Red Raiders rough up Chieftains
By Mike LeClair
Correspondent
FITCHBURG - The Firchburg high footgall team had the Wright
stuff Friday night.

Senior fullback Eldrid Wright had 161 yards rushing on 13
carries to lead Firtchburg High to a 41-21 victory over
Nashoba Regional Friday night at Crocker Field.

Wright combined with fellow senior back Justin Mcdonald for
321 yards rushing.  The two finished with 29 carries and
five touchdown to help Fitchburg pick up a much-needed
victory to even its record at 2-2 on the season.

"Our offense did a fantastic job and our offensive line
really stepped up," said Fitchburg coach Ray Cosenza.
"Nashoba came in here and played really well.  But this was a
big win for us after what happened last week against
Marlboro."

Nashoba opened the game with a bang in the first quarter.
Zach Blanchflower took the opening kickoff from his own 17
and broke free for what appeared to be an 83 yard touchdown
run and a 6-0 Chieftains (1-3) lead, but an offensive
holding call brought the ball back to the Fitchgurg 43 yard
line.  The stake of misfortune didn't hurt the Chieftains
because they marched the 43 yards in 10 plays and drew first
blood via a 12 yard scramble by Garret Jones to take the
early 6-0 lead with 5:32 left in the first quarter.  Kicker
Eric Hvoslef tacked on the extra point to make it 7-0.

The Red Raider deficit was short lived, however, as
Fitchburg fired right back.  Putting together a 9 play 77
yard drive concluded by a 40 yard run from McDonald into
the end zone and a Brian Riccuti kick knotted the score at
7-7 with 56 seconds to play in the first quarter.

McDonald struck again in the opening minutes of the second
quarter.  McDonald barreled his way for a 32 yard run,
taking it to the house and giving Fitchburg it's first lead
of the game at 13-7 with 9:56 left.  Riccuti added the kick
to put the Red Raiders up by seven.

Fitchburg added one more score before heading into the
locker room.  Another touchdown run from Wright, this time
for 33 yards and a Riccuti kick with 2:13 left in the half
gave Fitcnburg a comfy two touchdown lead.

Nashoba seemed unintimidated by the scoreboard and refused
to cash it in and call it a half.  The Chieftains took over
at their own 23 yard line and stormed the ball down the
field on the ground before wrapping up their 77 yard, 10 play
drive by handing the ball off to junior back Zach
Blanchflower at the two yard line who plowed through the
Fitchburg goaline defense for the touchdown with 10 seconds
left to play.

After a scoreless third quarter Fitchburg put the game on
ice with 20 points in the fourth quarter, outscoring Nashoba
20-7 to secure the win.

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