Kicker’s 'save’ lifts Fitchburg
By Steve Kendall CORRESPONDENT


BOLTON:  Heading into last night’s game, neither Fitchburg High
coach Ray Cosenza nor Nashoba Regional coach Ken Tucker knew what to
expect. Leaving the field after the game, both knew their teams were
better than they thought, but that they still have a long way to go.

Led by senior tailback Byron Teague’s 206 yards and some key plays by
the defense, the Red Raiders fought off the Chieftains, 8-7.

Stuffed early in the game by Nashoba’s interior line, led by 6-foot-4
tackle Pete Hagermoser, Cosenza and his staff decided to attack the
corners, and Teague took over. His 43-yard run late in the first
quarter set up his 9-yard scoring run on the second play of the second
quarter, pulling Fitchburg within 7-6.

The Red Raiders’ defense also came up big at different points in the
game. Though they allowed more than 250 yards of offense, they also
forced three turnovers, including a Lariano Jones interception at the
Fitchburg 15 with 1:24 to play.

"Byron was tremendous we needed every one of his yards,"
Cosenza said. "And we bent but didn’t break on defense. I’m
pleased, though, because I think Nashoba is going to have a pretty
good offense, so to hold them to seven points and get out of here with
a win is a great effort by our kids."

Fitchburg’s winning points came in a bizarre fashion. Following
Teague’s touchdown, the Red Raiders lined up to kick the extra point,
but the snap was high. Kicker Tim McNamara alertly reached up to grab
the ball and raced just inside the left pylon for an 8-7 lead.

"I’d love to say we practice that play, but it was just a botched
play that Tim made a great effort on to make something out of,"
Cosenza said.

Though disappointed with the loss, Tucker was optimistic about his
team, especially considering that top running back Billy Lombardo (52
yards, touchdown) left the game early with a shoulder injury, and his
backup was out sick.

Fullback Luke Cressman filled in admirably, rushing for 65 yards on 14
carries. Cressman, Hagermoser and Mike Virrorisos did an outstanding
job defensively, shutting down Fitchburg’s inside running game.

"We’ve come a long way in a couple of weeks," Tucker
said. "We struggled in some of our scrimmages, but the kids have
been working hard and have had a great attitude. They played tough
against a good Fitchburg team and lost on a fluke play.

"Fitchburg did a great job, as we knew they would, but we played
right with them. It was a good game."

The Chieftains looked great on their opening possession, marching
downfield for a score. Lombardo led the way with a 46-yard run up the
middle on the first play from scrimmage before capping the seven-play,
79-yard drive with a 4-yard run for a 7-0 lead.

Fitchburg’s offense was in neutral until quarterback Kyle Phillips
completed an 11-yard pass to Eric Comeau on third down late in the
first quarter. On the next play, Teague ran around left end for 43
yards and scored three plays later on that 9-yard run.


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