Cathedral's foe keeps it simple
By CHRIS KENNEDY
Union-News
Staff writer
12/01/98

When Cathedral High School lines up against Fitchburg
Saturday in the Western Massachusetts-Central Massachusetts
Division I Super Bowl, the Panthers will not be too worried
about wacky formations or trick plays.

This will be pretty simple football, pretty physical
football.

"They pretty much work in between the tackles", Cathedral
coach Matt Ballard said. "They're very physical. They try to
pound on you."

Fitchburg (11-0) has the tools to do just that when the
teams meet in a 3:15 start at Worcester Polytechnic
Institute. Like the Panthers (10-0), the Red Raiders are a
senior-dominated team with an excellent rushing attack.

"We have 13 seniors and everyone of them contributes,"
Fitchburg coach Ray Cosenza said.

Fitchburg is making its seventh Super Bowl appearance in
eight seasons. Last year, though, was the year the Red
Raiders missed a trip to the big game, losing their finnal
three to finish at 6-5. The finish to that season provided
incentive for this one.

"We had been to six Super Bowls in a row and the kids were
used to that," Cosenza said. "We were 6-2 and thought we had
a chance to get back to the Super Bowl. It was a
disappointing season."

Tailback Andy LeBlanc and fullback Dustin LeBlanc, who are
not related, have provided two imposing offensive
weapons. Dustin has rushed for 1,500 yards and 17
touchdowns, while Dustin has added 1,200 yards and 16
touchdowns.  The pair totaled 319 yards in a 21-7 victory
over Leominster on Thanksgiving Day, a game which the Red
Raiders ran for 398 yards.

We have a run-oriented offense, Cosenza said. We try to wear
people down.  Were not real fancy.

Dave Masciarelli, a second-year starter, provided leadership
and has thrown seven touchdown passes. Like the two
LeBlancs, he is a senior.

The trio operates behind an offensive line that features
tackle Keith Leavitt (6-8, 280 pounds) and center
B.J. Keenan (6-0, 200). According to Cosenza, Leavitt have
been offered scholarships by Boston College, Syracuse, Penn
State and Ohio State among others.The line is more than
Leavitt, though. They have some other people up there who
are just as good, but maybe dont have the potential as
Leavitt because they are just not 6-8, 280, Ballard said.

Fitchburg, which also has a victory over Brockton this
season, has been the top-ranked team in Central
Massachusetts throughout the season. The Red Raiders, who
work out of the I formation on offense and base 50 defense,
are similar in some ways to Central, but will run some
option and perhaps make less of an effort to turn the
corner.

"They just play very good, sound football", Ballard said.

NOTES: If any of the Super Bowl games end in a tie, each
team will receive one series starting on the opponents
10-yard line. The defenses can score. The score at the end
of those two series will be the final, even if the teams are
still tied. . . .  All 12 teams playing in Super Bowls this
year played Thanksgiving week with seven winning and five
losing. Fitch4 burgs win over Leominster came in the only
game featuring two bowl-bound teams. Cathedral, Longmeadow,
Wahconah, Ludlow, Westboro and Northbridge also posted
victories . . . The AA Conference was 13-5-1 against the
Suburban this season; the Intercounty North won 21 of 23
game against Intercounty South foes.

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