One game at a time for Raiders, Devils
By Chad Garner
cgarner@sentinelandenterprisse.com

Quiet, If you sit in utter silence for a few seconds in
either Fitchburg or Leominster, you just might be able to
hear the fooball Gods whispering 'Super Bowl'.

While both Fitchburg coach Ray Cosenza and Leominster coach
John Dubzinski would rather not speak of Super Bowl
implications because there's a lot of football left to be
played, one thing is for certain.

If both Fitchburg and Leominster win their respective
Division 1 confrontations this weekend, it will leave both
storied programs with the inside track of claiming the D1
Super Bowl berth.

Fitchburg plays at St. Peter-Marian on Saturday, while
Leominster hosts St. John's of Shrewsbury on Friday.

"We told the kids that we need to win this game, there's no
way around it," said Cosenza, whose team finishes the season
with road games at St. Peter-Marian, St. John's and
Leominster.

"If we don't everything we've worked toward could go right
out the window.  If we win, it will become a two-team race.
But we've got to take care of ourselves."

With Leominster and Fitchburg victories, both teams would be
undefeated at 5-0 in the division and it would leave a crop
of two or three-loss teams that include St. Peter-Marian,
St. John's, Nashoba Regional and Marlboro.

"The only thing I know is that we're playing St. John's at 7
o'clock on Friday night," said Dubzinski.  "I'm only
concerned about St. John's.  We've got a big game coming
up.  Every league game is important and when you get closer
to the end they become even more imortant."

St. Peter-Marian currently has a 3-1 division record, while
St. John's is 2-2.

Leominster and Fitchburg do control their own destinies, and
with two more wins could set up a winner-take-all battle in
the annual Thanksgiving Day rumble.  The winner would
represent Central Mass. in the Division 1 Super Bowl against
the Western Mass. representative.

For Fitchburg, it must exorcise a few demons against
St. Peter-Marian.  The Guardians have won the last two
meetings against the Red Raiders.

"Last year we turned the ball over five times," said
Cosenza.  "We dominated statistically, but we let them hang
around and they hit some big pass plays late.  Two years ago
they just outplayed us."

Leonomnster, which has only played at home for two games
this season, knows St.John's can create problems with a very
good passing attack.

"They throw the ball very well, the quarterback (Eric
Dickson) scares me," said Dubzinski. "and their receivers
(Kevin) Gleason and the 6-foot-4, No.89, Ross Petland are
very good players.  They'll probably come up and play their
best game of the year.  They can't afford another loss."

Leominster closes out its season with home games against
St. John's, Shrewsury and Fitchburg.

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