Raiders seek perfect season
Fitchburg juggernaut must dominate on ground
Friday, December 4, 1998 By Jennifer Toland Telegram & Gazette Staff
"We couldn't have had a better season," Fitchburg coach Ray Cosenza said. "Having the opportunity to play another undefeated team is the perfect way to end it. Whatever the outcome, it won't change what these kids have achieved this year. But we're not going into the game with the attitude that 'Gee, it's just nice to be here.' These kids have worked hard and we want to win." The Red Raiders' potent running attack, led by the no-we're-not-related backfield duo of seniors Andy LeBlanc and Dustin LeBlanc, has been virtually unstoppable. Dustin has scored a team-leading 17 touchdowns while rushing for 1,182 yards. Andy has scored 16 TDs while racking up 1,370 yards. Senior quarterback David Masciarelli, who threw for seven touchdowns in the Red Raiders' first seven games, was sidelined with a hip pointer against Wachusett in Fitchburg's eighth game. Sophomore QB Jason Twomley started the next three games and filled in admirably. In his first varsity start, he passed for one TD and ran for another against North Middlesex. He had three touchdown passes in a 41-20 win against Westboro. Masciarelli returned against Leominster on Thanksgiving, splitting time with Twomley. "Dave didn't take as many snaps (vs. Leominster) as we had hoped," Cosenza said. "He wasn't 100 percent. We haven't made a decision (for tomorrow) yet. If Dave's not ready, Jason is ready. But I think we'll see both of them." Cathedral (10-0), meanwhile, also boasts a powerful running attack. Senior halfback Mike Buoniconti has rushed for 902 yards and scored a team-high 15 touchdowns, while senior fullback Will Torres has scored nine TDs. Junior fullback John Piascik has five. "I think the key will be whoever establishes their running game first," Cosenza said. "They have an explosive running game. It will be important to sustain drives and keep their offense off the field."Fitchburg, which is averaging 32.5 points a game, has outscored its opponents, 358-77, this season.
The Red Raiders' defense, led by sophomore linebacker Frank McDonald (6-0, 190), senior linebacker B.J. Keenan (6-0, 200), senior tackle Jeremy Saucier (6-0, 240), and senior tackle Keith Leavitt (6-8, 280), recorded four shutouts. McDonald leads the team with 105 tackles. Leavitt, a two-way starter on the line, was a preseason All-American and is being heavily recruited by several Division 1-A programs. Other than its dramatic, one-point victory over Brockton, Fitchburg cruised through its schedule, winning by an average of 25.7 points. The Red Raiders are making their 10th trip to the Super Bowl. After demolishing Milford, 50-0, to cap its 1996 season, Fitchburg finished a very disappointing 6-5 last year. "Last year was tough to take," Cosenza said. "The kids committed themselves to getting better."This is Cathedral's fifth Super Bowl
Cathedral is in its fifth Super Bowl, but its first since 1991, when it beat Longmeadow, 20-6. During Ballard's first year in 1996, the young Panthers struggled to a 1-8 season. They improved to 7-3 last year. This year, with 16 seniors on the roster, Ballard thinks experience could pay off. "We're a senior-dominated team," he said. "These are the same kids that were starting as sophomores two years ago. Experience has been a key for us." The Panthers have rolled up 328 points this season, while their defense has allowed just 56. Senior Bill Ostiguy, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound defensive back, senior safety Mike Rivard (6-1, 190) and senior linebacker Anthony Luvera (5-10, 210) have keyed Cathedral's punishing 'D'. The Panthers limited Westfield to just 97 yards -- 77 of those through the air -- in a 26-0 Thanksgiving Day rout. "Our defense has been pretty good," Ballard said. "We're pretty physical. We're not as big as Fitchburg, so they have the size advantage, but we're physical. Whether we're physical enough, we'll find out." Springfield Cathedral coach Matt Ballard is no stranger to Fitchburg High football. Before heading west, Ballard was an assistant for three years at WPI. During his tenure there, he spent many a Friday night watching the local high school teams play. Though he's only seen the Red Raiders on videotape this year, he's noticed that not much has changed. "They pretty much do what they've always done," Ballard said. "They pound you." In a battle of unbeatens, Fitchburg and Cathedral will square off in the Central-Western Mass. Division 1 Super Bowl at 3:15 p.m. tomorrow at WPI's Alumni Field. A win for Fitchburg (11-0) would be an exclamation point on what has already been an outstanding season. "We couldn't have had a better season," Fitchburg coach Ray Cosenza said. "Having the opportunity to play another undefeated team is the perfect way to end it. Whatever the outcome, it won't change what these kids have achieved this year. But we're not going into the game with the attitude that 'Gee, it's just nice to be here.' These kids have worked hard and we want to win." The Red Raiders' potent running attack, led by the no-we're-not-related backfield duo of seniors Andy LeBlanc and Dustin LeBlanc, has been virtually unstoppable. Dustin has scored a team-leading 17 touchdowns while rushing for 1,182 yards. Andy has scored 16 TDs while racking up 1,370 yards. Senior quarterback David Masciarelli, who threw for seven touchdowns in the Red Raiders' first seven games, was sidelined with a hip pointer against Wachusett in Fitchburg's eighth game. Sophomore QB Jason Twomley started the next three games and filled in admirably. In his first varsity start, he passed for one TD and ran for another against North Middlesex. He had three touchdown passes in a 41-20 win against Westboro. Masciarelli returned against Leominster on Thanksgiving, splitting time with Twomley. "Dave didn't take as many snaps (vs. Leominster) as we had hoped," Cosenza said. "He wasn't 100 percent. We haven't made a decision (for tomorrow) yet. If Dave's not ready, Jason is ready. But I think we'll see both of them." Cathedral (10-0), meanwhile, also boasts a powerful running attack. Senior halfback Mike Buoniconti has rushed for 902 yards and scored a team-high 15 touchdowns, while senior fullback Will Torres has scored nine TDs. Junior fullback John Piascik has five. "I think the key will be whoever establishes their running game first," Cosenza said. "They have an explosive running game. It will be important to sustain drives and keep their offense off the field." Fitchburg, which is averaging 32.5 points a game, has outscored its opponents, 358-77, this season. The Red Raiders' defense, led by sophomore linebacker Frank McDonald (6-0, 190), senior linebacker B.J. Keenan (6-0, 200), senior tackle Jeremy Saucier (6-0, 240), and senior tackle Keith Leavitt (6-8, 280), recorded four shutouts. McDonald leads the team with 105 tackles. Leavitt, a two-way starter on the line, was a preseason All-American and is being heavily recruited by several Division 1-A programs. Other than its dramatic, one-point victory over Brockton, Fitchburg cruised through its schedule, winning by an average of 25.7 points. The Red Raiders are making their 10th trip to the Super Bowl. After demolishing Milford, 50-0, to cap its 1996 season, Fitchburg finished a very disappointing 6-5 last year. "Last year was tough to take," Cosenza said. "The kids committed themselves to getting better." Cathedral is in its fifth Super Bowl, but its first since 1991, when it beat Longmeadow, 20-6. During Ballard's first year in 1996, the young Panthers struggled to a 1-8 season. They improved to 7-3 last year. This year, with 16 seniors on the roster, Ballard thinks experience could pay off. "We're a senior-dominated team," he said. "These are the same kids that were starting as sophomores two years ago. Experience has been a key for us." The Panthers have rolled up 328 points this season, while their defense has allowed just 56. Senior Bill Ostiguy, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound defensive back, senior safety Mike Rivard (6-1, 190) and senior linebacker Anthony Luvera (5-10, 210) have keyed Cathedral's punishing 'D'. The Panthers limited Westfield to just 97 yards -- 77 of those through the air -- in a 26-0 Thanksgiving Day rout. "Our defense has been pretty good," Ballard said. "We're pretty physical. We're not as big as Fitchburg, so they have the size advantage, but we're physical. Whether we're physical enough, we'll find out."
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