No. 1 Raiders in rally
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Perkins has two return scores
By Jay Gearan CORRESPONDENT


FITCHBURG - Like the stock market these days, Fitchburg High’s
top-ranked football team can recover points in a hurry.

In last night's 35-27 win over Oakmont Regional, the Red Raiders
rallied from a 14-0 deficit to take a 21-14 lead midway through the
third quarter. After the Spartans staged their own rally, tying the
game as the fourth quarter began, Fitchburg had the ultimate answer in
sophomore Quinton Perkins.

It was a special night for the special teams, especially in the fourth
quarter. With 6:43 left, Perkins returned an Oakmont punt 75 yards to
put Fitchburg up, 28-21. Oakmont's Jon Jacobs bolted 82 yards for a
TD on the ensuing kickoff, but the extra point was blocked.


Amazingly, on the next kickoff, Perkins sprinted 82 yards for another
touchdown and a 35-27 lead.

The Spartans were threatening as the game ended, moving deep into Red
Raiders territory behind the passing of quarterback Jesse Hunt.

I'm thrilled with the win, said Fitchburg coach Ray
Cosenza, adding he had never seen three straight long TD returns
before. The kids made the plays when they had to, but I credit
Oakmont. They did a tremendous job against us. We're pretty
fortunate to be 2-0 right now.”

The Spartans (0-2) were led by the accurate passing of Hunt. The
senior quarterback connected on 9 of 16 passes for 143 yards and two
touchdowns.

Leading rusher for Fitchburg was junior Byron Teague, who had 145
yards on 28 carries. He scored three touchdowns as the Red Raiders
built a 21-14 lead before Oakmont tied the game late in the third
quarter on Seth Sheridan’s 5-yard sweep.

For the Spartans, Eric Howlett booted three extra points. Fitchburg
kicker Luke Arno was a perfect 5 for 5.

Oakmont took the opening kickoff and, in nine plays, drove inside the
Fitchburg 20, led by the rushes of tailback James Rupp. The drive
stopped at the 15 on a great fourth-down defensive play by Joel Gomez

The Spartans led, 7-0, on a 14-yard pass over the middle from Hunt to
Jackson Haley with 6:53 left in the second quarter. Three minutes
later, Hunt hit Haley again for a 37-yard TD.

Before the half, the Red Raiders cut the lead in half. Teague was
unstoppable, getting all the rushes and scoring on short gains.

Fitchburg's Orlando Anderson returned the second-half kickoff to
the Oakmont 35, and Teague was on the move again.

Jesse Hunt kept us in the game with tremendous passing and Jackson
Haley had a great game for us, too, Oakmont coach Dave LaRoche
said. It came down to special teams. We arrived as a football team
tonight, even though we didn't win the game.

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