Fitchburg enjoys its day in the sun

Raiders roll to seventh straight victory

By Dave Nordman
Sports Editor

ASHBURNHAM -- No, the Fitchburg High football team
wasn't off this week

Playing its lone afternoon game of the season, the Red
Raiders rolled past Oakmont Reginal, 38-8, before an
overflow homecoming crowd Saturday at Arthur I. Hurd Field.

Senior tailback Andy LeBlanc rushed 15 times for 151 yards
and scored three toushdowns to lead the 7-0 Red Raider.
Oakmont dipped to 3-4.

"It was a little awkward playing in the afternoon." LeBlanc
said.  "It's hotter and the sun's in your eyes, but you
can't worry about any of that.  You just have to play and we
did that."

Fitchburg jumped out to a quick first quarter lead and never
looked back.  On the Red Raiders' first possession, LeBlanc
scored from nine yeards out, the culminaton of an
eight-play, 56-yard drive.  Zack Sicard booted the extra
point to make it 7-0.

"It definitely is different (playing during the day)" said
Fitchburg coach Ray Cosenza. "But it had the atmosphere of a
night game because of the great crowd.  I'll be glad,
though, when we get back to FRiday nights.  It keeps the
kids more on a routine."

That Friday night routine continues next week when the Red
Raders travel to Holden to face Wachusett at 70.m.  The game
will mark Fitchburg's fourth straight game away from the
friendly confines of Crocker Field.  Last year, the Red
Raiders didn't win a single road game.  This year, they've
already won four.

The Red Raiders threatened to score again as the first
quarter came to a close, but Dave Masciarelli's pass
intended for Tom Snow was intercepted by Dustin Belland at
the Oakmont 11-yard line.

From there, the Red Raiders defense took over, limiting the
Spartans to just three yards on three runs. Then, on fourth
down, Oakmont's snap sailed high over the head of punter
Belland, who knocked it in to the end zone for a safety and
a 9-0 Fitchburg lead.

The Red Raiders padded their lead with 7:34 left in the
first half when Andy LeBlanc, following the lead block of
fullback Dustin LeBlanc (11 carries for 63 yards), bolted
into the end zone from 11 yards out.  Sicard's kick made it
16-0.

Oakmont cut Fitchburg's lead in half on its next possession,
accomplishing something few teams have been able to do
against the Red Raiders this season -- drive the ball the
length of the field.

Beginning at their own 35, the Spartans, keyed by the hard
running of Shawn Collette, Matt O'Day and Adam Scheyer,
marched 65 yards on 13 plays, Collette scored off left
tackle from seven yards out and O'Day found Scheleyer in
the back of the end zone for the conversion pass to pull
Oakmont to within 16-8.

The Spartans' momentum was short-lived, however, as
Masciarelli connected with Dallas Heckel on a 38-yard
scoring strike as the second half expired.

Beginning on their own 24 with 50 seconds left, the Red
Raiders drove 38 yards in four plays.  Then, with just seven
seconds left, Masciarelli hit Heckel on a quick pass on the
right sideline.

The 6-foot senior did the rest, sprinting untouched into the
corner of the end zone.  Sicard's kick made it 24-8 at the
half.

"We told Dallas, 'Beat them to the outside and get down the
sideline and if you're going to get tackled, get out of
bounds.' But there was no one there.  It worked perfectly.
He spun to the outside and pulled away."

Andy LeBlanc scored his third touchdown of the afternoon, a
six yard run, with 8:28 left in the third quarter.  Sicard's
kick made it 31-8.

With the Red Raiders starters watching from the sideline,
Jason Quinn closed out the scoring with 1:57 left in the
game, plunging over the top from two yards out.


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