Raiders trounce 'Cats
By Chad Garner
 cgarner@sentinelandenterprise.com
FITCHBURG -- The Fitchburg High offense didn't need to trick
the Gardner defense on Halloween.

The Red Raiders, like they've done all season, went right at
the opposition and it wasn't a treat for the Wildcats.

Offensively, Fitchburg's run-blocking offensive line paved
the way for the backs to rush for 305 yards -- 206 yards and
four touchdowns on 15 carries by junior tailback William
Earley -- and the defense limited Gardner's vaunted running
game to two late fourth-quarter touchdowns en route to a
decisive 35-13 victory Friday night at Crocker Field in the
100th meeting between the two schools.

"This was just a great all-around game," said Fitchburg
coach Ray Cosenza.

"I think this was the first game that we've put together
offense, defense and special teams. This was our best game
of the year."

Fitchburg leads the overall series 52-37-11. 

Fitchburg (6-2) came out and got a turnover on Gardner's
(4-4) first possession when a lateral behind the line of
scrimmage was pounced on by Joe Golden at the Wildcat 25.

Earley highlighted the opening drive with two runs before
finding paydirt from three yards out. Tom Benoit, who was a
perfect 5 for 5 on extra points, booted the ball through the
uprights to give Fitchburg a 7-0 lead.

Fitchburg's dominant run defense led by Austin Douglas,
Anthony Murray, Kyle Scachetti, Matt Lamey, Matt Thibeault
and Gamba Payton forced Gardner to punt on a three-and-out
series, giving the offense the ball at the Wildcat 46.

Fullback Eldred Wright (8 carries, 93 yards, TD), who played
in Gardner last year, rumbled for 33 yards to set up an
Earley 13-yard TD run.

The Red Raiders used a 9-play, 65-yard drive to go ahead
21-0 late in the second quarter. Wright capped off the drive
with a four-yard power run.

Gardner finally picked up its first first-down with 9:12
left on a Jordan Rankine 10-yard run. But the Wildcats'
11-play drive stalled at the Fitchburg 24.

Earley's highlight-reel 76-yard TD run in which he hurdled a
defender at midfield before racing into the end zone, ended
the first half scoring.

Earley went 19 yards untouched to finish off an 8-play,
61-yard drive to open the third quarter.

Down 35-0, Gardner's backfield of Rankine (15 carries, 93
yards), Kevin Flanagan (10 carries, 52 yards), Leon Kendrick
(4 carries, 40 yards, TD) and Jon Mobley drove down to the
Fitchburg 7 on 12 plays, but quarterback C.J. Cameron's pass
was intercepted by a leaping T.J. Loughlin in the end zone.

Gardner finally got on the scoreboard late in the fourth as
Cameron lofted a pass to a wide open Joe Williams, who raced
69 yards for the score.

Williams recovered an on-side pooch kick on the far
sidelines at the Fitchburg 38, setting up a Kendrick 18-yard
TD run.

Fitchburg quarterback Raymond Earley rushed for 45 yards on
seven carries.

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