Boxer Rebellion
By Chad Garner 
cgarner@sentinelandenterprise.com

LEOMINSTER -- The Leominster High football team simply
didn't have an answer for Brockton star tailback Tyronne
Pruitt in the second half.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound senior bruising back ran over and
around the Leominster defense in the second stanza for 88 of
his game-high 131 yards rushing to kickstart Brockton's
30-point second-half explosion en route to a lopsided 36-14
victory Friday night at Doyle Field.

Pruitt, who is being recruited by Boston College, scored
four touchdowns and added three 2-point conversions, which
accounted for 30 of Brockton's 36 points.

"He's a great back," said Leominster coach John Dubzinski of
Pruitt. "Those kids are going to make their yardage and we
had trouble tackling him. We're going to learn from this one
and get better because we've got a big one next week (at
St. John' of Shrewsbury).

Uncharacteristically, turnovers plagued the Blue
Devils. Leominster committed three -- two interceptions and
one fumble -- which led to 20 Brockton points.

"You can't make mistakes against this team," said
Dubzinski. "We thought we had some good opportunities, but
the turnovers hurt us a little bit."

Brockton (6-2) leads the series 21-7, and Leominster hasn't
defeated the Boxers since 1988 when they pulled off a
dramatic upset at home when Brockton was ranked No. 1 in the
country.

With Leominster (7-2) leading 7-6 at halftime, Brockton took
the opening kickoff 56 yards on two plays for a 14-7
lead. Backup QB Dustin Leonard, who replaced starter
Dominique Beck to begin the second half due to an apparent
injury, led the Boxers on the drive that was highlighted by
wide receiver Brandon Hill's electrifying 56-yard TD on a
reverse option play.

Leominster gave the ball right back to the Boxers on a
fumble, and Brockton went 48 yards on seven plays to claim a
commanding 20-7 lead after Pruitt bulldozed his way into the
end zone from the 1 with 6:20 left in the third quarter.

The Blue Devils got their offense back in gear,
however. Senior quarterback Kevin Barnaby connected with
senior wideout Blake Curry (6 receptions, 62 yards, TD) for
16 yards, and senior tailback Kevin L'Ecuyer (17 carries, 71
yards, TD) carried seven straight times for 53
yards. L'Ecuyer capped off the drive with a 10-yard TD
plunge across the stripe. Garrett Donatelli added the extra
point to cut the deficit to 20-14 with 1:47 left.

But Pruitt wouldn't be denied in crunch time. He capped off
a 6-play, 60-yard drive with a powerful 41-yard TD run early
in the fourth, and made Leominster pay for another turnover
with a 5-yard TD run and the 36-14 victory.

"Our line wanted it more," said Pruitt, when asked why they
were so successful running the ball in the second half.

On Leominster's second possession of the game, the Blue
Devils appeared to be headed for the opening score as
Barnaby hit tight end Mark Daignault for 26 yards and
fullback Anthony Bizzotto rumbled 15 yards down to the
10. But on first down, Barnaby's quick pass was picked off
by Rashawn Jones at the 4, and Jones motored 63 yards to the
Leominster 33.

Quarterback Beck took a keeper for 4 yards to the 29, and
Pruitt took a counter and went untouched for the 29-yard TD
jaunt. The PAT was botched and Brockton led 6-0 with 2:42
left in the first quarter.

Leominster came back on its next possession. On an 11-play,
52-yard drive, which featured a 12-yard pass to Curry,
Bizzotto's 13-yard run and L'Ecuyer's take up the gut for 9,
Barnaby went to the air on fourth down from the 8. He used a
perfect pump fake to freeze the cornerback and lofted a
perfect pass into the arms of Curry for the 8-yard TD
strike. Donatelli added the PAT for the 7-6 lead.

Leominster outgained Brockton, 223-161.

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