The longest yard for Fitchburg
Red Raiders come up just short
by ERic Avidon
eavidon@sentinelandenterprise.com
Fitchburg -- A yard.

That's all that separated the Marlborough and Fitchburg
football teams Friday night at Crocker Field, all that
separated victory from defeat.

After the teams were tied at six at halftimve, 12 at the end
of regulation and 18 at the end of the first overtime,
Marlborough scored to go ahead 24-18 in the second overtime.
By rule, Fitchburg then had first and goal from the 1- yard
line.

Justin McDonald gained one yard on first.  Matt Thibeault
caught a four yard pass from Brian Ricciuti on second to
put the ball at the five. On third, Mcdonald gained two
yards to the three, which set up fourth and goal.

The Red Raiders called a timeout.

And then Ricciuti took the snap.  He bootlegged to his
right, where three times he'd thrown to Thibeault -- once to
set up a touchdown, once for a touchdown and the second down
play of double overtime.

This time he kept the ball.  He appeared to have space, a
lane to the near corner of the end zone.  But the Malborough
defense closed fast, hit Ricciuty short of the goal line and
stuffed him.

Game over.  Marlborough wins 224-18 in two overtimes.

Up front they won the battle, I thnk on both sides of the
ball," said Fitchburg coach Ray Cosenza.  "That's something
that usually makes a difference, and it did tonight.  I
can't take anything away from them.  They desered to win.
They played great."

"We thought this game tonight was going to indicate how good
we are," said Marlborough coach Sean Mahoney. "We made big
plays tonight, and that talks about the character of the
team."

Marlborough (2-1) opened the game by controlling the ball
for 9:15 and driving 64 yards in 16 plays for a touchdown
by Brian Yerovich, who ran for 79 yards and three
touchdowns, and a 6-0 lead.  But the Panthers missed the
extra point, a theme for the night.

Fitchburg was able to move the ball both times it had the
ball in the first half, but the first time the Red Raiders
(1-2) turned the ball over on downs after 10 plays and the
second time turned it over with an interception.

But then the Red Raiders were given a gift.  Marlborough,
which runs the option, buffed a pitch.  The ball bounced
right into the hands of Jon Berthiaume, who raced 35 yards
for the tying touchdown with just 27 seconds left in the
half.

But the extra point was blocked.

Marlborough again demonstrated its ball control offense at
the end of the third and start of the fourth quarters,
marching 60 yards on 16 plays for a touchdown by quarterback
Mike O'Brien (54 yards passing, 59 rushing and one
touchdown) with 4:34 left in regulation.

After another missed extra point, Fitchburg answered.  The
Red Raiders managed the clock, mixing in timeouts to
perserve precious seconds.  As time ticked down under two
minutes, Ricciuti bootlegged right, hit Thibeault for a 19
yard gain to the two yard line.  Two plays later McDonald
(90 yards rushing, one touchdown) rammed in from the three
for the tying touchdown with 49 seconds left.

But again the extra p[oint was blocked, and the game moved
to overtime.

"There's no excuse for (the missed extra points)" said
Cosenza, "but they missed theirs, too.  We had a guy come
throught the middle twice (to block the kick) but even
beyond that I give Marlborough all the credit.  They
outplayed us.  They physically outplayed us and they
deserved to win the game tonight."

Fitchburg opened the first overtime by scoring on a Ricciuti
(37 yars passing and one touchdown) stike to Thibeault on
first down.  And then the Red Raiders failed on a two-point
conversion.  Marlborough answered with a Yerovich touchdown
on third down, then missed on a two point conversion.

A Yerovich touchdown put Marlborough up 24-18 in the second
overtime.  Naturally the Panters failed to convert a two
point attempt.

And then Fitchburg came up a yard short.

"We're not very big up front, but the line came off the
ball," said Mahoney, whose team outgained Fitchburg
229-186. "With Brian Yerovich and Mike O'Brien running the
line was awesome.  They were great." 

Fitchburg will look to even its record at home against
Nashoba next Friday.

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