Fitchburg State Football Team On The Rise

FITCHBURG -- With the old sheriff back in town, the Fitchburg State University football team is confident it can be much better than last year's dismal 1-9 mark.

"I think we're going to surprise a lot of people," Fitchburg State senior middle linebacker Anthony Bizzotto, a Leominster High graduate, said at Saturday's Media Day at Fitchburg State University's Elliot Field. "It's going to be a good time."

The reason for optimism is because a familiar face in head coach Pat Haverty returns to guide the Falcons. Haverty coached the team from 2002-07, but knows that only hard work, dedication and buying into the program will bring Fitchburg State back to its old winning ways.

"Coaching football is hard work and playing football is hard work," Haverty said. "These guys have been great and have bought into the hard work. All we're going to do -- just like the last time -- every day, one at a time, one practice at a time, one day at a time and see where it takes us. That's what we did the last time and it took us pretty far."

The Falcons might be confident that they can be a much-improved team from a year ago, but the New England Football Conference preseason coaches poll tells a different story as the Falcons were ranked dead last, eighth overall, in the Bogan Division.

But that's only fueling these Falcons to prove the doubters wrong.

"We don't need anybody else's respect, it's us," Fitchburg State senior captain Jeremy Kimber, a Fitchburg High grad, said. "It's us against them. We have faith here and that's all we need. Coach believes in us and we believe in the coach.

"We need to keep a positive attitude and have trust in our coaches and trust in each other. That will take us a long way, hopefully."

Bizzotto loves that no one is expecting much from these Falcons.

"It's about time to turn it around. We're (ranked) dead last, but I wouldn't want it any other way," said the hard-hitting middle linebacker. "I like to start at the bottom and work my way up, that's kind of what I did in my life."

Haverty, like all football coaches, doesn't put any stock in the preseason coaches poll, however.

"We haven't done anything yet to deserve anything other," Haverty said. "Predictions, I never look at that stuff. I tell them guys not to worry about predictions, it's all what these guys want to make of this year."

The Falcons kick off the season on Friday night at 7 p.m. at home against Becker College.

Under former head coach Paul McGonagle, the Falcons were a spread offense, but this squad will look a little different under Haverty.

"We're a pro-style orientated offense, but we showed multiple looks back then, too," Haverty said. "There's a lot more spread pieces here so we're going to have to utilize what we have.

"We're going to try to suit the talent that we have here. As new talent comes in, we'll let the system adapt itself. It's kind of hard to fit square pegs into round holes. What our job is here is to take every piece that we have here and put them in the best situation to win."

Kimber is a unique athlete with the ability to play either quarterback or wide receiver. He was Fitchburg High's starting quarterback, but came to Fitchburg State as a wide receiver. He played a lot of quarterback last year, but isn't sure where he'll play in Haverty's new system.

It doesn't matter to Kimber, either, because he's all about the team.

"I have high expectations for myself and this team," Kimber said. "Every time I go out there, I do everything that I can and push myself. I feel comfortable at both (positions). I don't really have a preference, either one. I'm just going to go out there and do what I can for the team."

The other quarterbacks on the depth chart are freshman Brian McDonald and Tanner Bachand.

If Kimber doesn't win the QB job, he'll definitely be a starter at wide receiver alongside senior Carlos De La Rosa and sophomore Brian Wallace.

Haverty says the running game will be by committee with Mike Chaplin (Monty Tech), Steph'fon Teague (Fitchburg High), Chris Bachand, Farren Davis and Jean Medard toting the pigskin.

Two key offensive linemen are junior captain Bob Booth and sophomore Pat Johnson.

Fitchburg will run an attacking base 4-3 defense.

"Our defensive philosophy is being able to pursue to the ball and being able to tackle," Haverty said. "Schemes don't win, it's fundamentals that win."

The head coach is extremely high on his linebacking corps, led by the destructive Bizzotto in the middle.

"Having Anthony Bizzotto in that middle linebacker spot, he reminds me of some players that I had here the last time," Haverty said. "I like the way he plays. He's definitely an anchor out there, definitely the heart and soul of the 'D.'"

Bizzotto surely plays with a mean streak on the football field.

"Like my father tells me, 'flip the switch,'" Bizzotto said. "As soon as you walk on the green (field), you flip the switch. No friends at all, chip on the shoulder, get the job done. ... Business trip.

"Showing people and telling them, 'I see you again in my hole, you're going to see me again and I'm going to hit you harder the next time.' Every play I'm going to hit harder, that's the way I like to do it."

Senior captain Will Gasson and senior Matt Ferrara are the starting outside linebackers.

"They've all done great jobs at linebacker," Haverty said. "They really have to anchor it."

The secondary also features experience and talent.

Seniors Chris Rose and Mike Vaughn are the safeties, while senior Sean Golden and upstart freshman Taron Seaforth, whom Haverty says "has the potential to be a fantastic player in this league," are two key cornerbacks.

Haverty offers no predictions on the season, but guarantees a few things.

"They're going to be fundamentally sound, they're going to be on the same page and they're going to give it their all," he said.