Xaverian pulls rank on Raiders

Jay Gearan CORRESPONDENT

FITCHBURG - Xaverian High proved it is very worthy of its
ranking among the best high school football teams in the
state, defeating fifth-ranked Fitchburg High, 31-2, last
night in the season opener at Crocker Field.

With a high-powered offense led by senior quarterback Greg
Hyman, the Hawks, ranked second in Eastern Mass. by the
Boston Globe, jumped out to a 14-0 lead within four minutes
and held off the Red Raiders when they threatened inside the
red zone.

Fitchburg, loaded with young players like junior quarterback
Jeremy Kimber, junior running back Jon Gomez and sophomore
fullback Isiah Ford, had several solid drives in the
game. The Red Raiders, however, could not muster
touchdowns. And for points, they could manage only a
first-quarter safety when Dan Minichiello tackled Hyman in
the end zone.

Hyman, however, was rarely caught in this one.

On his second pass of the night, he connected with the
speedy Kevon Mason for a 41-yard TD strike in the left
corner of the end zone. The 6-foot-4 Mason, with a Fitchburg
defender draped all over him, leaped and snared the pass
before falling in paydirt.

A few minutes later, the Hawks struck again after an
interception deep in Fitchburg territory, setting up a
7-yard scoring run by Shea.

Using his strong arm to fire hard spirals, the 6-foot-2,
207-pound Hyman completed 9 of 12 passes for 151 yards.

"He is a great quarterback," Xaverian coach Charlie
Stevenson said. "For my money, he is the best quarterback
in the state of Massachusetts."

And those words come from the man who coached the Seattle
Seahawks Matt Hasselbeck in high school. Stevenson added
he was surprised that Hyman hasn't yet received a college
offer.

Fitchburg looked strong in spots, such as its opening drive,
keyed by a 32-yard scamper from Kimber inside the Xaverian
30. But the yards to the goal line were locked up by the
beefy Xaverian interior line.

"Three times in the red zone in the first half, and we come
away with nothing," Fitchburg coach Ray Cosenza said. "You
can't do that against that team. They (Xaverian) made great
plays."

The Hawks even feature a premier kicker in Paul Asack, who
booted four extra points and a 22-yard field goal.

With 7:19 left, Asack attempted a 53-yard field goal, but
his booming kick fell five yards short.

It would have broken the school record of 47 yards, set in
2002 by John Barker, who now kicks for Syracuse University.

"We will take the positives away from this," Cosenza
said. "Our kids didn't quit, and we have 10 games left. We will
get better."


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