Red Raiders run over Patriots
By Andres Caamano
Staff Writer.
TOWNSEND -- Despite a recently formed rivalry between
Fitchburg and North Middlesex, the usual down to the wire
game was no where to be found Friday night at John E. Young
Memorial Field in Townsend.  Fitchburg handily defeated the
Patriots 24-14, led by the pounding rushing attack duo of
Jason Quinn and Norman Cole.

In the early goings, it looked as if the game might be
another fight to the finish as North Middlesex handily
moved 54 yards on eight plays on its opening drive,
finishing with junior Jason Bartleson running around the
right end for a two yard score.

The Red Raiders immediately countered, though, bringing the
score to 7-6, as Norman Cole busted up the middle for 15
yards on 3rd and 11, the ninth play of the drive.

Coe said, on the success of the Red Raiders ground attack,
"We sucked it up and the line played excellent, and we're
getting alot better."

As the end of the first half was fast approaching Fitchburg
(2-4) was driving for another score, but on 4th and 9, they
were unable to convert and gave the ball up on downs.

At that point, there was under a minute remaining and North
Middlesex (1-6) gambled, calling timemout after a 4-yard run
on first down on the first play of its drive.  On the
ensuing play, Bartleson fumbled the ball and the Red Raiders
recovered on the Patriot 32 yard line.

The North Middlesex defense came close to stopping the Red
Raiders, but Fitchburg came through on a 4th and 10 as
wideout Dan Oritz made a spectaular 27 yard catch to the 3
yard line with just two ticks remaining on the clock.  Cole
then proceeded to push the score to 12-6 on a three yard
run.

Despite Fitchburg's previous history of nailbiters against
North Middlesex, Cole said, "We knew what we had to do and
we got it done."

"That play at the end of the half was the key for us," said
Fitchburg head coach Ray Cosenza.  "We were very fortunate."

Cole was not done yet, as he again benefited from North
Middlesex coughing up the ball, this time before the Patriot
offense could even handle the ball, as it occured on an
attempted punt return.

The Red Raiders then proceeded from the North Middlesex 36
wasting little time as Jason Quinn ran off a 14 yardder
followed by Cole who broke three tackles to finish with a 22
yard rushing touchdown.

To round out his day Cole decided to account for all of
Fitchburg's 24 points, this time pulling in a 36 yard
reception for a TD, again braking a couple of tackles down
the sideline.  For the night he also ran 103 yards on the
ground.

On his touch down catch Cole summed it up by saying, "I
really didn't think of anything other than putting my head
down and running for the end zone."

Cosenza was happy with his teams's overall play.  "After
that first drive, our defense did an exceptional job, that
was another key.  Our kids stepped it up on defense and
that made a big difference.  We didn't want to get into a
shootout wiht them.  Offensively, we were able to mix it up
a little, throwing the ball, as Jason Twombley played very
well, and Janson Quinn (79 yards rushing) did well at
tailback, but I think the difference was Norman Cole, he's
only a sophomore and he's getting better and better every
week, and this was his best game by far."

North Middlesex head coach John Margarita knew also that the
turnovers made his team's task that much harder.  "You can't
turn the ball over like we did, that one before the half was
a killer, as those couple of fumbles realy hurt us as those
fumbles gave them touchdowns."

Despite the loss, Margarita said, "I'm qroud of our effort,
it's just one of those seasons."

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