard score.

Nashoba took the lead about 3:30 later when Hvoslef took the
fourth play of the drive 47 yards for the touchdown, getting
some nice blocks and high-stepping through two tackles.

But Kimber gave Fitchburg the lead again with 39 seconds
remaining in the half with another 1-yard keeper, capping a
10-play, 76-yard drive. He followed that with another pass
to Anderson for two points to make the score 16-14.

Nashoba grabbed the advantage back with 4:43 remaining in
the third frame when Baczkowski pushed the pile five yards
over the goal line for a 20-16 edge.

But Kimber gave the Raiders the win with his pass to Douglas
on a perfect fake draw play, finding him in the front right
corner of the end zone.

"It was a good, clean football game," Beary said. "We played
hard. They just made one more play than we did."
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