Swart gets job done for Devils

By Corey Peter Goodman cgoodman@sentinelandenterprise.com

LEOMINSTER -- When the Milford defensive front made life tough on Leominster backs Adam Cordio, Anthony Bizzotto and Tom Fallon, quarterback Chris Swart took over. Swart completed seven passes for 107 yards, threw for a touchdown, ran for another, and added a two-point conversion run as Leominster survived a difficult first half for a 26-0 victory at Doyle Field Friday night. "He's improving each week. He did a nice job," said Leominster coach John Dubzinski of Swart. "He's capable of doing what he did." Leominster is now 5-1, with its only loss coming in the opening week at Everett. Milford falls to 0-6, having been shut out in all but one game. While Milford failed to reach the end zone again this week, it made up for it on the defensive side of the ball where it gave the high-powered Leominster offense fits, especially early in the game. But though the Scarlet Hawks trailed just 6-0 at halftime, they were subdued by three critical turnovers that turned a tight game into a blowout in the third quarter. "Penalties and turnovers," said Milford coach John Dagnese. "That's been our trademark all season." Milford's Tyler Washington returned the game's opening kickoff down to the Leominster 15-yard line. But the Scarlet Hawks missed the scoring chance when they fumbled on the first-down play. In the second quarter, Milford moved the ball 55 yards on 13 plays down to the Leominster 28. But on second down, quarterback Kevin Casey was intercepted in the end zone by Steven Shaw. Finally on Milford's second play from scrimmage in the second half, with excellent field position at midfield, a wild pitch was scooped up in the backfield by Shaw, who returned it 43 yards for the score that put Leominster up, 14-0. "This could've been a different game," said Dagnese. "It wasn't for a lack of effort, but with the turnovers, our team was just worn down." Leominster, which suffered three fumbles of its own, just got stronger. Late in the third quarter, Swart led the Blue Devils on a seven-play, 42-yard scoring drive, capped off by his own 10-yard TD run to give his team a 20-0 lead. Adam Cordio, who finished with 94 yards on 11 carries, iced the game with a 50-yard touchdown run down the left sideline with 9:45 remaining in the game. Swart, who threw for 100 yards last week at B.C. High, opened the scoring in the second quarter with a 31-yard strike to Tim DiLillo. "They completely took away our run game, so we had to loosen them up with the pass," Dubzinski said. "But you have to give that defense credit. That's the best defense we've faced all year." Leominster outgained Milford, 263-111, with 41 of Milford's yards coming in the final minute of the game.
Fitchburg High School Athletics and Competition Home Page