Fitchburg beats Milford for first win
By Sean Sweeney FITCHBURG--
Where was he last week? Fitchburg running bak Jason Quinn who was out with an injury two weeks ago against St. Peter-Marian and played defense last week against Nashoba, acted like Ol' King Midas on Friday night. Because every time he ran the football against Milford, Crocker Field turned to gold during the Red Raiders' first win of the season, 41-7 over the Scarlet Hawks. FHS is now 1-2, while Milford drops to 1-1. Quinn, a senior, rushed for 81 yards on 13 carries with a pair of touchdowns for the Red Raiders. "Quinn was really a spark for us," said Fitchburg coach Ray Cosenza. "He was a huge difference. Last week we had him in the secondary. We moved some people around. He gives us some speed on the outside." His speed was more than evident in the Red Raiders' first drive of the ball game. After on-sides kicking to start the game with Scott Gendron recovering, Fitchburg ran four plays, with Camille White scampering for a 14-yard gain (his only carry) and the first FHS first down. Two plays later on a second-and-eight from the Milford 29, Quinn took the handoff from Fitchburg signalcaller Jason Twomely, got a key block from Frank McDonald and went around the left end for a 20-yard gain. Twomley then went for a 4-yard carry before McDonald (14 carries for 78 yards) mopped up the drive with a five yard touchdown run right up the middle. McDonald connected with James Alexander for the conversion, 8-0 FHS. Quinn scored touchdown number two for Fitchburg, ending a five-play 32 yard drive. Quinn had a 12-yard carry to the left side, avoiding three tackles to set up firstt-and-ten at the Milford 15. After a quickie two-yarder my McDonald, Quinn ran for a 7-yard carry to make it third and one before sweeping around the left side, dodging a pair of Scarle Hawks tacklers to hit paydirt from 7 yards out. Quinn added the conversion run tomake it 16-0. After the kick, Milford fumbled on the first play. Elie Lebron tried to make his way around the left side of the Raider defensive line, but ran into defensive end Anthony Fanelli who dislodged the ball and fell on thefumble on the Hawks' 25.Offense finally appears fo r Fitchburg
Twomely used a nifty quarterback draw to end the frist quarter with a 14-yard carry up the gut before Quinn swept to the right side for an 11 yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter. The conversion run failed making it 22-0, Red Raiders. Jason Twomley played with intesity tonight. We were able to throw tonight and Jason made some nice plays, and we ran the option well," said Cosenza. Milford's next drive was key for Fitchbuirg. The only real yardage gained during the drive was a 12-yard carry by Scarlet Hawks starting quarterback Brandon Winn. Four plays later on fourth and four to go at the Fitchburg 44, Andrew Pessotti tried to run the ball straight up the middle but was stopped at the line of scrimmage by junior defensive tackle Marcus Dinatale (5 tackles). "Our defense was phenomenal," added Cosenza. "We made some adjustments. We threw out the 4-3 and went to what we've been doing for the past 11 years, and that's the 5-0 and it worked. We weren't familiar with the 4-3 and our kids were used to the 5-0. It gives us an extra down lineman." Fitchbureg added two touchdowns by McDonald (a 15 yard run and a 52 yard interception return) and a touchdown run by Saul Sicard to round out the scoring. Milford's only points were on a nifty 68 yard pass play from Drew Archer to Shaun Wyspianski near the end of the second quarter. FHS is on the road net week, traveling to Cosenza's alma mater, St. John's of Shrewsbury next Saturday. FSH has never played St John's during Cosenza's tenure.
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