Chris Roy, who scored the go-ahead touchdown for Fitchburg (4-0-1) with 5:09 remaining, recovered an errant pitch by Brockton quarterback Keith Romanshyn on the Fitchburg 15-yard line to seal the win.
Brockton was at the 2 with 1:17 left when Romanshyn attempted a pitch to Peter Harris. However, Roy got a hand on the pitch then recovered the loose ball. It was the second time in the game Brockton drove inside the 5-yard line only be denied.
"I've been waiting four years for this," said Roy. "I said to myself 'Hop on that ball and the game's over.'"
It was vindication for a team whose only blemish this season is a tie with New Bedford. "If you don't believe, you don't belong," said Roy. "Brockton didn't believe we could come here and beat them."
Trailing, 7-6, in the fourth quarter, Roy's 2-yard touchdown run capped an 11-play drive. It was a tremendous boost for the Red Raider, who on their previous drive lost 35 yards and were forced to punt on fourth and 43 from their 10. The key play of the scoring drive came when Devin Gates connected with Roy on a 17-yard first down pass on third and 12. Colin Burns caught the conversion on a pass that was tipped twice.
Roy was spectacular, catching three passes for 66 yards and rushing for 135 yards on 10 carries. "Chris has played big for us in big games the last two years," said Fitchburg coach Ray Cosenza. "This one was no different."
Brockton marched down the field after Fitchburg's score as Harris (21 carries, 183 yards) broke a 52-yard run to bring the Boxers to the Fitchburg 13. And - no surprise - it was Roy who made the saving tackle. Brockton then got to the 2 befoe its fatal mistake.
After being shut out in the first half, Brockton broke through on its first drive of the second to take a 7-6 lead. Fitchburg attempted to surprise the Boxers with an onside kick, but Brockton recovered at its 44. Ten plays later, Romanshyn scored on a 1-yard plunge. Manny Gomes added the extra point.
Neither team had much success until late in the first half. On its fourth possession, Fitchburg put together a five-play drive to take a 6-0 lead. From the Brockon 3 yard line, Gates followed his blockers on a quarterback sneak and lunged across the goal line. Fitchburg got into scoring position thanks to a Ricardo Morales 51 yard jaunt on third and 11 form its 35 yard line. Tom Emberly shanked the extra point, however, and Fitchburg led, 6-0.
Brockton, outgained, 147-125 in the first half, had two great scoring chances, but twice came up empty. After Roy fumbled at the Brockton 36 the Boxers took over and marched to just outside the 10 yard line. But the Fitrchburg defense stiffened and denied Harris on four straight runs as the Boxers surrended the ball on downs.
Brockton's second chance came right after Fitchburg's first score. With 1:07 remaining and Brockton at its 28, Harris (10 carries, 89 first half yards) appeared to be stopped as he ran into a crowd of defenders, but he somehow emerged and blazed down the sideline to the Fitchburg 20. Brockton got to the 9 on a keeper by Romanshyn, but Romanshy's pass in the corner of the end zone with no time remaining sailed over Jamal Burke's head.
"Our kids were down against New Bedford and came back," said Cosenza. "This game they just refused to give up. We beat as good a football team as we've ever played."