Thanksgiving Football Preview: Saugus looks to carry momentum into rivalry clash with Peabody

By Dom Nicastro

For the first time in weeks, Saugus enters Thanksgiving week with momentum — and with something even more valuable after a long, bruising fall: belief. The Sachems’ 34–0 win over East Boston in the Division 5 consolation round wasn’t just their second victory of the season. It was a reminder of what this team looks like when its pieces finally click at the same time. Now they bring that spark into one of Massachusetts’ oldest and most tradition-rich holiday rivalries, traveling to Peabody for the 74th Thanksgiving meeting between the programs and a 10 a.m. start at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium.

Saugus finding late-season rhythm

The breakout against East Boston was no accident. For weeks, Saugus Head Coach Steve Cummings has talked about the team being “inches away” — missing a block here, a read there, a crease by half a step.

But on a Friday night in East Boston, everything aligned. Saugus scored on its first three possessions, hit explosive plays early and controlled the game on both sides of the ball.

Quarterback Eli Fialho (189 yards passing) was sharp, spreading the field in a way Saugus hadn’t shown often this season. The offensive switch to a more open, athlete-driven spread look paid off immediately, producing three touchdown passes — two to Ryan Shea, one to Jordan Rodriguez — and allowing playmakers to operate in space.

The running game followed. Paxton Ferraro broke free for a 68-yard score, and Chris Mazin powered in from 27 yards out in the second quarter. Line play — often cited as a struggle in earlier weeks — was one of the night’s strengths.

Captain and lineman Kobe Jette said seeing the backs flourish behind that group meant everything. He praised fellow linemen Steph Cazeau, Moises Perez, Christian Kennedy and Caua Martins. “From a line perspective, seeing the guys behind us flourishing and making plays because we are doing our job makes me happy,” Jette said. “Our focus heading into the game was just to play at our best for guys to make plays.”

Defensively, Saugus held East Boston to limited yardage and never allowed the Jets to find rhythm. It was a complete performance — the kind the Sachems had been chasing since September. And the kind they’ll need on Thanksgiving morning to break a 10-game losing skid on Turkey Day.

Peabody finds life, too

Peabody will arrive with some momentum of its own. After nine straight losses — none particularly close — the Tanners finally broke through last week in a 19–14 road win at Waltham in the consolation round. Senior QB Luke Maglione, a reliable signal-caller with a strong arm who has found the end zone with his arm more than once this season, found fellow captain Corey Dooley for the go-ahead score with 40 seconds left, and defensive back Jack Smith sealed the victory with an interception.

For a program that won the Northeastern Conference Lynch Division three straight years (2021–23) and was a steady Division 2 playoff presence, the struggle has been unfamiliar. But like Saugus, Peabody enters Thanksgiving believing it has one more good one left.

A rivalry with history — and a streak Saugus wants to break

The Thanksgiving rivalry between Saugus and Peabody began in 1947. Peabody leads the holiday series 48–26 (and the overall series 50–28) and has dominated the past decade with 10 straight Thanksgiving wins. The recent margin has been decisive:

• 2024: Peabody 33, Saugus 7.
• 2023: Peabody 27, Saugus 6.
• 2022: Peabody 48, Saugus 6.
• 2021: Peabody 41, Saugus 6.

This is the first time in several years, however, that both teams enter the matchup with identical records — and identical motivation to finish on a high note.

What this game means for Saugus

For seniors who battled through injuries, blowouts, weather and frustration, Thanksgiving represents something bigger than standings. It’s one more chance to show who they really are.

Captain Jordan Rodriguez said the win over East Boston changed the team’s outlook. “We needed this win to give us confidence in our offense,” Rodriguez said during last week’s preparation week. “We have a week and a half to prepare for Peabody, and we are looking to win a Thanksgiving game for the first time in a little bit.”

As the Sachems wrap up their longest season in years, Rodriguez offered one more message — a fitting final word for a group that has absorbed more punches than most teams ever will: “We just have to work to end out the season,” he said, “and put all our heads together for this Thanksgiving battle.”