Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020 No Thanksgiving football for Sachems LAST YEAR’S SACHEMS FOOTBALL TEAM: Shown in no particular order are Christian Correia, David Guillama, Bruno Auzec, Novell Omoruyi, Ryan Mabee, Sean O’Rourke, Dominic Calder, Brendan McCabe, Mark Schena, Kyle Surette, Eric Miniscalco, Mason Nickolas, Justin Belluscio, Jonathan Jolicoeur, Marvens Jean, Jaryd Coffill, Javier Martinez, Kyle Hogan, Sal Franco, Mark MacEachern, Justin Fajardo, Drew Gardiner, Donovan Clark, Angelo Desimone, Jack McPhee, Nico Dicenso, Osa Osuki, Edlyn Dos Santos, Jaiden Smith, Justin DaSilva, Andrew Erickson, Mekhi Coburn, Doug Clark, Donny Ruby, Nicholas Saroufim, Amaury Dacruz, Zack Kesbia, Alejandro Ortiz, Tre Sanders, Chase Ledbury, Jake Camuso, Johnathan Rezende, Yianni Haralabatos and Josue Castillo-Romero. (Advocate file photo) By Greg Phipps T he 75th Thanksgiving Day high school football meeting between the Saugus Sachems and Peabody Tanners will have to wait another year. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the fall football season, and, as a result, Saugus is left without a football game on Turkey Day. The longtime rivals also hold an annual pre-game banquet every year. That was nixed as well due to the pandemic. Historically, Peabody owns the lead in the series and has come out on top the past six years. Saugus last won in 2013. The decision to cancel high school football statewide this fall came back in August, when the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) delayed the fall start and approved a gridJOIN | FROM PAGE 11 are also highly competitive in boys and girls soccer and track. Classical has been solid in football, soccer, boys basketball and baseball in the past several years. Both of the Lynn schools’ athletic directors were pleased with the vote and the new move to the GBL. “We’re incredibly excited to join the GBL,” said Lynn Classical Athletic Director Bill Devin. “We feel that this really is the iron season that would commence this coming February and run through April. If the season does actually take place – dependent on the status of the pandemic at that time – Saugus and Peabody are likely to square off against each other in April. Presently, nationwide virus cases have increased significantly, and subsequent cancellations and restrictions have come about. As a result, the proposed 2020 season does appear to be in jeopardy. Head coach Steve Cummings has seen his second season at the helm delayed. The Sachems finished 3-8 last year. He’s looking to improve on that effort this season. After last year’s home loss to the Tanners on Turkey Day, Cummings was happy with the effort his players demonstrated. “Our guys fought best fit for both sides, and we’re still going to look forward to scheduling and playing our NEC foes in our non-conference games going forward.” “I’m glad to see the league [NEC] went with this and made it a smooth transition,” said Lynn English Athletic Director Dick Newton. “This is pretty much how I expected things would go, and I think it’s a great move for both sides. “We move into an eightteam league [GBL]; they [NEC] get their league to 10 teams 2019 SHS Sachems Football Cheerleaders. hard; we just came up a little short,” he said after a 21-7 defeat. The Sachems were deadlocked with Peabody at 7-7 in the second half and were driving for a possible goahead score when they were and scheduling is easier for everyone. This is going to be a great thing for everyone involved,” Newton added. The GBL and the two Lynn teams had already been planning on being scheduling partners in the now planned “Fall 2” athletic season, February 22-April 25, for boys and girls soccer, volleyball, field hockey and cross-country. The Lynn schools missed out on this past fall season since the community was consistently listed in the highstopped on a close fourthdown play. Peabody responded by scoring on its ensuing drive. The Tanners then added another score to account for the final result. Saugus lost seven seniors to graduation after 2019. risk “Red” designation for COVID-19 transmission and not allowed to compete in interscholastic sports. The rest of the NEC went ahead without them and played a fall season in everything but football, much to their dismay. But the GBL schools stepped up and offered the two Lynn schools scheduling dates. “It’s a great fit, for many reasons,” said Malden High Athletic Director Charlie Conefrey, who serves as GBL Commissioner. He is also a memQuarterback Mason Nickolas, who was injured and missed much of last season, was set to lead the offense in 2020. Departed senior Christian Correia replaced Nickolas in the last several games last season. ber of the MIAA Board of Directors and is MIAA District 5 regional director. “Both of the Lynn schools, as well as Chelsea, which joins the GBL as a full member next fall, are similar in demographics and diversity as our present league schools.” “We will be a much stronger league. Malden and all the other GBL schools are very excited about this expansion and are really looking forward to what lies ahead,” Conefrey said.
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