Raiders just reloading 

Friday September 10, 1999

By Kevin O'Malley
Staff Writer 

FITCHBURG -- Often times you hear high school football
coaches talk about having a rebuilding year.

In Fitchburg, they don't rebuild, they reload.

Despite losing nine starters on offense and nine more on
defense, the Red Raiders are still ready to make a run at
another Division 1 Super Bowl berth.

Junior quarterback Jason Twomley takes over the team after
backing up David Mascarelli last season. Twomley saw some
action late last season after Mascarelli was injured, enough
to put Fitchburg head coach Ray Cosenza in a very positive
mood coming into the year.

"Jason has the potential to be an outstanding quarterback,"
said Cosenza. "He played well last year and he worked very
hard in the offseason, and he's been working like this since
he was in the eighth grade."

Twomley will line up behind an offensive line with only two
starters (guard Matt Hudson and tackle Derrick Johnson)
returning from "the best offensive line" in coach Cosenza's
storied career.

"We were very big up front last year," continued Cosenza,
"and besides being big, they were also very good."

This year, center Scott Gendron, guards Josh Cordio and
Marcus Dinate and tackles Anthony Fanelli, and Tim Roy will
try and fill the large shoes left by tackle Keith Leavitt,
who is attending Boston College on a football scholarship
now, P.J. Roy and B.J. Keenan.

In the backfield, the Red Raiders must replace the dynamic
duo of Dustin and Andy LeBlanc and they will attempt to do
so by committee.

Frank McDonald, Saul Sicard and Norman Cole will step in as
fullbacks while Jason Quinn, Greg LeBlanc, and Corey Nass
will also see time at tailback.

"There is a good chance you'll see six different kids carry
the ball," said Cosenza. "Last year we only had two backs,
this year we have a whole committee."

When Twomley drops back to pass, something you will probably
see more than in years past, he will have a host of talented
receivers to try and get the ball too.

"We want to take advantage of of Jason's athletic ability
and we think we have some people capable of getting open,"
continued Cosenza.

Harold Matteo, one of Fitchburg's finest sprinters, will be
one wide receiver, while Tim Keenan, Dan Ortiz and Ben
Brideau will add depth to the receiving corps.

Defensively, the Red Raiders will shift to a base 4-3 but
keep their traditional read-and-react defense that was
worked so well in the past.

"We don't have the size, so we are going to try and utilize
our speed," said Cosenza of using the base 4-3 defense.  "We
need our defense to be strong until the offense gets some
experience and becomes consistent."

McDonald will man the key middle linebacker position with
LeBlanc, Chris Lamereaux and Josh Cordio platooning at the
outside backer postions. When McDonald comes out of the
game, Rob Raboin will step in at middle backer.

Sicard, Keenan, Nass, Quinn, Mateo and Ortiz will all see
time in the defensive backfield as Fitchburg boasts
incredible depth at nearly every position.

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