Raiders get back on track
By Chris Forsberg
Correspondent

MILFORD -- Playing what amounts to the first of five must
win games remaining on its schedule, the Fitchburg football
squad served notice Friday night it wasn't letting the 2004
season slip away without a fight.

The Red Raiders scored on their first three possessions of
the game then held on for a 22-14 victory over host Milford
in a Division 1 contest.

Fitchburg (3-4, 2-2) must essentially run the table to have
any chance of catching league front runners St. John's and
Leominster.  And though it seemed to try and give away the
game last night with three second half turnovers and a
blocked punt, the Red Raiders emerged with a big win on the
road.

"We played as good of a game as we are capable of in the
first half, we just didn't have that killer instinct," said
Fitchburg coach Ray Cosenza. "That being said, this was a
huge win for us.  Its been a while, but you have to remember
we've got a lot of young kids out there.  We needed a win
toninght and these kids got one."

Fitchburg was in complete control after Milford's early
gamble backfired. The Scarlet Hawks (2-5, 1-3) went for it
on fourth and one from midfield on their first possession of
the game, but couldn't convert when a fumbled snap gave
Fitchburg the ball inside Milford territory.  The Red
Raiders never looked back.

Taking over at the Milford 46, Fitchburg needed nine plays
before senior quarterback Brian Ricciutti faked a handoff
and bootlegged around the left end on a 5-yard touchdown run
for a 6-0 advantage.

Less than two minutes later, Fitchburg found itself in the
end zone again.  A personal foul at the end of a punt return
gave the Red Raiders premium field position for the second
consecutive drive.  Once again they capitalized as senior
fullback Eldred Wright followed a block from tight end Joah
Mathieu up the middle and rumbled 38 yards for a score.
Ricciutti added the conversion rush for a 14-0 advantage
with 3:15 remaining in the first quarter.

The Red Raiders kept up their relentless attack on both
sides of the ball and got the ball back when junior David
Garay recovered a fumbled pitch and raced to the Milford 25
before being caught from behind.

Fitchburg needed six plays to cover those 25 yards before
senior tailback Justin McDonald plowed his way through
Milford's defensive line on a 5 yard touchdown run early in
the second quarter.  McDonald added the conversion rush and
Fitchburg went into the break up 22-0.

For the half, Fitchburg outgained the hosts 157-54.  MIlford
mustered just 17 yards on the ground compared to Fitchburg's
147 and quarter back Bryant Johnson faced constant pressure.

Milford got a spark when Fitchburg fumbled on the opening
possession of the second half.  Facing third and 8 from the
Fitchburg 37, Ricciutti fumbled the ball away and Milford
sophomore Vito DaSilva recovered the elusive ball at the Red
Raiders 15.

It took seven plays and a defensive pass interference
penalty in the end zone, but Milford got on the board as
senior Conor Quinn reeled in a 3 yard touchdown pass from
Johnson.

Fithburg was reeling when Milford blocked a punt on the Red
Raiders' ensuing drive, but the Hawks went for the home run
and Johnson was intercepted by Mathieu three player later
to thwart a scoring opportunity.  Milford would't go away
and another Fitchburg fumble led to a 12 yard touchdown run
by Brian Flumere cutting the Red Raiders' lead to 22-14 with
10:53 remaining

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