Mendez tears it up, scores winning TD
By Shauna Staveley
Posted: 11/28/2008 06:06:05 AM EST

LEOMINSTER -- Fitchburg High School senior running back Greg Mendez
could barely muster the energy to keel over, grab his knees and catch
his breath as a sea of frenzied Red Raider fans celebrated an overtime
victory around him.

That wasn't surprising, considering the way he carried his team on his
shoulders all game long, with 26 rushes for 155 yards.

One of those scores was the game-winner on Fitchburg's first play in
overtime from 10 yards out, sealing a 20-17 victory -- the first and
last Thanksgiving win against Leominster in his career.

"This is the greatest game of my life," Mendez said as he gasped for
air. "I don't know man, I'm speechless. I feel so good right now."

The Red Raiders came out in a single back formation, running a sweep
on the left side to Mendez on the game-winning play.

Mendez ran in virtually untouched to the left side of the end zone
thanks to outstanding blocking by the linemen and receivers, crossing
the goal line with an enthusiastic leap in the air.

"I said to myself, 'We're gonna score and we're going to win,'" Mendez
said.

Fitchburg ran an I-formation, with two backs lined up behind the
quarterback for much of the game.

Mendez, standing 5-foot-6 and 155 pounds, according to the Fitchburg
High School roster, ate up the clock all game long with gutsy,
multiple-tackle-breaking runs up the middle and occasional off-tackle
runs with quick, aggressive cuts.

"Greg is an awesome running back, and he's Advertisement Quantcast a
good friend," Fitchburg senior wide receiver and defensive back
Orlando Anderson said.

The first touchdown by Mendez of the game was a 61-yard run up the
left sideline with 5:13 left in the first quarter.

He broke two low tackles in the backfield, then ran to paydirt with
absolutely no one at the second level to stop him due to Leominster
stacking the box.

"We always feel in these games, your big players have to play big,"
Fitchburg head coach Ray Cosenza said. "He did just that. We needed
him to play like this. For us to get it done, he had to do it, and
what a great job he did."

Cosenza said there was no doubt that Mendez would get the ball on the
crucial play of the game.

"Tom (DiGeronimo) had that play in his mind from the very beginning,"
Cosenza said of his assistant coach. "You've got to get it to the guy
who got you there. Greg made it happen."

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