Red Raiders ready to run
 
 By Sean Sweeney Article Launched: 09/12/2008

07:46:34 AM EDT

FITCHBURG -- With all due respect to the great running backs who have
donned the Fitchburg uniform in the past, the current crop of
ballcarriers churning the ground between the hashes may be the best to
ever traverse Crocker Field in its 90-year history.

Team speed and a great amount of depth at key positions highlight the
upcoming Fitchburg High football season, which kicks off its quest for
a fourth Super Bowl title at Watkins Field against archrival Gardner
tonight. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m.

Head coach Ray Cosenza, who will pace the sideline at the for his 20th
season, stressed that opposing coaches will have difficulty keying on
one particular tailback. The 2008 edition of the Red Raiders will have
four speed demons carrying the ball.

"We have a lot of depth with guys who can run, and hopefully we can
use them all. Our depth and our athletic ability are our
strengths. This is probably the fastest team we've had in awhile --
not individually, but as a group. We've had fast kids, but not fast as
a team," said Cosenza following a hearty practice at Amiott Field last
week.

Greg Mendes, Byron Teague, Orlando Anderson and Stephon Teague are
Cosenza's options at tailback.

"Those are four guys we are confident in," he said. "There will be a
lot of different guys. I don't think we'll be as we've been with the
same three backs taking every snap."

Noah Marceau, Isiah Ford and Anthony Colon will be the lead blockers
at fullback.

Fitchburg, Advertisement which uses the standard I-formation, will see
a new quarterback for the first time in three seasons. Jeremy Kimber
turned his tassel back in June, so a new signal-caller will be
stepping under center.

"(Kimber) was a three-year starter, and at that quarterback position,
no matter who it is, there will be someone there who hasn't taken many
snaps," Cosenza said. "We hope that in other areas, we'll take the
pressure off of that person, and as they grow into that position
they'll do a good job."

Cosenza noted that the quarterback position is not a concern of his,
and that he has trust in the two candidates -- Glen Barrett and Kyle
Phillips.

"We have two guys who are very good. I think they both can do
it. We'll see how that plays out," he said.

Protecting the quarterback and opening holes in the front five could
be a mixture of players, ranging from Keith Horn and Michael Alvarez
on the right side to Ryan Robard at center and Jameson DiGeronimo on
the left side.

"Our right side is very good. ... We still have a bunch of guys
competing for that other guard," Cosenza said. "I like what our line
is doing so far."

The defensive line is one aspect of the game Cosenza is especially
proud of.

"I think we're going to be pretty good on the line," he said, noting
that Robard, Rashard Field, Joe Fanelli, Horn and Alvarez will all see
time in the front. "We're going to be able to put four pretty good
guys on our (defensive) line."

Marceau and Anthony Colon return at linebacker, with Byron Teague and
Tim McNamara providing help there, as well.

"I like that linebacking corps," Cosenza said.

Anderson and Mendes are the two returning safeties. Quentin Perkins
and Eric Diaz, a transfer from Monty Tech, are also expected to see
time in the secondary.

Fitchburg is looking to erase the memories of the finish to the 2007
season, which started 9-1 before a Thanksgiving Day loss to rival
Leominster.

"We didn't finish the way we wanted to, so we want to get off to a
good start and then go from there," Cosenza said. "(The way the season
ended) is in the back of our minds. All we're worried about now is
getting back on a winning track."


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