Fitchburg falls to Longmeadow
by Chad Garner
cgarner@sentinelandenterprise.com

SPRINGFIELD -- Defense wins championships.

In the division 1 Central/Western Mass. Super Bowl game,
Longmeadow proved that adage to be true.

While the Lancers won the turnover battle, 3-0, the defense
also held Fitrchburg's big-play back, William Earley, in
check.

Earley, the leading rusher in Central Mass. with more than
2,000 yards, managed to break only four runs of over 10
yards and had to work for every yard gained.

The junior taillback did get over the century mark -- 21
carries for 129 yards -- but Fitchburg's offense mustered
only 201 total yards and scored on two touchdown passes
enroute to a 33-12 loss Saturday afternoon at Springfield
College's Benedum Field.

"I thought all our kids played real well," said Longmeadow
coach Alex Rotsko.  "We played mistake free football, and
that was the key.  We played near-perfect against a good
football team.  We didn't do anything special; I just think
our defense played real well."

Fitchburg finished the season at 8-4, while Longmeadow
capped off an undefeated season at 12-0.  "There's no
question why they're 12-0" said Fitchburg coarch Ray Cosenza.
"They're very well coached and they outplayed us today,
clearly."

Longmeadow's confusing Wing-T offense was led by senior
quarterback Joe Furnari.  With his legs, Furnari rushed for
53 yards and two touchdowns, and with his right arm
completed three passes for 50 yards and another score.

The ground game was paced by senior tailback Marques
Jenkins who carried 15 times for 104 yards and one score.
Fullback Charles Holm added 90 yards on 15 carries and one
TD.

Fitchburg trailed 14-0 after one quarter, but responded with
back to back scores in the second to cut the deficit to
14-12.  The Red Raiders elected to go to the air with
sophomore quarterback Raymnond Earley, who tossed two
scoring strikes of 24 and 36 yards to wide receiver Brian
Ricciutti.

But Furnari answered with 15 seconds left in the first half
to claim a 21-12 halftime lead, and Longmeadow never looked
back.

"We were close to tying it up, but we just ran out of gas at
the end," said Cosenza.

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