Red Raiders READY TO RUMBLE

FITCHBURG - After a disappointing 6-5 record last year, the Fitchburg High football team is looking for a big bounce back season.

“There were positives and there were negatives,” said Fitchburg High football coach Tom DiGeronimo, whose team opens on the road at West Springfield on Friday night at 7 p.m. “I think we left some games...we could’ve won, but it’s all part of the process.”

With a new offense in place, the winning might have to come on the defensive side. Not only did the Red Raiders lose starting wide receivers, Caleb Smith, Ozzie Guy and Devin Deleon, but they also lost starting QB Andrew Brooks to graduation.

The receiving core this season will consist of seniors Latrell Bodie, Luis Aldarondo and junior Alex Rojas, while the new QB is junior Montgomery Graham.

When asked about the switch from Brooks to Graham, coach DiGeronimo made a point to talk about experience.

“Drew had a lot of games under his belt,” he said. “Montgomery, this is his first real varsity test; he played some mop-up last year. Drew knew the offense a little better and Montgomery is still learning some things.”

With the different weapons on offense and a new man under center, the inexperience on offense may take additional time to jell, and that’s where the defense comes into play.

This year, the Red Raider defense is expected to be one of the most versatile and dominant defenses in years.

With a front seven of Mazious Newton, Sam Faulkner, Sam Robichaud, Devin Barisano, and seniors, Dylan Araujo, Gio Marrone, and Henry Yang, opposing offenses might be in big trouble.

“I think the linebacker core is the strength of our team,” he said. “There’s a lot of game experience and those guys have got to be the leaders.”

The talent doesn’t end there.

The secondary includes top cornerbacks Dee Jones and Latrell Bodie, as well as safeties Anthony Oquendo and Leominster transfer Miguel Torres.

“Defensively we have about six kids back, and we want to continue to play more aggressive than we did last year and really get after it,” DiGeronimo said.