Earley a monster on ground as 
Fitchburg's Turkey Day reign 
reaches 5 straight years
By Chad Garner

FITCHBURG -- Fitchburg's recent Thanksgiving Day dominance
continued over archrival Leominster Thursday morning at
Crocker Field.

The heavy underdog Red Raiders, who were tied 7-all at the
half, got their offense racing on all cylinders in the
second half and scored on three straight possessions,
highlighted by sophomore tailback William Earley's 158 of
his game-high 226 yards in the second stanza en route to the
stunning 28-20 victory in the 119th meeting overall and 97th
on Thanksgiving.

Fitchburg (8-3) leads the overall series, 57-53-9.

"Everyone knew that we were underdogs, but we didn't take it
that way," said Fitchburg coach Ray Cosenza, whose team has
won 11 of the last 12 meetings over Leominster. "We knew how
good this group was. We knew what they're capable of
doing. I love them.

"Our kids are so tough. I am so proud of this group because
they're just tougher than any group around. We may have lost
some key games, but our kids proved what they got today. I'm
so proud of all of them."

After a defensive struggle in the first half which saw
Fitchburg outgain Leominster (9-3) 66-22 but tied on the
scoreboard 7-7, the Red Raider offensive machine used a
grueling 15-play, 80-yard drive that chewed up 7:05 off the
third-quarter clock.

Workhorse Earley (36 carries, 226 yards, 3 TDs), who carried
the pigskin 22 times in the second half and 36 for the game,
got the football in his hands nine times on the drive for 47
yards. Earley also capped off the drive with a 4-yard TD run
off left tackle.

"Now there's no question about what type of back (Earley)
is, how he plays in big games," said Cosenza.

"He just had a great game. He is just so good and he's going
to get better. What an unbelievable game he had."

On the play, it appeared Earley was wrapped up before the
goal line, but he kept his feet churning and rolled over a
host of Leominster tacklers into the end zone. Ryan Logan
added the extra point for a 14-7 lead. Fullback Matt Donovan
(10 carries, 32 yards) also keyed the drive with four
carries for 22 yards.

"You can't score unless you have the ball," said Leominster
coach John Dubzinski. "I thought a key sequence was the
second half when we kicked the ball out to the 20-yard line
and they went 80 yards to score and they used six or seven
minutes of the clock. I'm disappointed with the way we
played on defense."

Leominster, which didn't throw a single pass in the first
half, got its passing game going as senior quarterback Kevin
Barnaby (7 of 8 passing, 105 yards, TD) hooked up with
senior wide receiver Blake Curry for a 13-yard gain.

He then found Adam Cordio for a 1-yard gain. On third-and-6
from the Fitchburg 42, senior tailback Kevin L'Ecuyer (20
carries, 30 yards, 0 yards on 5 carries in second half) was
stuffed for a 1-yard gain by defenders Gumba Payton and Jeff
Smart.

"I'm very proud of the way our defense played," said
Cosenza. "They played unbelievable. We shut down their backs
... I don't know what to say?"

Fitchburg gained possession at its own 20, and went right to
work behind a dominating offensive line of center Anthony
Murray, guards Brad McNamara and Joe Golden, and tackles
Steve Marrella and Mark Thomas.

The line made quick work as Logan emerged from a pile of
defenders on a QB sneak on third-and-1 from the Fitchburg 29
en route to an amazing 71-yard TD jaunt with 1:15 left in
the third quarter. Logan added the PAT for a 21-7 lead.

Leominster answered, however. Backed by the right arm and
legs of Barnaby, who connected on four passes on the drive
for 36 yards -- two passes for pickups of 12 and 17 yards to
Curry -- Leominster went 62 yards to cut the deficit to
21-14.

Barnaby got upended at the 7 on a 5-yard keeper on fourth
down to keep the drive alive, and raced off the left side
after no one was open on a pass attempt for a 10-yard TD
run. Garrett Donatelli added the PAT with 8:28 remaining in
the fourth quarter for a 21-14 deficit.

But Leominster couldn't stop the Red Raider offensive
juggernaut. The Red Raiders went 71 yards on seven plays to
claim a 28-14 advantage with under five minutes to go.

It was the ground game that paved the way as Earley carried
five times and scored from 48 yards out on a big hole off
the right side on a counter play.

"We just didn't come with the stops on defense at any point
in time in the game," said Dubzinski. "We never made the
stop when we had to. We had a very hard time stopping their
offense. We didn't tackle well. Defensively I thought was
the difference in the game. We just didn't play very good
defense."

Leominster refused to pack it in and came back
immediately. On second-and-8 from the Blue Devil 45, Barnaby
hit Cordio with a quick pass on the far sidelines, and
Cordio eluded the secondary for a quick-score 55-yard TD
reception. Donatelli's kick sailed wide right and Leominster
trailed 28-20 with 3:59 remaining.

The Blue Devils attempted an on-side kick, which was
recovered by Fitchburg's Frank Sienkiewicz at the Fitchburg
45.

Leominster stopped Fitchburg one yard shy of a first down at
the Leominster 45, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty
tacked on 15 yards which gave the Red Raiders an automatic
first down.

Fitchburg used four straight running plays to the 7, and
kneeled on the ball to end the contest.

In the first quarter, Leominster snuffed out a Fitchburg
dive as Tom Fallon picked off Logan at the 5, but great
defense by Fitchburg's Marrella, C.J. Jones and John Lewis
forced the Blue Devils to punt from the 45.

That's where disaster struck for the Red Raiders. On
first-down from the 23, Logan's option pitch fell to the
ground, and was recovered by end Anthony Bizzotto and
returned for a 10-yard touchdown with 3:30 left in the first
half. Donatelli added the kick for a 7-0 lead.

But Fitchburg closed out the first half with a methodical
14-play, 40-yard drive to tie the game at 7, finished off by
Earley's 1-yard TD plunge with 15 seconds remaining.

The big plays of the drive were three fourth downs -- runs
of 3, 7 and 5 yards by Earley -- converted by the Red
Raiders.

Fitchburg outgained Leominster 329-144.

Red Raiders 28
Blue Devils 20

LHS (9-3) 7 0 0 13 -- 20
FHS (8-3) 0 7 14 7 -- 28

First quarter
LHS -- Anthony Bizzotto 10 fumble recovery (Garrett Donatelli kick), 3:30
Second quarter
FHS -- William Earley 1 run (Ryan Logan kick), :15
Third quarter
FHS -- Earley 4 run (Logan kick), 4:43
FHS -- Logan 71 run (Logan kick), 1:15
Fourth quarter
LHS -- Kevin Barnaby 10 run (Donatelli kick), 8:28
FHS -- Earley 48 run (Logan kick), 4:59
LHS -- Adam Cordio 55 pass from Barnaby (kick failed), 3:59

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