Fitchburg wide receiver Manny Payton, left, and Demetrice Williams celebrate Payton's fourth-quarter touchdown reception that gave the Red Raiders the lead. SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE \/ GARY FOURNIER <\/p>\n
Sentinel and Enterprise staff photos can be ordered by visiting our SmugMug site. <\/p>\n
SHREWSBURY -- What upset? <\/p>\n
Despite Fitchburg High's sub-.500 record and low No. 7 seed, it never doubted it could eliminate talented St. John's of Shrewsbury in the Central Mass. Division 2 playoffs. <\/p>\n
The headstrong and confident Red Raiders turned more heads Saturday afternoon at a wet, cold and muddy Pioneer Field. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
\"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. <\/p>\n
Sentinel and Enterprise staff photos can be ordered by visiting our SmugMug site. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
\"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.\" <\/p>\n
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Originally posted here:<\/p>\n
Fitchburg shocks St. John's<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Fitchburg wide receiver Manny Payton, left, and Demetrice Williams celebrate Payton's fourth-quarter touchdown reception that gave the Red Raiders the lead. SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE \/ GARY FOURNIER Sentinel and Enterprise staff photos can be ordered by visiting our SmugMug site. SHREWSBURY -- What upset Continue reading