Jets run over Sachems, 32-6

  Wearing camouflage-style jerseys in honor of Veterans Day, the Saugus High School football team was looking to put forth a spirited performance against a very good East Boston Jets squad last Thursday night. It was the final game of the season at newly christened Christie Serino, Jr. Stadium, but it didn’t turn out on the positive side for the host Sachems. Saugus remained without a victory in fall 2021 by enduring a 32-6 defeat at the hands of the Jets, who improved to 8-2. The game featured a few highlight plays for the Sachems, but overall, it was a tough night for the home team.

  From its opening possession, East Boston established its running game, which produced over 200 yards on the ground and included several long-gainers. The Jets hurt Saugus by taking it straight up the gut and controlling the ball. The visitors scored two touchdowns in the first quarter to take a 12-0 lead.

  Another touchdown in the second quarter increased the advantage to 18-0 by halftime. The Saugus defense did stop the Jets early in the second quarter when defensive lineman Rick Noel recovered a fumble in Saugus territory. But Saugus quarterback Sean O’Rourke was immediately sacked for a five-yard loss on the first play of the ensuing drive.

  The following play resulted in an interception (one of three on the night for East Boston). That sequence of plays reflected the game as a whole for Saugus. O’Rourke faced immense pressure from the Jets defense all game and often had little or no time in the pocket.

  He did hook up on a few nice pass plays. The most notable of these came in the fourth quarter on a pretty 64-yard scoring pass to Ryan Mabee, who reached high to make the catch and outran three Jets’ defenders to the end zone. O’Rourke also connected with Mabee on a 29-yard pass and hit for 22 and 10 yards to receivers Tommy Desimone and Mark MacEachern, respectively.

  The plus plays were too few for the Sachems, however, as East Boston tallied twice more in the fourth period to secure the victory. One consolation for the Saugus defense was that it thwarted the visitors on four of their five two-point conversion attempts. Lineman Braden Faiella also recovered a second-half fumble.

  The loss dropped Saugus to 0-10 with only the annual Thanksgiving Day game left on the schedule. Saugus travels to face Peabody, which has won the last eight meetings between the two longtime rivals.

  Peabody won last year’s spring game, 24-0. In the most recent Thanksgiving meeting in 2019, the Tanners broke open a close contest late and came away with a 21-7 triumph.