Fitchburg flat as Pats parade
Malcolm's 4 TDs trigger rout

DIVISION 1: N. MIDDLESEX 35 | FITCHBURG 7
By John McGuirk CORRESPONDENT
TOWNSEND -- The wacky world of Division 1 football got a bit
wackier last night.

Needing a victory over league foe North Middlesex to keep
its Super Bowl hopes alive, Fitchburg bombed, getting routed
by the Patriots, 35-7, at John E. Young Memorial Field.

For a team still in the hunt for one of the two Division 1
postseason berths, the Red Raiders certainly didn't
play like it as they allowed the North Middlesex offense to
run for 254 yards, including four Jon Malcolm touchdowns.

The Patriots (4-4, 3-2), who led 14-0, at the half, erupted
for 21 third-quarter points to apply the finishing touches.

"The kids are working hard on trying to do what we do,"
North Middlesex coach John Margarita said. "Malcolm has been
our horse all year and he did a heck of a job tonight. It
was a great win for us."

Fitchburg's offense was anemic at best. Managing just 85
yards in the opening half, the Red Raiders (4-6, 2-2)
uncharacteristically committed four turnovers (3 fumbles, 1
interception), all of which led to scores. Much of that had
to do with North Middlesex senior Phil Morrison, who
recovered two of those fumbles and intercepted a Jeremy
Kimber pass, returning it 32 yards. That set up Malcolm's
16-yard scoring run in the closing seconds of the third
quarter to give North Middlesex its 28-point margin of
victory.

I'm at a loss for words," Red Raider coach Ray Cosenza
said. I'm just as surprised as everyone else. (North
Middlesex) beat us in every phase tonight. It's not like
there's one thing we can point to. We didn't tackle, we
didn't block, and they did. I don't think we've been beaten
this soundly since Everett."

Miscues plagued Fitchburg all evening. On the first
possession, punter Matt Fratacelli couldn't handle the
snap and was blocked by a host of Patriots defenders. That
led to an 18-yard scoring run by Malcolm that gave North
Middlesex a 7-0, lead just five minutes in.

That was all the scoring until the final minute before
halftime. After Fitchburg failed to convert on a
fourth-and-11 on the Patriot 40, North Middlesex responded
by going the other way. A Ryan Zach 13-yard scamper was
followed by a Justin Gay 35-yard reception from quarterback
Kyle Capsalis. Two plays later, Malcolm busted in from 3
yards to increase the Patriot lead to 14-0.

The Red Raiders' woes continued in the second half. On their
first possession, Jon Gomez fumbled, and Morrison recovered
inside the Fitchburg 30. Needing just six plays, Zach
finished the drive with a 1-yard dive to make it 20-0.

Using a little trickery to wake up the offense, running back
Josh Mathieu tossed a 30-yard option pass to wide-open Josh
Less on the ensuing possession to put the Raiders on the
board with 5:30 to play in the third.

But any momentum off the drive disappeared after Kimber
fumbled on Fitchburg's next possession. Morrison
recovered. That led to a Malcolm 16-yard TD jaunt as North
Middlesex pushed the lead to 28-7.

Morrison's pickoff of a Kimber screen pass on Fitchburg's
next possession led to the final rushing score for Malcolm
(15 carries, 96 yards).

For the Red Raiders to have any shot at postseason play,
they need to rely on Wachusett knocking off St. John's
today, and then beat Leominster on Thanksgiving. If
St. John's wins today, it is assured one of the two
Division 1 Super Bowl spots.

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