FHS gallops to victory
By Dean Glanzman Article Launched: 09/15/2007 10:10:42 AM EDT
ASHBURNHAM -- Fitchburg wasn't as dominating as it was last week,
but it still had all the right stuff to come away with a 27-12 win
over the Oakmont Regional Spartans, Friday night.

The Red Raiders played their first game on the new synthetic FieldTurf
at Oakmont and won their second game in as many weeks, much to the
delight of head coach Ray Cosenza.

"This is something else," said Cosenza about the FieldTurf. "No
excuses, no bad slips, no bad bounces, you can see it keeps kids
healthy. In bad weather, it plays like its not even raining. It's a
beautiful field.

"I give Oakmont tremendous credit. Boy they are tough. They are
physical and they played a great football game. We are glad to get out
of here with a win."

Cosenza's skill players showed up Friday night. Johnny Gomez continued
where he left off last week with a devastating ground attack, scoring
two touchdowns and running for 95 yards on 20 carries. Red Raiders
quarterback Jeremy Kimber threw a touchdown pass and completed 9 of 11
passes for 77 yards. He rushed for 12 yards and tacked on 15 yards
receiving to the surprise of the Oakmont defense.

Matt Fraticelli chipped in as well, rushing for 64 yards on eight
carries and picking up 35 yards receiving, Including a 21-yard
reception from Kimber in the second quarter that led to Fitchburg's
last scoring drive of the game.

On that play, Kimber dropped back in the pocket under a heavy rush and
began scrambling to his left. While running, he lost control of the
ball. The ball slipped out of Kimber's hands, and because of the
synthetic surface, came right back up like he was dribbling a
basketball. Kimber regrouped and tossed a 21-yard pass to Fraticelli
along the Spartans' sideline. Gomez later scored his second touchdown
of the day on the end of the drive with 55 seconds in the half on a
14-yard run.

"In the first half, we came out and really pounded. Obviously they
have more skill people then we do," said Spartans head coach Dave
LaRoche. "(Orlando Anderson) had an outstanding night. I don't know
what happened to Johnny Gomez, I don't think he played much in the
second half. Maybe he was hurt, but he certainly was a factor
tonight."

After having a pretty quiet game in last week's win over the Gardner
Wildcats, Anderson caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Kimber and ran
back a punt 52-yards for a score

"I think Anderson had a great game," said Cosenza. "That punt return
was special. He made some great catches and that is what he is capable
of doing. We didn't have Gomez in the second half, that slowed us down
a bit, but I think Cormier did a great job."

Cormier, as he did last week, filled in nicely for the Red Raiders in
the fourth quarter, taking multiple carries to help run out the
clock. He finished with 11 yards on four carries.

Fitchburg's defense allowed only two scores, a 57-yard run by
Oakmont's Cody Brown and an 81-yard kick return by James Rupp.

"I cant say enough about him," said LaRoche of Brown. "For the past
two weeks he has been the backbone of our offense. James Rupp tonight
had that big return and played outstanding defense when we put him on
Anderson.

"I thought their defense was okay. I thought their skill people one
them the game."


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