Fitchburg wins in overtime
By Shauna Staveley
Posted: 11/28/2008 06:06:05 AM EST

LEOMINSTER -- The Fitchburg High School defense simply didn't back
down when it could have folded three times in one game, including
Leominster's sole overtime possession.

Maybe it was just a team wanting to get a particularly large monkey
off its back and get into the playoffs with a league tiebreaking 20-17
win at Doyle Field.

"It's about time," Red Raider linebacker Ryan Robar said. "Four years
of losing, I was sick of it. First time I get to eat turkey with a
happy face on. So much weight off our shoulders. I think we deserved
it. Everybody worked hard all season for this moment."

The Fitchburg (7-4, 2-1 Division 1 North) defense forced a 26-yard
field goal out of the Blue Devils (6-5, 1-2 Division 1 North) in the
first overtime possession -- a line-drive kick that bounced off the
top of the crossbar -- after stuffing Leominster running back Michael
Pedreira up the middle, a fumble recovery by Leominster after a
mishandled snap, and an incomplete pass due to blanket coverage by Red
Raider defensive back Quinton Perkins.

"We had a great series right there," Cosenza said. "Unfortunately,
when they kicked it, I thought, 'They're not going to make it.' It
hits the upright and went through. I'll be honest, I got a little
nervous and said, 'I hate to lose on something like that.' But, we
told our guys, if we score, we win, and boom, first play."

Fitchburg made yet another crucial defensive stop following an
interception by Leominster defensive back Corey Advertisement
Quantcast Mastrapasqua, which he ran back from the Leominster
45-yard-line to the Fitchburg goal line with 3:57 remaining in the
fourth.

A Blue Devil was flagged for clipping offensive tackle Keith Bourne on
the play, bringing the ball back to the Leominster 44-yard-line.

Two Red Raider defenders took down quarterback Pat O'Connor on first
down for a loss.

Following a false start penalty which pushed Leominster further back
into its own territory, a low snap turned into a second down
incompletion by O'Connor.

On third down, Leominster came out in the spread offense, with four
receivers and one running back.

Defensive back Orlando Anderson kept his eye on the ball and stayed
with receiver Curtis Ludden up the left sideline, forcing an
incompletion and a punt with 2:41 remaining.

"Leominster can't handle us," Anderson said. "We're going to the
playoffs, then we're going to the Super Bowl and we're going to win."

The third huge stop for Fitchburg was stuffing Leominster just outside
the red zone with 5:08 remaining in the game.

O'Connor rushed for 5 yards on the first possession, Red Raider
defensive back Eric Dion took down Mastrapasqua by the shoulder pads
for a minimal rushing gain on second down, and the Red Raider defense
broke up a pass to fullback David Arsenault on a third-and-9
situation.

On fourth down, the Red Raider defensive backs played soft coverage on
a Blue Devil spread formation, keeping the Leominster receivers in
front of them.

A pass from O'Connor to Ludden in the middle of the field was ruled
incomplete, resulting in a turnover on downs.

"That's what you've got to do, big plays, big games," Robar said.

Robar, who said he got no sleep the week leading up to the
Thanksgiving game, can finally get some shuteye.

"It speaks for itself. I mean, it's Leominster (versus) Fitchburg,
it's war," Robar said. "It was a street fight the whole time. The hard
part is, you've got to keep your head."

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