SHREWSBURY -- What upset?

Despite Fitchburg High's sub-.500 record and low No. 7 seed, it never doubted it could eliminate talented St.

The headstrong and confident Red Raiders turned more heads Saturday afternoon at a wet, cold and muddy Pioneer Field.

Manny Payton hauled in a 21-yard TD pass from Darius Flowers in the fourth quarter and the defense stood strong late, as Fitchburg shocked Central Mass. football with a come-from-behind 22-15 quarterfinal triumph over the second-seeded Pioneers.

"Obviously we're playing with a lot of confidence," Fitchburg coach Dan Walker said. "We didn't think this was going to be an upset if we won. We know that we're playing great football. They're a good team, but we can play with anyone and beat anyone as long as we don't make mistakes."

The Red Raiders were covered in mud and soaked to the bone due to the constant rain throughout the game, but all were beaming with pride after advancing into the semifinal round.

"It wasn't an upset, but people forget about us," Payton said. "People forgot about us and people don't know what we're capable of. We knew it."

Said Flowers: "At the beginning of the week we knew we were going to come out and play physical football. Everyone can doubt us, but it didn't matter what everyone else thinks, it's all up to us and we make it happen."

Fitchburg -- a winner of four straight to improve to 4-4 overall after losing four straight to open the season -- travels to face No. 3 Wachusett next week in a semifinal. The Mountaineers overcame a 14-point deficit to beat the Red Raiders, 36-20, on Sept. 19.

"This group of kids on the field, we've all been together for three years and this is the biggest win we've had since we've been here," Walker said. "I'm proud of them and we're going to keep moving forward."

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Underdog Fitchburg stuns St. John's