Raiders will play the role 
of underdog once again
By Chad Garner
It's no surprise who the favorite is to capture the annual
winner-take-all Thanksgiving Day battle between archrivals
Fitchburg and Leominster.

With a glossy 6-0 record in Division 1 and an 8-1-1 overall
record, defending Super Bowl champion Leominster once again
enters the 120th meeting overall and 98th on Thanksgiving
Day with the top billing.

Meanwhile underdog Fitchburg -- 21-point 'dogs last year
-- has suffered one loss in the league and brings a 7-3
overall slate into Thanksgiving morning at Doyle Field.

Word around town is that Leominster is a seven-point
favorite due to home-field advantage, a better overall
record and a few more quality games against common
opponents.

While Fitchburg was blown out by Brockton at home, 33-7,
without star tailback William Earley and linebacker Gamba
Payton, Leominster went the distance with the Boxers on the
road to a deadlock 22-all tie. Against St. John's,
Leominster, unbeaten in its last nine games after losing the
opener to Everett, used a sparkling second-half explosion to
beat the Pioneers, 26-14. On the other side, Fitchburg comes
into Turkey Day fresh off a 6-2 loss at St. John's.

"It's fine with us, and I could see why they'd say we're the
underdog," said Fitchburg coach Ray Cosenza. "We have one
loss in the league right now and they have none. Brockton
hammered us and they tied Brockton so they've earned the
right to be favored, and we respect that."

In reality, when it comes to the Fitchburg/Leominster game,
there is no odds-on favorite. Throw out the records because
on this day anything and everything can happen. The history
proves that theory correct. Not to mention, the winner
claims the Division 1 Central Mass. spot in the
Central/Western Mass. Super Bowl.

But recent history says that Fitchburg is the team to
beat. In the last 12 years, the Red Raiders have beaten
Leominster 11 times and five straight.

Last year at Crocker Field, Fitchburg pulled off the
colossal upset, 28-20. Fitchburg leads the overall series,
57-53-9.

"Every year they tell me that we're the underdog, and we
just prove them wrong every year," said Fitchburg defensive
end/offensive tackle Austin Douglas. "Hopefully we can do
that again. I think that Leominster has a lot of talent,
they work really hard and all that plays into it. But I
think that when it comes down to us and them, I think that
we match up against them pretty good."

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