Football Sachems snaps losing streak with dominant 30-8 win over Chelsea

By Dom Nicastro

The Saugus High School football team found its rhythm last Friday night, defeating Chelsea 30-8 to snap a four-game losing streak. Behind a strong team effort and standout performances from familiar faces, the Sachems improved to 2-6 on the season with their first win since September.

Saugus set the tone early with a 10-yard touchdown run from senior Ryan Shea, who also converted the ensuing two-point attempt with a pass from Jay Arnett, giving the Sachems an 8-0 lead in the first quarter.

The Sachems’ defense contributed points of its own in the second quarter when a bad snap on a Chelsea punt led to a safety, extending the lead to 10-0. Shortly after, Jordan Rodriguez connected with Shea for a 6-yard touchdown, making it 16-0 at halftime.

“We kind of put it together in all the different phases of the game,” said head coach Steve Cummings. “Offensively, we were able to cash in on some good field position. Special teams helped us flip the field when we had to and didn’t give up anything big. We came up with some turnovers, got a safety, and just played solid in all three phases, which was nice to see.”

In the second half, Saugus kept its foot on the gas. Cody Munafo punched in a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, with Connor Bloom adding the extra point to push the lead to 23-0.

Chelsea responded with a 12-yard touchdown run to get on the board at 23-8. However, Munafo would seal the victory in the fourth quarter with another 1-yard touchdown, capping off a commanding performance by the Sachems.

Shea was a standout on both sides of the ball, scoring twice and contributing in key moments to keep Saugus’ offense moving. Cummings highlighted his contributions, along with Rodriguez’s effective playmaking.

“Ryan Shea was all over the place,” Cummings said. “Whether it was running the ball, catching passes out of the backfield, or just making big plays, he was everywhere. His game is just getting better every week. Cody was grinding out tough yards, and the offensive line did a really nice job protecting. We were solid most of the night.”

The win couldn’t have come at a better time for the Sachems, who had been searching for a way to turn things around after a challenging stretch of games. The team hopes to carry this momentum into their next matchup as they host Dracut in the consolation round on Friday, Nov. 8, at 6:30 p.m.

“We needed this one,” Cummings added. “The boys were looking to snap that losing skid, and now we’re looking forward to getting back out there and hopefully getting another one against Dracut.”

Dracut will present a new challenge for Saugus, as the Sachems have limited experience against their upcoming opponent. The coaching staff received film Monday on Dracut and has begun breaking it down in preparation for Friday’s game.

“We know they run a spread offense and have some good athletes,” Cummings said. “They play a tough schedule in the Merrimack Valley, so they’re going to be battle-tested. It’s always interesting to prepare for a team you haven’t faced before, and we’re ready to put in the work this week to get ready.”