Despite loss, Fitchburg overcomes odds
By Chuck Sargent
Posted: 12/08/2008 06:06:12 AM EST

WORCESTER -- Not too bad for a team that wasn't even supposed to be
there.

Despite losing 35-21 to Longmeadow Sunday in the Division 1
Central/Western Super Bowl, the Red Raiders can hold their heads high
knowing they exceeded all expectations from those that had given up on
them.

"It's disappointing, but I'm very proud of our kids and our program,"
said Fitchburg coach Ray Cosenza.

After beginning the season 4-0 with victories over Gardner, Oakmont
Regional, St. Bernard's and North Middlesex Regional, in which the Red
Raiders outscored their opponents 130-34, Fitchburg went into a
downward spiral.

The low point came on Halloween night when the Red Raiders lost their
fourth game in a row. The 25-22 loss to Algonquin Regional as time
expired was Fitchburg's second last-second loss in three games. The
team, whose bandwagon was packed full just weeks earlier, was suddenly
being written off by many who felt they couldn't compete with their
Division 1 North contemporaries.

But then a funny thing happened. The Red Raiders went out and beat a
Wachusett Regional team that was looking to sew up a post season spot
with a win. Then Fitchburg reeled off two more victories, culminating
with an overtime thriller over arch-rival Leominster on Thanksgiving
Day to catapult them into the postseason.

"We lost those four games and got together and just said 'we've got to
to this. We've got to prove that we're as good as we say we are'
because we've got a lot of big mouths on this team and all that," said
senior lineman Ryan Robar. "But we came together more like a family
than a team in the end."

Things did not stop there for Fitchburg, who made relatively easy work
of Shrewsbury in their Division 1 playoff game, beating the Colonials
33-7.

Then came Sunday's Super Bowl contest, where adversity struck
again. Whether it was nerves or the intimidation of playing a
Longmeadow squad that was participating in its 12th consecutive Super
Bowl, Fitchburg spotted the Lancers an early 14-0 lead.

The Red Raiders came back, however, and just before the half cut the
score to 14-13 thanks to a huge fourth-and-goal touchdown pass from
Kyle Phillips to Jake Hachey.

A few breaks here and there in the second half and the Red Raiders
could be celebrating a Super Bowl victory. Although the ball did not
bounce their way, one thing is for sure. Fitchburg showed its
perseverance just to get as far as they did.

"That's why I'm proud of these guys," Cosenza said. "At 4-4, I think
everyone counted us out. And we beat some real good teams down the
stretch. We just didn't have enough here today, but it happens."




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