LeBlancs help keep Fitchburg unbeaten 
Red Raiders start slow, finish strong 
Saturday, October 31, 1998

By Craig Holt
CORRESPONDENT 

Fitchburg 28 Wachusett 0

HOLDEN-- After a brief pre-Halloween scare, it was
business as usual for unbeaten Fitchburg during last night's
Mid-Wach A League game with Wachusett at the Mountaineers'
field.
          Jump-started by a combination of strong defense and
the grinding rushing of Andy LeBlanc, the Red Raiders
overcame a scoreless first period with a 21-point second
quarter explosion, paving the way to a 28-0 victory.

         Fitchburg improved to 4-0 in the league and 8-0
overall. Wachusett fell to 0-5 in the league, 2-6 overall.

         "Wachusett played us very tough, so we're just glad
to get out of here with a win," Red Raider coach Ray Cosenza
said. "Our slow start has to be attributed to
Wachusett. They played very well defensively and they're a
lot better than their record indicates."

         Fitchburg scored the decisive touchdown on its
second possession of the second period. Three plays after a
Mountaineer punt, Dustin LeBlanc -- no relation to Andy --
picked up a first down with a 13-yard sprint to the
Wachusett 38. After an incomplete pass, Andy LeBlanc
sprinted up the left sideline for a TD. Zack Sicard's kick
gave the visitors a 7-0 lead.

         The Mountaineers, sparked by the running of Ryan
Mattison and Seth Flateland, put together their best drive
of the half on their next possession when they advanced the
ball 42 yards to the Red Raider 15-yard line. However,
Wachusett fell apart after that, due to a 5-yard
delay-of-game penalty and an interception by the Red
Raiders' Frank McDonald.

         McDonald rambled 44 yards to the Mountaineer
46-yard line after his interception. Fitchburg followed with
a 10-play TD drive, capped by Andy LeBlanc's 2-yard burst up
the middle. Sicard's kick increased the Red Raider lead to
14-0.

         Wachusett fumbled the ball on the kickoff and
Fitchburg recovered at the Mountaineer 30-yard line. Four
plays later, quarterback Dave Masciarelli hit Dustin LeBlanc
with a 23-yard scoring strike, giving Fitchburg two TDs in a
span of 1:08.  Sicard's third PAT of the half gave the Red
Raiders a 21-0 lead, which they maintained at the break.

         Fitchburg scored its final TD in the fourth quarter
on a 38-yard run by Dustin LeBlanc.

         "Our kids played very hard against a great football
team," Wachusett coach Mal Kelley said. Ryan Mattison
ran well, while many kids stood out on defense.  The kids
gave it their best."

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