Devils stun Brockton
By Ross Edwards
Article Launched:10/28/2006 11:05:11 AM EDT
LEOMINSTER -- Nothing was going to stop the Blue Devils. 

Leominster survived three turnovers, a big night by Brockton's Josh
Marsh and an 18-year-old winless streak on its way to an improbable,
26-15, upset victory over the heavily favored Boxers, Friday night at
Doyle Field.

"It's a great win for us," said Leominster coach John Dubzinski. "We
haven't beaten them in a long time ... It's a great effort. I'm happy
for the kids, they really wanted to win this game."

The Blue Devils (6-2) did what they do best to take an early lead in
the first quarter, making their opponents pay for their mistakes.

On fourth-and-long, Brockton (4-4) got off a miserable punt, then
added injury to insult with a personal foul penalty that let
Leominster take over at the Brockton 31.

From there, it was all Jon Hernandez. 

The senior running back got the drive going by bursting 24 yards up
the left side. Moments later, Hernandez punched in the game's first
score from the 3.

Early in the second quarter, a rare fumble by Hernandez gave Brockton
the ball deep in Leominster territory, and the Boxers returned the
favor.

Leominster managed to block the ensuing extra-point attempt, but
Brockton's Brian Kelley alertly picked up the loose ball and was able
to stumble into the end zone for the successful two-point conversion.

As the game wore on, Brockton keyed in on Hernandez, but another star
emerged for the Blue Devils.

Senior quarterback Dean Boisse had perhaps his most complete game of
the season, rushing for 104 yards and throwing for a pair of
touchdowns pick up the slack.

It was Boisse who found fullback Dan Creed from 17 yards out in the
second quarter to send the Blue Devils into the break ahead, 12-8.

"We feel great," said Boisse. "In all four years we've never beaten
Brockton. (To do it) tonight under the lights at Doyle Field, it's
great."

Leominster looked like it might run away with the contest out of the
break.

The Blue Devils took the opening kickoff and drove all the way down to
the Brockton 3 before the usually sure-handed Hernandez coughed up his
second fumble of the game.

Instead of cracking under the pressure, however, Leominster's defense
held strong. The three-and-out gave the Blue Devils the ball back in
excellent field position, and the home team capitalized when Boisse
rolled left on a play-action and hit a leaping Matt Booth in the
corner of the end zone from five yards out.

"They're huge, they really stepped up," said Boisse of the Leominster
defense. "We get all of our momentum from them."

On the very next play from scrimmage, Brockton's Josh Marsh rumbled 62
yards down the right sideline for the score to bring the Boxers back
within five.

Playing in place of Brockton's former starter, Jarron McNeil, Marsh
had a superb night, rushing for 105 yards and two touchdowns.

The momentum wouldn't last though. 

The Devils took over and the three-pronged attack of Boisse, Creed and
Hernandez ground out the win. All told, Leominster ran for 371 yards
and two scores on the night.

The Boxers had done a good job of stuffing Hernandez in the second
half, but the beast broke free for a 45-yard jaunt to cap the scoring
shortly into the fourth quarter.

"I felt like we had momentum again and then we couldn't stop them,"
said Brockton coach Peter Colombo. "Coming out here on a Friday night
to Leominster is always a challenge. He's a hell of a back, that
Hernandez kid is as good as you're going to see at the high school
level."

The last time Leominster won a contest between the two teams, some of
the current Blue Devils hadn't even yet been born. Now, those years of
heartache can be replaced by the memory of Friday's fantastic upset.

"I thought it was a great high school football game, I really
did. Both teams played well," said Dubzinski. "All high school
programs are kind of measured against Brockton. They're a classy team
and a well-coached team so it's a great win for us."
Fitchburg High School Athletics and Competition Home Page