Football Sachems falls 14–0 at Medford, looks to regroup for consolation round

By Dom Nicastro

Saugus’ offensive struggles continued Thursday night in Medford, where the Sachems were shut out 14–0 in a rain-soaked matchup with the Greater Boston League’s Mustangs. It marked the team’s second straight shutout and third consecutive game with fewer than 10 points scored.

Medford senior linebacker Demi Georges proved to be the difference on both sides of the ball, recording 14 tackles—eight for loss—and scoring one of Medford’s two touchdowns. The Mustangs improved to 3-5, while Saugus slipped to 1-7 overall.

For the Sachems, it was another night that followed a familiar pattern: promising starts erased by missed assignments or negative plays. The opening drive offered a glimpse of potential before a pair of mistakes halted momentum deep in Medford territory.

“Medford was a messy game, with a lot of things we need to pick up on,” said Saugus captain and lineman Kobe Jette. “The weather wasn’t really a big deal. In the first quarter we were moving down the field and we got stopped due to a few bad plays.”

That early stall set the tone for a game dominated by defense and field position. Medford only needed to capitalize on two opportunities for scores, while Saugus’ offense spent much of the night battling to regain footing.

At practice this week, Jette said the focus is clear. “We are focusing on our run game mainly at practice,” he said. “Some bright spots are the guys that will keep fighting and pushing for one another even after some losses.”

The shutout was Saugus’ second in as many weeks, following a 34-0 defeat to Swampscott, and highlights the challenge of finding rhythm in an offense still seeking balance. The Sachems have scored just eight points in their last three games combined—an uncharacteristic drought for a program that, as recently as two years ago, has shown it can put up three touchdowns per contest.

This season’s adversity recalls earlier rebuilding stretches under Coach Steve Cummings, who has emphasized patience and leadership growth through a schedule stacked with seasoned NEC opponents. Thursday’s loss to Medford marked Saugus’ first meeting with the Mustangs in recent memory—one that exposed both the team’s resilience and its lingering gaps up front.

Still, Jette said the group remains determined to finish strong.

“To the team in these final three games we still can prove that we aren’t the team people think we are and that we can push through adversity,” he said. “If we stick together and not turn on each other we can still make light of this season.”

With the regular season complete, Saugus finished 28th out of 37 teams in MIAA Division 5. The Sachems will open the non-playoff consolation round Thursday, Nov. 6, hosting Lynnfield at 4 p.m. at Christie Serino Jr. Stadium. Lynnfield is 2-6 and is coming off a 35-14 win over Hamilton-Wenham, which broke up a four-game losing skid.

The Sachems will learn their second consolation opponent later this week. After that, the team will take a week off before closing the year on Thanksgiving Day at Peabody.