Old Alvah Crocker certainly knew what he was doing back in 1917, when he donated the land along the Nashua River to the school children so that they could have a proper location to compete against youth from across the state.
Last Friday evening, Mr. Crocker must have been looking down with a smile, when the Fitchburg High School Red Raiders took the field to begin their 1997 campaign. Frederic Law Olmsted's emerald jewel never looked better, as the St. Peter-Marian Guardians came to play a contest which would become a classic.
Both Fitchburg and St. Peter's were defending Super Bowl Champions who had lost many outsanding playhers through graduation, and so there were a great many questions as Friday's contest neared. The weather forecasters had predicted rain for Friday night, but Lady Luck was looking out for the faithful. The weather was glorious, and a tremendous crowd came to Crocker field in their short sleeves.
I-190 must have been packed at 6 p.m., becausse the Guardian fans arrived in droves, along with the ever faithful Raider fans. Athletic Director Doug Grutchfield was all smiles as the fans poured through the turnstiles. Old-timers commented to me that the packed audience reminded them of the old days in the 1930s and 1940s. The festive crowd was eager for a good game,and the kids did not disappoint.
Fitchburg won the opening toss and elected to kick off to St. Peter's. Coach Ray cosenza belives that the defense holds the upper hand during the first few minutes of a football contest. The coach's faith in his defense was justified, as FHS stopped St. Peter's cold in the game's first offense series
St.Peter's had to kick to the Raiders, and the Red and Gray's all new backfield of Dave Masciarelli, Colin Burns, and Dustin LeBlanc got its first opportunity to show what it could do. It is not easy to replace a backield, consisting of Gates, Morales,and roy, that accumulated more than 4000 total yards while scoring 41 touchdowns.STEADY MOVE
Getting the ball on their own 35 yard line the Red Raider backfield moved the ball steadily down the field, using the slashing running of tailback Burns, and inside bursts from LeBlanc at the fullback position. With a sustained drive the raiders reached St. Peter's two-yard link, where the reserve fullback logged the ball into the end zone.
It had seemed easy, but Owen Kilcoyne's football teams do not quit in the first period. With bill Hinson and Joe D'Ambra running behind solid blocking from their offensive line, the Guardians fought their way back into the contest. With the fourth and six from FHS's 32 yard line, Hinson burst around left and made a great cut back, and the score was knotted at 6-6. The Raiders, using Rob Seguin as a power receiver from the tight end slot, moved the ball effectively throughout the first half, but they were unable to get any more points. Dropped footballs caused the Red and GRay to stall.
The second half was almost a carbon copy of the first half. The Raiders, using Burns and LeBlanc effectively, were able to score midway througth the third quarter. And the Raider defense, led by Andy Roy, Andy LeBlanc, Seguin, and the big guy, Keith Leavitt, consistently stymied the St. Peter's running atack. But with less than five minutes remaining on the clock, the Purple of St. Peter's began a last drive for the win.
Using Hinson and D'ambra effectively, the Worcester crew moved down the field. With little more than one minute on the clock, Andy LeBlanc was tagged with a tough facemask call, and St. Peter's was on the 10 yard line. With 40 seconds left, D'Ambra burst into the end zone. A St. Peter's extra point could mean victory.
Keith Leavitt stood tall, at six feet eight inches,and the kick was blocked. Overtime weemed inevitable.
st. Peter's kicked off to FHS, and the ball sailed to Tom Snow as the clock showed just under 40 seconds. Snow followed his blocking wall to his own 40, cut right, and and burst down the sideline. He broke free at the Guardian's 45 and, as the Raider faithful howled with glee, sprinted down the sideline and into the end zone.
Crocker Field has seldom seen a more exciting finish in its 80 years. Raider fans danced off into the warm night with a victory which will be fondly recalled for many years. The long fall season had begun with a bang!