Fitchburg offense revs up after 
defense makes goal-line stand
By Eric Avidon eavidon@sentinelandenterprise.com

LEOMINSTER -- Although the Fitchburg High football team never trailed
rival Leominster High on Thanksgiving Day at Doyle Firld, and though
the Red Raiders outgained the Blue Devils by nearly 100 yards, there
was a point late in the first quarter when Leominster very nearly took
command of the game.

But with the Blue Devils on the verge of going ahead by a touchdown,
Fitchburg responded with a goal-line stand and two monster drives to
wrestle control of the game from Leominster and propel the Red Raiders
into the Super Bowl.

After Fitchburg running back William Earley -- who ran for 254 yards
-- scored the first of his four touchdowns, Leominster ansered with an
11-play, 57 yard drive to knot the score at six.  Fitchburg went three
and out on its next possession, and when the Red Raiders tried to punt
Brian Ricciuti couldn't control a slow snap and Leominster's Andrew
Moran recovered the ball on the Fitchburg nine yard line.

Leominster had first and goal and a chance to take at least a 12-6
lead.

The Fitchburg defense stuffed running back Adam Cordio for no gain on
first down.  On second down, quarterback Chris Swart gained two yards
to the seven.  Running back Tom Fallon then gained four yards on third
down setting up fourth and goal from the three.

The Blue Devils, who had problems kicking extra points all season,
decided against a field goal attempt and went for the touchdown.

They didn't get it.

William Earley read the play, a toss left to Cordio, and Earley
tripped up Cordio in the backfield for a loss.

"Our defense kept us in the game," said Fitchburg coach Ray Cosenza.
"We had some turnovers early and gave them great field position, but
we didn't give up scores.  That was a big key."

"I don't know what happened.  We just stepped up to the occasion and
stopped them," said Earley.

After the defensive stand late in the first quarter, Fitchburg was
staring at 96 yards of grass between the line of scrimmage and the
end zone.  It took 14 plays and 6:40 to cover the 96 yards, but the
Red Raiders made it.

The drive started slowly with short runs by Earley and Eldred Wright,
including a three yard run by Earley on a fake punt on fourth and two
from the Fitchburg 12 yard line, a gamble that could have been costly
if Earley hadn't gained enough yardage.

"There was no decision (to go for the fake)," said Cosenza.  "They
called it (on the field).  It was a mistake.  We were fortunate.  I
can't take credit for it.  William got us the firsts down, and it was
big.  I wish I could take credit for it, but it was a
miscommunication and William took over and made a great play."

It ultimately took Fitchburg 13 plays to get to its own 49-yard line.

Faced with fourth and three -- the second fourth down of the drive --
the Red Raiders again went for it.  Earley took a hand-off, burst
through the left side of the Fitchburg line and was gone for his
second touchdown of the game, this one a 51 yard dash to give
Fitchburg a 12-6 lead with 7:32 left in the second quarter.

"Basically, we just dug down real deep and told ourselves that we
needed to get three or four yards per play," said Earley.  "And we did
it, and drove from the far end of the field."

The 96 yard drive was the first of two sustained marches which gave
Fitchburg control of the game.  The second came on the Red Raiders'
next possession.

After the Fitchburg defense stopped Leominster on three plays, the
Blue Devils punted and the Red Raiders started from their 26 yard
line.

This time the drive took 11 plays and ate up 4:45, and when Earley
went in from eight yards out with 45.3 seconds left in the first half,
Fitchburg led 18-6.

"We wanted to keep the ball out of their hands so we felt we had to
sustain drives and keep the ball in our hands," said Cosenza.  "Our
kids kept coming back.  We accomplished what we set out to do, (which
was) prevent them from having big plays and keep the ball in our
offense's hands."

The game Thursday was decided during a 14 minute stretch spanning the
end of the first quarter and most of the second.

It began with a defensive stop by the Red Raiders just when it looked
as though the Blue Devils were going to take the lead.  It ended with
the second of two mammoth drives, two maarches that helped Fitchburg
win its sixth straight Thanksgiving Day game over it rival and send
Fitchburg to the Super Bowl for the first ime since 2000.

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