Mendez continues tradition at FHS
By Shauna Staveley
Posted: 12/05/2008 06:06:00 AM EST

FITCHBURG -- Anybody following Fitchburg High football knows about the
tradition of great Red Raider running backs.

Players such as Frank McDonald, Will Earley and Johnny Gomez put up
huge rushing numbers for Fitchburg during their respective careers,
and a couple of those players garnered Division I or College Football
Playoff Subdivision interest. That's just a few players from this
century -- the list is far longer under head coach Ray Cosenza's
20-year tenure.

Senior tailback Greg Mendez already established his place amongst such
great players this season, breaking the 1,000-yard mark before the
20-17 Thanksgiving win against Leominster.

Mendez was particularly dominant toward the end of the season, rushing
for 270 yards against Wachusett Regional, 155 yards and two touchdowns
against the Blue Devils and 162 yards and three TDs against Shrewsbury
in the Central Mass./Western Mass. playoff game on Tuesday.

"We have great athletes," Cosenza said. "It's not hard to find a great
back with the kids we have. I think this year, we have more than
one. It's just Greg's turn. Last year it was Johnny Gomez, so we've
had great ones but it's because we have great athletes. Greg is just
one in a long line of them, and he's a great one."

Mendez will have quite a few more carries this Saturday, facing
Longmeadow in the Super Bowl at 12:30 p.m., at Worcester State
College.

"It's the happiest day of my life," Mendez said of getting the
opportunity to play in the Super Bowl. "It's going to be the greatest
game ever."

Mendez wasn't always sure he'd get the opportunity.

He admitted that, when the 8-4 Red Raiders were 4-4, he thought the
chances of making the Super Bowl were slim.

"Not at all, I'm not even going to lie, I didn't even want to play
after that," Mendez said. "Everybody stayed together, everybody worked
hard, nobody quit, and everybody did what they had to do. Now, we're
going to the Super Bowl."

Now, he'll be getting an abundance of carries against Longmeadow.

"He's going to carry the ball," Cosenza said. "I think they know that,
we know that. He's going to have to gave a big game. We have a lot of
other weapons, which is good, but he'll have to carry his share of the
load and we're confident he'll do that."

The 5-foot-6, 155-pound back said he wasn't fazed by constant mention
of his smaller stature in the media throughout the season.

"It doesn't bother me, because I know I'm (going to) do work," Mendez
said.

Mendez certainly put in work in the weight room according to Cosenza.

"He committed himself and worked year round," Cosenza said. "When
people do that, there's no guarantee it's going to pay off, so you're
always so glad to see it pay off and in his case it did."

Mendez made it clear he appreciated the superb blocking of his
offensive line: Ryan Robar and Keith Bourne at the tackle positions,
Jamison DiGeronimo and Mike Alvarez at the guard spots, and German
Nunez at center.

"I love my line," Mendez said. "I tell them every day I love
them. They're the best."

Mendez, who said he started playing football in the seventh grade,
said that before he's considered amongst the great Red Raider rushers
of all time, his team has one more goal to accomplish.

"If we win it (all), everybody will remember," Mendez said. "If we go
and we don't win, nobody is going to remember."

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