For the second year in a row the Red Raiders found themselves in a tie breaker situation against an Eastern Mass. power. The result was slightly better, but still disappointing, as Fitchburg had to settle for a 19-19 tie against New Bedford Friday night.
"We became a better football team in the second half," said FHS coach Ray Cosenza. "That second half is going to make us a better football team. We didn't play great, but we showed some real courage and toughness to battle back."
Both sides showed their mettle in the overtime session. New Bedford got the first shot and got to the 1 on a pair of runs. On third down, Clinton Dunston tried to slip in over the right side but was blasted by Rich Demar and sent back a yard. On fourth down, Christian Farland met a similar fate against the Raiders defense as the fans in the granstand celebrated and Fitchburg sensed the kill.
It never happened, though. After a short gain by Devin Gates on first down, Chris Roy was popped by Manny Ortiz and the loose ball was pounced on by the New Bedford defense, ending the game.
Fitchburg played an overtime game here last yuear, losing to Brockton when Peter Harris scored on fourth down. But while it's almost becoming old hat for Fitchburg, it wasn't the case on the other side.
"This is the first time we've been involved in a tiebreaker situation," said Whalers coach Wayne Hamlet. "Usually teams, when we play them, don't to play a tiebreaker. But Ray and I decided to do it. It was a great experience."
Given his druthers, however, Hamlet would have preferred more of what his team gave him in the second quarter. After Fitchburg took a 7-0 lead on a Ricky Morales 25-yard touchdown run on an option, the Whalers went to work behind quarterback Angelo DeBortoli. The strong-armed senior, who rallied the Whalers to victory in last year's game at New Bedford, completed 10-for-24 for 166 yards. His 21-yard strike to Nelson Rivera tied the game with 4:28 left in the half, and the Whalers then took advantage of Fitchburg turnovers to pull ahead. Jeff Mello snuck in from a yard out with 1:24 left in the half, and a Dante Balestracci interception of a Devin Gates pass set up DeBortoli's 7-yard scramble on the final play of the half.
"Our play in the first half was just terrible," Cosenza said.
New Bedford was getting the breaks, as well, having trouble holding the ball on special teams, but always managing to get it back with no harm done. Finally, a fumble on the FHS 14 was recovered by Colin Burns, and Roy eventually turned it into a 55-yard touchdown on a pitch from Gates.
"We had a chance to put them away at 19-7, and drove to the 20," Hamlet said. "I thought the ground caused the fumble."
It was Roy (11 caries, 121 yards) and Burns teaming up again for the tying scores, but with vastly different roles. Taking a toss from Gates, Roy rolled to the right and sold the run, but lofted a pass to a wide-open Burns. He hauled in the ball at the 25, well behind the Whalers defense, and got into the end zone for the 51-yard scpre to tie the game.