Wachusett steamrolls Fitchburg
By Nick Mallard, nmallard@sentinelandenterprise.com
Posted: 10/31/2009 06:52:54 AM EDT

HOLDEN -- If you look up "efficiency" in the dictionary, there may
very well be a picture of the Wachusett Regional football team's
offense.

Wachusett scored on each of its first six possessions and stayed
unbeaten, running all over Fitchburg to pull out a 41-0 win with a
solid ground attack at Hal Lane Field, Friday night.

Matt Pedone and Eric Darko each scored two touchdowns and helped the
Mountaineers improve to 8-0 in the dominant effort, working as a
three-headed running attack with Matt McMillen (95 yards on 6
carries). In all, the Mountaineers racked up 340 yards of total
offense.

"I'm definitely pleased with the outcome," Wachusett head coach Mike
Dubzinski said. "It helps to have versatility in the backfield and
that helped us tonight. The score is not indicative of the type of
team Fitchburg has. We had the ball bounce our way tonight."

The Moutaineers jumped out to a two-score lead after 11 minutes of
play and never looked back. Darko (70 yards on 6 carries) found the
end zone on runs of 8 and 36 yards in the opening quarter and Connor
McDavitt drilled the point after each time to put the hosts up 14-0.

"Obviously, they're a good team," Fitchburg (4-4) head coach Ray
Cosenza said. "They have three good backs and their quarterback is
good. They all played great tonight."

Pedone (8 carries for 87 yards) took over in the second quarter,
scoring twice in the period. The Wachusett back found paydirt from 2
yards and 5 yards out, giving Advertisement the Mountaineers a 28-0
halftime lead after McDavitt's extra points.

After two quarters of play, the Mountaineers held a remarkable 233-63
edge in total yardage, with 216 of the yards coming on the ground.

McMillen kept the Mountaineers rolling, streaking down the right side
for a 55-yard touchdown midway through the third on the host team's
first possession of the second half. McDavitt -- who was a perfect 5
for 5 on extra points -- added the point after to push the lead to
35-0. 

After a Fitchburg fumble late in the third quarter gave Wachusett its
best starting position at the FHS 36, the Mountaineers again marched
into the end zone. Matt Ritter scored on the first play of the fourth
quarter, punching the ball in from 1 yard out. Following a missed kick
by Joe Zottoli, the Mountaineers led 41-0.

Wachusett got the ball right back as Riley Jenkins picked off a Josue
Desir pass at midfield.

Fitchburg's Byron Teague, who was solid rushing the ball in the past
two games for the Red Raiders, carried the ball only five times for 21
yards before leaving the game in the first quarter.

"Byron's been dealing with a leg problem lately," Cosenza said after
the game. "He probably shouldn't have even played tonight, but he
wanted to give it a go. He gave it a good effort, but couldn't perform
the way he wanted to."

Tyrie Osby loaded up on the carries in the absence of Teague, tallying
59 yards on 14 carries.
Mountaineers 41
Red Raiders 0
Fitchburg (4-4) 0 0 0 0 -- 0
Wachusett (8-0) 14 14 7 6 -- 41
First quarter
W -- Eric Darko 8 run (Connor McDavitt kick), 4:51
W -- Darko 36 run (McDavitt kick), 2:34
Second quarter
W -- Matt Pedone 2 run (McDavitt kick), 8:19
W -- Pedone 5 run (McDavitt kick), :51
Third quarter
W -- Matt McMillen 55 run (McDavitt kick), 6:10
Fourth quarter
W -- Matt Ritter 1 run (kick failed), 10:52

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