Friday Night Lights steeped in tradition
By Chris Forsberg

FITCHBURG -- David Cosenza was still in diapers when his
father, Ray, took over as head coach of the Fitchburg High
football program in 1989.

Crocker Field quickly became Cosenza's oversized playpen.

He grew up watching his father lead the Red Raiders to seven
Super Bowl appearances during the 90s, and Cosenza dreamed
of wearing the red and gray from the moment he first picked
up the pigskin.

"Growing up in Fitchburg and being around football my whole
life, putting on this jersey is probably the most important
thing in my life," said David Cosenza. "There's nothing
quite like Friday Night Lights around here."

The 2005 high school football season kicks off this evening
with six local squads suiting up under the lights. This is
hardly just another Friday in the fall: It's a night kids
dream about for years.

"I was always out here for games as a kid," Fitchburg senior
David Garay said Wednesday as the team practiced in the
shadow of Crocker Field. "I remember watching Jason Twomley
and all those guys. I just kept dreaming about when it would
be my turn."

Cosenza's and Garay's time comes Saturday when the Red
Raiders open their schedule with a trip to Westwood to
tangle with Eastern Mass. power Xaverian at the Hawk Bowl.

Neither Cosenza, Garay or any of the Red Raiders are
particularly happy about the way the 2004 season
unfolded. Fitchburg labored through a 4-7 campaign and
dropped a 19-14 decision to rival Leominster on Thanksgiving
Day.

It's not just the poor record that rubs Garay the wrong
way. It's the notion that the Red Raiders didn't live up to
the typical lofty standards set by those who came before
him.

"Coach always talks about remembering the guys that wore the
red helmets before us," said Garay. "I think about it every
time I put on the uniform now. We're playing for those guys
as well."

Cosenza joined his father on the sidelines in the late 90s
as waterboy for the Red Raiders. He's hard-pressed to pick
favorite memories from those years.

"Probably my most memorable year was 1998," said
Cosenza. "They had David Masciarelli at quarterback and
Keith Leavitt was playing on the line. I just remember being
on the sidelines with them and enjoying it all. They went
undefeated that year before losing in the Super Bowl. I
wanted to be just like them."

So does Fitchburg have the talent this season to be like the
1998 squad?

"We're going to be better," said David Cosenza with a
smile. "At least that's how I dream about it."

* Leominster opens its season tonight on the road against
another Eastern Mass. power in Everett. The Crimson Tide
advanced to four consecutive Eastern Mass. Division 1 Super
Bowls over the past four seasons, winning three in a row
before falling to Brockton last year.

When a reporter suggested that at least Everett had
graduated standout quarterback Matt Nuzzo, Leominster coach
John Dubzinski chuckled.

"They've always got somebody out there," said
Dubzinski. "It's always a challenge against them."

* Lunenburg ushers in the Steve Boone era this evening with
a trip to Dudley to meet Shepherd Hill Regional in a
non-conference tilt. The Blue Knights returned 19 seniors
after a Super Bowl appearance last season, but also lost
quarterback Dave Atamian to a broken leg in the first
scrimmage of the season. Atamian will be replaced,
ironically, by Mike Diamantopoulos -- the son of former
coach Dale Diamantopoulos.

* Oakmont Regional also welcomes a new leader, but it's a
familiar one, as Dave LaRoche returns to the helm after
stepping down five years ago after a 20-year tenure. The
Spartans drop to Division 3 this season where they are
expected to be more competitive following a winless campaign
in 2004. They kick off the season tonight against border
rival Narragansett Regional in Baldwinville.

* St. Bernard's makes its return to Central
Mass. competition as the Bernardians travel to Gardner this
evening. St. B's -- now in its second year under head coach
Tom Bingham -- will compete as an independent squad over the
next two seasons, but should take another step forward after
a 2-9 record in 2004. Gardner and coach Walter Dubzinski
lament the loss of 16 seniors following a 10-1 showing last
season, but don't write these Wildcats off.

* Nashoba opens its season tonight with a blockbuster
rivalry matchup against neighboring Clinton. This is a
battle of Thanksgiving Day proportions; expect both teams to
be fired up for this one.

* On Saturday, Monty Tech will also open on the road with a
trip to play Franklin County. The Bulldogs finished 6-5 last
year, but veteran coach Gary Carroll doesn't like to put too
much stock in wins and losses.

"I don't measure a season on wins and losses, although it
makes things a heck of a lot more palatable if you win a lot
more games than you lose," said Carroll. "I put a lot more
stock in the quality of your team and your game and the way
your players play."

* North Middlesex Regional is the only inactive squad this
weekend after its move up to Division 1 left it scrambling
to find a Week 1 opponent. It couldn't find any takers, but
coach John Margarita isn't complaining much. These young
Patriots will use the week to further train for the season
opener at Westborough on Sept. 17.
		



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