Turnovers cost Raiders
Shrewsbury scores two TDs in final stanza to knock off FHS By Mike LeClair Correspondent
Shrewsbury --The Fitchburg High football team can attest to the old adage of turnovers can kill a football team, especially ones in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. The Red Raiders hung tough for three quarters with powerful Shrewsbury Friday night. Fitchburg entered the final 11 minutes tied at 6-6, but a pair of fourth quarter fumbles resulted in two Shrewsbury touchdowns, and ultimately gave the Colonials a 20-6 victory Friday night at Shrewsbury High. "Turnovers have been our MO this year. We have to figure out a way overcome that," said Fitchburg coach Ray Cosenza. "Things aren't going well for us right now and I don't know what else we can do but keep on working and stick together." Fitchburg (2-4) had trouble stopping Shrewsbury's Chris Abbascia, who ran for 151 yards on 29 carries, including a pair of Colonial touchdowns. Shrewsbry (5-1) took the opening kickoff and scored on its first possession of the game, marching 65 yards on five plays. The drive was capped off by Abbascia's 41 yard TD run on second down. Kyle Parmenter's kick was blocked as the Colonials led 6-0 with 8:27 remaining in the first quarter. A steady rainfall kept the field slick and limited the first half scoring to just Abbascia's run. Fichburg had three possessions in the first half, but turned the ball over on downs all three times. With 47 seconds left in the first quarter, the Red Raiders put together a 10 play drive, but the drive came to an end at the Shrewsbury 34 yard line. In the third quarter, Fitchburg began with three straight running plays and were stuffed short on its third down run, setting up a punting situation for the Red Raiders. On fourth and five, the punt attempt was botched by Fitchburg's Brian Riccutti and he went down without getting the ball off. However an off side penalty against Shrewsbury gave Firchburg the five yards and kept the drive alive and the Red Raiders would capitalize. Marching to the Shrewsbury 11 yard line, Fitchburg's Daeshaun Perkins concluded a 10 play, 55 yard drive with an 11 yard rumble into the end zone. After Ricciuti's kick was blocked the game was tied at 6-6 with 5:50 to play in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Fitchburg's first possession couldn't have begun any worse. A Shrewsbury punt pinned the Red Raiders at their own one yard line and three plays later a Firtchburg fumble at the 15 gave Shrewsbury great field position, starting at the Firchbug eight. Three plays later Shrewsbury took the lead for good. Quarterback Brad Stickel hooked up with receiver Steven Rebh for a 12 yard touchdown pass into the left corner of the end zone for the 13-6 lead. After a blocked extra point it was 14-6. Shrewsbury added one more score late to seal the win.
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