Jeff Bennett's Blog

Fitchburg and Leominster High Schools met this morning for the 126th time since 1894 at Crocker Field.  A typical damp and chilly overcast day set the stage for this years battle.

Leominster avenged last years loss with a 21-6  victory today. Leominster has been a tough team historically when they jump out first.  Today the Blue Devils scored fourteen points in the first quarter and never looked back.  Fitchburg had a chance to get on the board just before halftime but did not convert.  The stats for the game are all in favor of Leominster.   Fitchburg did not score until very late in the game.  Congrats to Coach John Dubzinski and the Blue Devils.

The long standing series between these two rivals is remarkably close.   With today’s win Leominster has now won 58 games to Fitchburg’s 59, with nine ties over the years.

This is the second meeting of the rivals this year.  Last month volunteer squads from both cities staged a reenactment of the original 1894 game, with replica uniforms, leather helmets and original rules.  Fitchburg won the reenactment game 6-0.

Even in a loss, it was great to see Fitchburg in the “traditional” Red & Gray uniforms.  Red shirts, Gray helmets and pants.  For the first time in years they did not look like St. Johns (S)…they were the Fitchburg Red Raiders!

Thanks to my lifelong friend Tracy Lafosse Boudreau for her collaboration on this post.