Fitchburg State College deploys revamped offense

Courtesy of Sean Sweeney, Sentinel and Enterprise

FITCHBURG-- Replacing four-fifths of the offensive line and two important skill positions has been one of the biggest tasks third-year head coach Paul McGonagle has had to address with the 2009 edition of the Fitchburg State College football team.

LOGAN JOHNSON

"It's a lot to replace; we also lost four offensive linemen. So regardless of the talent behind, if you don't have the big boys up front, it makes a world of difference," McGonagle said following Thursday's practice at Elliot Field. "We had some young kids step in. (Fitchburg native) Logan Johnson is our only returning starter on the offensive line, but they've been doing well. We lost a lot of seniors, but we've brought in about 30 incoming freshmen and transfer students."

FSC - 4-6 overall in 2008 and 4-3 in the New England Football Conference -- begins the season at Springfield College this evening.

"The linemen are young. We took our tight end, Ryan O'Neil, we moved him to tackle. He's athletic and he's done a good job. A lot of young guys got a lot of reps during camp," McGonagle said.

In addition to replacing the offensive line, McGonagle has also had to replace starting quarterback Jim Miller and starting tailback Marlon Thornton.

He believes he has found the answers to both situations, as junior Jordan Cannava is expected to be under center in 2009 after a season as Miller's understudy. Steven Austin will move to running back and will share carries with Darren Wilson, a transfer from Bentley, as well as Fitchburg native Mike Chaplin, a Monty Tech product.

JORDAN CANNAVA

"(Cannava) has the most experience," McGonagle said, noting that Gardner native Thom Carey and Mitch Brower will back him up. "He and Jimmy were a little bit different. Jordan can run around, while Jimmy was a pure pocket passer. Jordan is more of a scrambler; he can run around and make more plays on his feet.

"Running back is definitely one of our strengths."

In addition, FSC will see its receiving corps return in its entirety, with Fitchburg native Jeremy Kimber leading the way.

"I really think we have the best skill overall in the conference, but there is a different man behind center, so we have to get it to them, as well," McGonagle said. "Jeremy Kimber has probably had one of the best camps of them all. Carlos de la Rosa is returning, so is Devon Jennings. We have big, tall receivers, and they can run."

And while FSC was able to put points on the scoreboard in 2008, the defense was hard-pressed to keep the opposition off it. One of the hallmarks of the NEFC is being an offensive-minded conference.

McGonagle hopes that will change with this year's edition of Falcons.

JEREMY KIMBER

"I'm sick of (shootouts)," he said. "I think we're tougher overall as a group than last year. We couldn't stop the run last year; that was the whole group.

"When you're last in the conference in total defense and one of the worst in rushing defense, that's the entire group. It's my responsibility to fix it, so hopefully we've fixed it."

Dale Whittredge returns at safety, while Steve Witherell is a returning defensive end. Leominster native Anthony Bizzotto has "come in and made an impact right away," McGonagle said. Bizzotto will be a linebacker.

Fitchburg State returns its four starters from the defensive line, as well as two starters in the secondary. McGonagle praised the preseason efforts of cornerback Chris Rose.

Lenny Masciangioli, of Leominster; Eldred Wright, of Fitchburg; and Ernest Fontaine, of Fitchburg, round out the list of the Falcons' local players.