The senior fullback scored the winning touchdown with 5:05 to play then made the key defensive play as Brockton was threatening for the potential tying touchdown. Both proved to be crucial in leading Fitchburg High to a 14-7 win over highly regarded Brockton Fricay night before a sizeable crowd at Marciano Stadium.
"He's an unbelievable player," said Fitchburg High coach Ray Cosenza. "Chris has played big for us in big games for two years. Tonight was no different." Big at crunch time? Roy finished with 10 carries for 135 yards -- 121 of which came in the fourth quarter, and also caught three passes for 65 yards.
"This is unbelievalbe... No.1 in the state, No. 2 in New England," Roy said, rattling off the credentials that made the Boxers a decided favorite coming into the game. "But this is the reason why you play football."
Standing toe to toe with Brockton's behemoth front line,
(quote from Friday's S&E: "It starts with guard Dan Speredelozzi,
the "baby" of the bunch at 6 foot 2 and 250 pounds. Guard George
Eriquenz checks in at 5-10, 280 and center Nick Duguay at 6-2, 265.
Then there are the tackles, a couple of agile behemoths in Stanley
LaFontatn (6-1, 285) and Neil Welch (6-4, 285)")
the Red Raiders (4-0-1) refused to be pushed around. In the end,
they were the ones who put forth the best example of classic, in-the-
trenches football.
The winning drive went 70 yards on 12 plays, chewing up more than seven minutes on the clock. Roy had a pair of big plays, hauling in a 17-yard pass on third down that tipped through the hands of a Brockton linebacker, then breaking up the gut for 25 yards to give FHS first-and-goal on the 6.
After two sneaks by quarterback Devin Gates moved the ball to the 2 on third down, Brockton's defense showed like it would give Gates another chance before filling the gap. But Fitchburg guessed correctly, with Roy going over the right side of the line and into the end zone. "The hole was unbelievabley big," Roy said, tiping the helmet to Marr Sallila, Guy Lamoreaux, R.J. Thibault, Shawn Lord, Keith Leavitt, Robbie Seguin and Co. up front.
The Raiders also got the two-point conversion despite a delay-of-game penalty, Gates rolling to the right and firing a pass that was tipped twice before it settled in the arms of Colin Burns in the right corner. "We finally got a cuple of the breaks," Cosenza said.
Brockton was undaunted, despite starting the ensuing drive at its own 10. A 25-yard keeper by quaterback Keith Romanshyn, followed by a 53 yard burst by Harris (21 carries, 182 yards) put the ball on the Fitchburg 12, Four more runs gave the Boxers (3-1) first and goal from the 2, and a touchdown seemed inevitable with time running out.
"I knew we needed a big play. I think we really needed a turnover," Consenza admitted.
Roy drilled Harris on first down for no gain, then used his smarts and anticipation on the crucial play. Running an option t the right side, Romanshyn tried to pitch out to Harris, But Roy had blasted through and got his hand on the tip, then recovered the fumble at the 14.
"I just read it. I anticipated the run to my side, that's why I got up in the hole," Roy said, who had the presence of mind and athletic ability to find the loose ball. "It was like a connon shot," he said. "Just leap on it and the game's over."
Well, not quite. With 1:17 to go, Brockton had a couple time outs to burn. Gates sneaked for 3 yards, then on the next play handed off to Roy, who ripped through the middle and wasn't stopped until he was on the Brockton 5. Then it was over.
Not to be left out was senior tailback Ricky Morales, who added 80 yards on 11 carries, including a big 52 yard burst that set up Fitchburg's first score. He was caught from behind by Brockton's Miguel Cummings at the 13, but three plays later Gates sneaked in from the 3 to give Fitchburg a 6-0 lead at the break.
The Raiders had dodged a few bullets to that point, stopping the Boxers on downs at the 2 in the first quarter and watching Romanshyn miss connections from the 10 on the final two plays of the half.
Fitchburg gambled with an onsides kick to start the second half, but Brockton recovered at the 44 and marched swiftly in 10 plays for the score. Romanshyn capped it with a 1-yard plunge, and Manny Gomes' extra point made it 7-6.
After FHS went three-and-out, Brockton went on the move again before stalling at the 30. Morales had a big brakeup in the end zone on a fourth-down pass intended for Jamal Burke, and Fitchburg then embarked on the winning drive.
"We had our opportunities, we just didn't do the job," said Brockton coach Armond Colombo. "But Fitchburg is a fine football team."
Mike Hud and Mick O'Reilly did an unbelievable job all week with the secondary," Cosenza said. "we just held a team to seven points, that hasn't been below 30 all season."