Despite loss, Blue Devils can stand tall
By Ross Edwards
Posted: 11/28/2008 06:05:55 AM EST

LEOMINSTER -- This wasn't the way they had envisioned it ending.

Stung by a 20-17 overtime loss on their home turf at Doyle Field,
Leominster's football players silently filed out of the locker room
after it was all said and done. While it may have been little
consolation for them at the time, Leominster coach John Dubzinski kept
the focus on just how much the Blue Devils, especially the Class of
2009, had accomplished during their football careers.

"The seniors are fantastic," Dubzinski said. "I complimented them in
the locker room after the game. They really set the bar high for our
sophomores and juniors. They were great leaders on and off the field,
they led by example and I'm going to miss all of those kids. They're a
special group of kids."

While they weren't there for the entire streak, the Leominster seniors
were a big part of a group that beat Fitchburg four straight years on
Thanksgiving Day. Leominster also faced off against Longmeadow in the
Central/Western Mass. Division 1 Super Bowl in each of the past three
seasons -- falling short each time.

This year, Leominster started the schedule 4-1, but fell into a
three-game slide that threatened to derail its season. Instead of
folding, the Blue Devils bounced back with an upset win over
powerhouse St. John's and cruised into Thanksgiving with momentum on
their side.

While they weren't able to pull out the win, the Blue Devils earned
some high praise from Fitchburg coach Ray Cosenza.

"Leominster played great," Cosenza said. "We
beat a great team.

"I don't care what our records are. I think we're two of the better
teams in Central Mass. by who we play, and we don't apologize -- I
don't and I'm sure they don't -- for (coming into the game)
6-4. They're a great football team and we were just three points
better than them today. This was a great game and I have a lot of
respect for them. They just played awesome all day."

Even Fitchburg's players expressed respect for their bitter rivals
after a back-and-forth contest that saw both sides leave everything
they had on the field.

"I honestly think Leominster is one of the best teams we face all
year," Fitchburg senior Luke Arno said. "It's always the closest game,
the hardest game. Everybody tries their hardest. Some games you go out
there and win, and it's not like it doesn't mean anything, but here,
even a close, close win means so much more than a blowout against any
other team."

Playing in their final game, Leominster's seniors shined all
day. Whether it was quarterback Pat O'Connor driving the team down the
field, defensive back Corey Mastrapasqua making a key interception, or
kicker Alex Heroux giving the team an overtime lead with a 22-yard
field goal that just barely bounced up and over the crossbar, the Blue
Devils were led by the athletes who had worked so hard to get them
there.

Dubzinski pointed out a handful of players who have been a big part of
his team's success over the years, such O'Connor, Mike Pedreira, Frank
Milano, Mastrapasqua and David Arsenault, but said all of his seniors
have made major contributions.

"They set a great example for our kids," he said. "It's always a tough
one to lose, but I told the kids we did a lot of great things. Let's
not let it detract from all the things we did this year."

After it was all over, O'Connor took a moment to reflect on everything
he and his teammates have accomplished during their high school
careers.

"At the beginning of the year, not a lot of us played (together)," he
said. "We were kind of a lot of individuals, but we jelled so much as
a team. We really became like a family. A lot of people say that about
their teams, but I can honestly say that we were like a family this
year."

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