LeBlanc runs red-hot as Fitchburg tops Nashoba 


   Saturday, September 19, 1998

   By John McGuirk
   CORRESPONDENT 

Fitchburg 28 Nashoba 7

FITCHBURG-- Last week, Fitchburg running back Dustin
LeBlanc rushed for 219 yards against St. Peter-Marian. Last
night, the senior made an encore performance as he ran for
206 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries in a 28-7 Red
Raider triumph over Nashoba at Crocker Field.

LeBlanc blistered the Chieftains defense early and
often. With his team trailing, 7-0, late in the first
quarter, LeBlanc helped Fitchburg knot the score with an
80-yard run. A couple of minutes later he rolled off several
would-be tacklers for a 36-yard score, giving Fitchburg a
14-7 lead.

He's just such a comepetitor, said FHS coach Ray
Cosenza, his team improving to 2-0. I was shocked how he
pulled away on his first (score). Nashoba has some good
speed and nobody came close to him.

The Red Raiders amassed 319 yards of offense. This coming
despite a solid effort by Nashoba sophomore linebacker Jeff
Landi, who registered double digits in tackles.  Meanwhile,
the Fitchburg defense held the Chieftains to just 74 yards,
16 in the second half.

Nashoba (1-1) grabbed the early lead after taking advantage
of a blocked punt by Joe Milton. Setting up at the Red
Raider 35, the Chieftains needed just five plays before Mike
Landi bowled in from 5 yards out.  But on Fitchburg's
ensuing possession, LeBlanc tied it on the first run from
scrimmage.

After they scored so early on us we needed to
respond, Cosenza said. I thought (Dustin's run) was
the best way we could respond. To score a quick hitter like
that got our kids back and they were a little more
confident. We seemed to settle down a little more after
that.

Following a Nashoba punt, Fitchburg went back to work on its
own 39. Runs by Dustin LeBlanc and Andy LeBlanc set up
Dustin's 36-yard jaunt off left tackle, giving the Red
Raiders a 14-7 lead.

The margin remained seven for the rest of the half after a
long drive by the Red Raiders stalled.

With the game still up for grabs, Fitchburg changed all of
that as Dustin LeBlanc scored on a 4-yard run, culminating a
12-play, 68-yard drive to make the score, 21-7.

While Nashoba's offense continued to sputter, the Red Raider
defense put the finishing touches on this one as Braedon
Keenan picked off quarterback Dave Masi and returned it 29
yards to account for the 21-point margin of victory.

Fitchburg is big, strong and fast, said Nashoba
coach Ken Tucker. Our kids hung in there with them the
best they could. We didn't execute as well as we needed to
on offense.



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