Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, SEpTEmbEr 29, 2023 Still perfect: Saugus football edges Lynn Tech, improves to 3-0 S By Dom Nicastro teve Cummings and the Saugus High School football team are seeing the fruits of a lot of labor – and a lot of losses in that labor. The team won about a handful of games in the last four seasons, but its veteran players have put the time in, its coaches have inspired the work and crafted the game plan, and the Sachems are 3-0 to start the 2023 season. The latest win: 27-18 over Lynn Tech on the road last Saturday afternoon at Manning Field in Lynn. Tommy DeSimone had three touchdown rushes, and Braden Faiella had a crucial interception return for a touchdown to even things at 12 at halftime. The Sachems held tight in the second half, allowing only six points en route to the win. “I’ve talked to some other people about the group that we have, and I’m not surprised,” Saugus coach Cummings said of the team’s redhot start. “We have so many guys on our team, so many upperclassmen on our team right now that have been playing since freshman, sophomore year. They’ve put in so much work and so much time and so much effort that I’m not surprised that they’ve been able to come out and have the kind of success that we’ve had so On November 7, 2023 RE-ELECT RonWallace OFF AND RUNNING: Sachems Capt. Tommy DeSimone carried the ball during last week’s action against Lynn Tech. (Advocate photo by Emily Harney) far. They’ve just worked really hard to get themselves to this spot.” Faiella’s interception was an absolute game-changer. It sent Saugus into halftime on the road tied, instead of trailing, 12-6. The Saugus captain got the pick-six from 33 yards out, and Saugus went ahead for good in the third quarter on DeSimone’s 27-yard touchdown scamper and Connor Bloom’s point-after kick. “They were thinking of Town Meeting Precinct 5 (Paid Pol. Adv.) running a screen or a draw because it’s relatively safe play,” Cummings said. “But Braden made a great read on the ball. It just kind of floated a little bit on the kid and Braden stepped in front of it. And I don’t think anybody was stopping him from getting to the pylon. I mean, he had a full head of steam going. Braden is a veteran guy that’s been in those spots before stepping up and making that play. … That’s Braden really trusting his instinct. Knowing where to be, and he found of it and he took care of the rest. It was a difference between going into the half down a touchdown and kicking off to start the second half, versus making a play like that and getting some juice on the sideline. … That was an enormous swing for us.” Jadiel Ortega of Lynn Tech scored his second touchdown of the game – an 89yard TD pass to Cesar Reyes – but Saugus’ Tommy Cameron stopped the two-point conversion with an interception. Saugus had a clutch fourthand-four conversion late in the game where Ameen Taboubi made a clutch block. “Every time we needed someone,” Cummings said, “someone was there to answer the bell.” Saugus takes on Swampscott Friday night, Sept. 29, at Saugus (7 p.m.) in its final non-league game before diving into Northeastern Conference Lynch Division play. The Big Blue are 1-1-1 after tying Auburn (1515), beating Lynn English (27-12) and falling to Winthrop (21-14). Box Score: Saugus 27, Lynn Tech 18 First Quarter: S - Tommy DeSimone 4 yard run (kick failed) 6-0; LT - Tahrynce Thompson 1 yard run (kick failed) 6-6. Second Quarter: LT - Jadiel Ortega 20 yard TD pass to Ethan Prum (2pt rush failed) 6-12; S - Braden Faiella 33 yard interception return (kick failed) 12-12. Third Quarter: S - DeSimone 27 yard rush (Connor Bloom kick) 19-12; LT - Ortega 89 yard TD pass to Cesar Reyes (2 point pass failed) 19-18. Fourth Quarter: S - DeSimone 6 yard rush (Danny Shea rush) 27-18.
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